The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos
- September 17, 2020
- Artefacts Studio
- 30h median play time
A tactical RPG with a comedic twist and surprisingly challenging combat.
"The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos" is a tactical RPG that combines humor and charm with a team of seven diverse and complementary heroes. Inspired by classic RPGs and set in the popular Naheulbeuk universe, players must navigate through a chaotic dungeon filled with traps and monsters while managing the unique abilities and personalities of each character. This is the first time the story is available in English as a video game.
Reviews
- Very funny and entertaining with great character interactions and dialogue.
- Engaging tactical combat that requires strategic planning and teamwork.
- Charming art style and well-designed environments that enhance the overall experience.
- Combat can feel frustrating due to high critical failure rates and misleading hit percentages.
- The story is linear with limited character customization and choices.
- Some mechanics, like traps and inventory management, can be tedious and cumbersome.
- humor1,644 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos" is a defining feature, characterized by its quirky, irreverent, and often self-deprecating style that pokes fun at classic RPG tropes and D&D clichés. While many players find the humor genuinely funny and engaging, others feel it can be hit-or-miss, with some jokes becoming repetitive or juvenile over time. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with tactical gameplay, making it a delightful experience for those who appreciate a light-hearted approach to fantasy RPGs.
“The game's humor hits harder than a critical hit from a rogue with a fondness for puns.”
“Whether it's the wizard's failed attempts at magic, the barbarian's accidental trap triggering, or the dwarf's constant stream of insults, you'll be laughing until your sides ache.”
“Despite its flaws, the Dungeon of Naheulbeuk is a riotous adventure that's best enjoyed with strategy and a hearty sense of humor.”
“Unfortunately, the writing and humor are kind of lame and cringey.”
“The jokes are stale and just not funny for adults.”
“What we've got here is a mostly unfunny starting point for a true fantasy-themed XCOM experience.”
- story1,149 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Dungeon of Naheulbeuk" is a humorous and light-hearted parody of classic fantasy tropes, featuring a ragtag group of adventurers whose antics provide plenty of comedic dialogue and quirky character interactions. While the narrative is linear and lacks depth, it is designed to be entertaining rather than serious, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its tongue-in-cheek humor. However, some players find the story forgettable and the lack of meaningful choices limits replayability, suggesting that the game is best experienced for its comedic elements rather than a compelling plot.
“The story, centered around a ragtag group of adventurers, is packed with amusing dialogue and clever parodies of fantasy tropes.”
“Wonderful and passionate game, while not being long or deep, very pleasant to go through, with a funny story and great characters.”
“The story is fun, a bit on the goofy side, the fighting system very well thought and the primary and secondary quests all very interesting.”
“Warning: do not take anything in this game seriously, or expect a comprehensible story told in a serious game engine.”
“The encounters are scripted so there will be virtually no variation in the plot and once you've heard a particular gag it generally doesn't improve with a second telling.”
“For starters, the story is pretty forgettable.”
- gameplay887 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk* is characterized by its tactical turn-based combat, which requires strategic planning and careful character management. While many players appreciate the humor and engaging mechanics, some criticize the game for its reliance on RNG elements and repetitive gameplay, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers a fun and lighthearted experience, particularly for those who enjoy tactical RPGs, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its balance issues and sometimes tedious mechanics.
“If you stick with it, *the dungeon of naheulbeuk* proves to be a delightful blend of tactical gameplay and comedic fantasy.”
“Simply a masterpiece filled with puns and fun gameplay.”
“The gameplay is solid, the battles are well balanced and sometimes you may even sweat.”
“I tried twice with normal mode and then I finally managed to get through this battle by switching to easy mode, which I think totally made the whole gameplay experience broken for me.”
“But the gameplay in many areas is so stacked against the player that it's off-putting.”
“The gameplay is just frustrating and you spend more time as a group of rejected morons than a group of capable adventurers.”
- graphics358 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant, cartoonish art style that enhances its humor and charm, appealing to fans of whimsical fantasy aesthetics. While many players appreciate the colorful visuals and detailed character designs, some critique the art style as simplistic compared to more polished titles, and there are occasional performance issues noted. Overall, the graphics are well-received, contributing positively to the game's lighthearted tone and engaging gameplay.
“Visually, the game is a treat, with colorful graphics that capture the whimsy of its fantasy world.”
