The Barbarian And The Subterranean Caves

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In "The Barbarian and the Subterranean Caves," become the heroic adventurer Ragnar and delve into the mysteries of caves filled with intrigue, challenges, and moral dilemmas. Your choices from six qualities will influence the plot, but only three can be selected. Ready your sword and strategize wisely to unmask the cunning evildoer and navigate complex relationships.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The writing and dialogue are surprisingly good, with multiple paths based on player choices.
The graphics, while static, are colorful and unique, adding a humorous touch to the experience.
The game offers a variety of endings and achievements, making it suitable for players who enjoy exploring different story branches.

The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through text, which some players feel does not qualify it as a game.
The story is short and lacks depth, with many players finding it uninteresting and predictable.
The game has been criticized for its poor translation and overall low production quality, leading to a lack of engagement from players.

story
32 mentions
19 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story in this visual novel is generally considered generic and rushed, lasting only 10-20 minutes with minimal character development, though some players appreciate the well-written text and unexpected twists. While the game offers numerous choices and multiple endings, many reviewers find the plot branches predictable and repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement. Despite its comedic elements and light character customization, the overall narrative experience is seen as lacking depth and coherence.
- “The story paths are short, giving you room to replay and try out different directions for the story and explore (or get lost in) various parts of the cave.”
- “As a choose your own adventure visual novel, the protagonist starts with three qualities the player can choose, which will slightly alter the storyline, and there are plenty of decision points, plot branches, and endings.”
- “The plot had several unexpected twists, which were cool, and the changes in the story based on decisions were impressive.”
- “The overall story is very short and rushed, lasting about 10-15 minutes of reading, and there is little character development, but what is there is decently well written and hashed together.”
- “No, I just can't recommend this game; you get lost all the time and the story is really bad.”
- “Among the cons, some parts of the story are repeated, and there are a few achievements such as magic amulet and shine of a coin which involve giving a similar response to the same character in a different plot branch in the story.”
graphics
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant color palette and character designs, while others find the 3D artwork to be merely adequate and lacking in animation. While some players appreciate the unique and humorous style, others feel that the graphics do not fully deliver on their potential, suggesting that a hand-drawn approach might have been more effective. Overall, the visuals are seen as a highlight for some, but a disappointment for others, particularly in terms of animation and depth.
- “The graphics are what sold me and they did not disappoint: great character designs, excessive but fun textures everywhere, and a bright and exciting color palette.”
- “The stunning graphics, the jaw-dropping story... all of it comes together to make one of the worst things I've ever seen, in a good way.”
- “+gorgeous graphics”
- “The 3D artwork is passable; not the best, but it does a good enough job to convey the point.”
- “The trailer and the graphics seem a bit misleading, as some may think this is an adventure game.”
- “You would think that having fully rendered graphics, they could have at least included some animations or perhaps some gameplay.”
gameplay
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a linear experience focused on making simple choices within a visual/interactive novel format, lacking challenging puzzles or engaging mechanics. Players navigate through poorly written dialogue with minimal interactivity, and the overall short playtime of a couple of hours suggests it may be more appealing at a discounted price. Many reviewers express a desire for improved sound, music, and a more dynamic gameplay experience.
- “In addition, the short gameplay time, where it takes around a couple of hours to play and read through all the text in this game, get all achievements, and reach the secret romance ending that was added in an earlier update, means it might be more worthwhile to wait until the game is discounted to a couple of dollars or less to match the gameplay time.”
- “Needs better sound effects, more varied and better music, better use of RPG mechanics, more freedom of movement, and less linear choose-your-own-adventure style of play.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “The gameplay is just about you choosing the text lines of what to do next: to go north, to go right, to sneeze, etc. There are no difficult puzzles in the game to struggle with, only choices to make.”
- “You would think having fully rendered graphics they could have at least included some animations or perhaps some gameplay.”
music
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as fitting and enjoyable, though not particularly memorable, with some players finding it too loud compared to the sparse sound effects. While it provides a relaxing backdrop, there are calls for more variety and improvement in both the music and sound effects to enhance the overall experience.
- “The generic music chosen fits well with the game; not memorable by any means, but pleasurable enough to listen to nonetheless.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The generic music chosen fits well with the game, not memorable by any means but pleasurable enough to listen to nonetheless.”
- “There is no voice work, the music is meh and too loud in relation to sound effects; the sound effects are very few and lack impact.”
- “Needs better sound effects, more varied and better music, better use of RPG mechanics, more freedom of movement, and less linear choose-your-own-adventure style of play.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by its quirky 3D modeled scenery and amusing character designs that elicit giggles, complemented by well-crafted dialogue that enhances the story. Players appreciate the unexpected comedic moments and funny endings, while the improved translation adds to the overall enjoyment, making it appealing even to those who prefer a more serious tone.
- “All that funny static 3D modeled scenery and funny faces all over the screen makes you giggle, yet the well-written texts make you dig the story.”
- “There are some unexpected surprises at certain points in the story and a few comical situations with a funny ending scene.”
- “The graphic is unique yet weird; I find it funny somehow but actually liked it.”
character development
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal and feels rushed, with the overall story lasting only 10-15 minutes; however, the writing is decent. While the focus on character growth is lacking, the game's strong visual elements, including character designs and vibrant graphics, enhance the overall experience.
- “The character development is decently well written and adds depth to the overall story.”
- “The graphics are what sold me, featuring great character designs and a bright and exciting color palette.”
- “The character designs are excessive but fun, contributing to a vibrant and engaging experience.”
- “The overall story is very short and rushed, lasting about 10-15 minutes of reading, and there is little character development. However, what is there is decently well written and hashed together.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Visual novels and e-books can be tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you've ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or even 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature). Now, translate that into a format where the words dribble out, and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence instead of just turning the pages.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged. It often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of progress.”
- “I find the grinding mechanics to be a chore rather than a challenge. It detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game and makes it feel more like a job than a fun experience.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replay value, as players find that once all paths have been explored, there is little incentive to revisit the experience.
- “Minimal replay value once you've taken every path.”
- “After completing the game, I found little incentive to play through it again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”