“The graphics in this game are gorgeous throughout, lots of interesting details, cool style, great character models and animations, I could go on and on.”
“The artwork is vibrant, and the world has a sense of being worthwhile.”
“The graphical presentation might make people think it is suitable for a younger audience, but the language is quite colorful at times with liberal use of the 'f' word and occasional references to nudity (there is no actual nudity in the game), so it's not suitable for younger players (or when there are younger people within earshot).”
“Some may find the art style simplistic or lacking in detail compared to other titles in the genre.”
“It's a fun game, but its lack of personalization, cartoonish graphics, simple story, and satirical tone don't give too much incentive to play it again.”
- music126 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a limited soundtrack and occasional issues with audio design, such as music cutting out during combat. While some tracks are appreciated for their thematic relevance and quality, others find the overall experience lacking in variety and memorability. Overall, the music serves its purpose but does not significantly enhance the game's atmosphere, leading some players to prefer their own playlists while playing.
“The music is top-notch.”
“The music adds lots of value to the game and you have to love all of the references to previous RPGs and the genre in general.”
“The music really conveys well the goofy/middle age atmosphere.”
“However, the music and ambiance is so quiet, it really isn't noticeable.”
“There's a significant lack of variety in music (though what is there is still great), and the battle music will just cut out once it plays through once, leaving you feeling sort of deflated.”
“I only wish the battle music didn't randomly disappear again and again and was constantly playing; these overly long moments of silence are way too awkward.”
- replayability86 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability due to its linear storyline and lack of meaningful choices, with most players noting that the only variation comes from selecting different companions. While the tactical combat and character customization offer some incentive for replay, many reviewers feel that the experience is largely scripted and lacks depth, making it less appealing for multiple playthroughs. Despite its humor and polished gameplay, the consensus is that replay value is low, with some players suggesting alternative RPGs for a richer experience.
“They take the old D&D idea and create a quest that is extremely funny and has a lot of replay value; each character is defined very well both in combat and their personality.”
“The tactical combat and decent customization options reward planning, and leave the game with some replayability.”
“Tons of replayability and character mod available.”
“The only issue I have with this game is its lack of replayability, since the only difference is the choice of one of three companions with an annexed side quest.”
“There is basically zero replayability.”
“If you want to experience RPG and dungeon crawling, you might be better off picking up or replaying Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, Neverwinter Nights, or Divinity: Original Sin as they offer a far better experience and more replay value.”
- optimization52 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some users noted that the graphics and sound are appealing, they emphasized that the game requires better optimization to run smoothly, particularly in crowded areas. Frequent patches have addressed some bugs, but many still feel that the game needs substantial improvements to its performance.
“The performance is fine, no stutter or lag (and I played it on an MSI laptop).”
“Controller optimization is also commendable.”
“It looks fantastic and is well optimized.”
“There is no way this game should be as resource-intensive as it is, and even though my machine is well above the recommended specifications, I had to turn the shadow quality and resolution down to low to stop it stuttering.”
“Great game, my only complaint is this game needs to be optimized very badly.”
“Performance issues aside, this game dips below 60fps on an NVIDIA 3070 RTX and Ryzen 3700 computer; this game is the most horribly balanced XCOM-like game I have played on the highest difficulty!”
- grinding52 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking depth, with many expressing frustration over the linearity that prevents meaningful experience or loot grinding. Combat is often described as repetitive and RNG-based, leading to a sense of boredom rather than engagement. While some appreciate the fast-paced leveling and action, the absence of grinding options and the tedious nature of inventory management and combat mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The game itself is action packed, a lot of fights and leveling is relatively fast so it's always something new happening, no grinding for XP and loot.”
“There's no grinding options.”
“Only one way to go, predetermined and mostly uninteresting item drops, and no grinding, which means every gold piece has to be spent wisely.”
“The combat is tedious and at low levels takes too long, even if you speed it up.”
“I originally started this game on 'epic' difficulty, but it was so tedious and boring that I turned it to normal difficulty just so I could spend less of my life enduring this torture.”
“With that comes one other major problem: the game is so linear that you don't have any chance of grinding some XP to get back to a fight with a stronger party.”
- stability50 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and freezing issues, particularly during combat. While some users noted that the game has become more playable over time, others experienced persistent glitches that hindered their enjoyment. A few players did find the game to be nearly bug-free, but overall, the consensus leans towards it being a buggy experience that can detract from gameplay.
“One very wonderful thing about the game is that it has the unique position of being bug-free as far as I could tell.”
“For a PC game, it seems rare to me that a game is so bug-free.”
“I would totally recommend this game; it was almost bug-free for me.”
“Critical error after reloading which causes the game to either close or glitch indefinitely into some mob's turn because it can't build a proper path through characters.”
“Unfortunately this game is full of bugs; combat often freezes because the turn order gets stuck on an enemy or the AI breaks in some unknown way.”
“The movement controls are so buggy I can barely play it.”
- atmosphere42 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a lighthearted and goofy tone, reminiscent of classic tabletop RPGs, with engaging humor and vibrant animations that enhance immersion. While the musical score and sound effects contribute positively, some players feel that a more dynamic soundtrack could further elevate the experience. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its fun, interactive mechanics and nostalgic charm, appealing to fans of games like Baldur's Gate and Munchkin.
“Great game, easy-going atmosphere with interactive mechanics.”
“Lovely characters, wonderful atmosphere, beautiful art/drawings, crazy dialogues and situations, a very happy game with crazy funny quests.”
“The music, gameplay features, voice acting, and atmosphere are done very well, 100% recommend it.”
“A more diverse and dynamic musical score, as well as immersive sound effects, could enhance the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.”
“No seriously, the game is buggy, the atmosphere is really goofy, and the story is kinda lazy.”
“The music really conveys well the goofy/middle age atmosphere.”
- character development40 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its humor and engaging design, but it is often criticized for being linear and lacking depth compared to other RPGs. While the visuals and character designs are praised, players feel that the system is restrictive, limiting meaningful progression and customization. Overall, the character development is seen as a mixed bag, offering fun elements but needing improvement to match the expectations set by more expansive RPGs.
“The character development system is also good.”
“The game has many strengths - the humor is actually funny, the graphics are very good, the character development is interesting (but also very flawed) and the few puzzles are well done.”
“The game is gorgeous, has fun combat and character development, and is relaxed yet has that old school style of difficulty if you choose to play on higher difficulties.”
“It's more of a tactical game than an actual RPG because character development is quite linear, but the tactical part is really fun and well thought through.”
“I tried to play it for a little while, but the turns are so slow. It's supposed to be a joke of all turn-based, dungeon-based games, but it really is not that funny. The character designs are uninspired, and the fact that other games give you options in armor upgrades or new armor means the heroes don't change much. I didn't even notice when the magic character got a costume; it felt like lazy designs.”
“All in all, really solid, hard not to recommend if you like turn-based style games like XCOM or Divinity: Original Sin, just don't expect that same kind of freedom in character development that Divinity has.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game's challenges and narrative. The need for careful team-building adds tension and investment, while the heartfelt story enhances the overall experience. However, frustrations with gameplay mechanics, such as missed abilities and scripted battles, lead some to feel disillusioned, resulting in a desire to uninstall the game.
“Game has a heartfelt full of fun story.”
“Your abilities can miss (XCOM, heartbreaking style), or just get flat-out resisted.”
“The fights are scripted, with reinforcements coming in, environmental hazards, special tiles, traps, enemies that have unique moves - overall, it's an exciting and wholesome experience!”
Critic Reviews
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos review — Wacky, weird, wearisome
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos has zany humor and tactical depth. Its characters feel unique and memorable too. Sadly, it's bogged down by a nasty bug that can occur during battles, a particular issue that became problematic towards the end of the game, and a lack of replayability.
70%The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos Review
The most important thing in video games is the fun factor. Forget the visuals, forget the story, forget everything else; it's all about fun, fun, fun. The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos isn't aware of that, which makes you think whether its developer even had any people test it out. The storytelling bit that mocks D&D tropes tries too hard to be funny and fails while at it, with the playable characters being a bunch of completely unlikable "heroes." As for the actual, turn-based strategy affair, while definitely the better part, it has some severe issues of its own, with the most game-breaking one being the existence of an aggravating RNG that frequently ruins one's plans.
40%The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk delivers solid genre satire and SRPG combat, but its technical failings and threadbare story mar most of the fun it has to offer.
68%
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