The Enchanted Cave 2
- June 3, 2015
- dustinaux
- 18h median play time
Delve into a strange cave with a seemingly endless supply of treasure, strategically choosing your battles to gather as much treasure as possible! Find rare artifacts and traverse the skill tree to become your choice of a mage, warrior, alchemist, or a mix of skills. Craft potions or enchant your equipment with ingredients, and discover secret areas! But be careful because the cave has oddly becom…
Reviews
- The game offers a simple yet polished experience, making it enjoyable for casual play.
- The loot system is satisfying, providing a sense of reward and progression as players explore the dungeon.
- The game is nostalgic for many players, reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers, and has a charming aesthetic.
- The late game can feel grindy and repetitive, with a lack of viable strategies for progressing in New Game+.
- Some players find the new game modes and additional content less interesting compared to the original.
- There are design issues, such as the UI and lack of clarity in certain mechanics, which can lead to frustration.
- gameplay48 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its addictive roguelike mechanics, featuring randomly generated dungeons and a satisfying core loop that keeps players engaged despite some repetitiveness. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, allowing for both strategic and casual play, some players find the lack of depth and challenge in the early levels to be a drawback. Overall, it offers a fun and enjoyable experience, particularly for fans of the genre, though it may not appeal to those seeking more complexity.
“Even once I fully deconstructed the game to optimize my strategy, identifying all the unbalanced systems I could abuse, I still continued to play it anyway because the core gameplay loop is so satisfying.”
“Strategic gameplay is rewarded without being required -- you can just do shorter runs of brute force if you're in the mood for that.”
“The gameplay is rather simple but still a lot of fun, and it has a decent replayability value.”
“It lacks any of the charm or unique gameplay experiences of other similar games of this type, and I found the first 50 of 100 levels required no strategy.”
“Not all that shimmers is gold; likewise, although this game looks pretty and shiny and interesting, it quickly becomes dull and boring; after 90 minutes of gameplay, I can't help but see how repetitive and monotone the game is, and how lacking in strategy and pretty much any gameplay it really is... I already requested a refund, since I regret buying this game.”
“You have a skill tree but the gameplay is too simple and the only thing that you do is kill weak monsters that can't do damage and farm the same items with more stats, to make the next monsters weak so you can repeat.”
- story42 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a simple yet engaging narrative that unfolds as players explore dungeons and interact with NPCs. While some players appreciate the depth provided by hidden lore and side quests, others find the overall plot straightforward and minimal. The integration of story elements through diaries and character dialogue enhances the experience, making it a compelling aspect of the gameplay despite its simplicity.
“The most entertaining roguelike I've ever played, with a story that's gloriously inspired by the old-school D&D adventure 'The Tomb of Horrors'.”
“It is a perfect rogue-like dungeon crawler: easy enough to be fun, difficult enough to be interesting, and with enough story to capture your interest without being boring.”
“I also adore the implementation of the story through diaries, subtle dialogue with NPCs, and with gradual changes to the starting town as you progress.”
“It is devoid of story elements and is little more than a hack 'n slash for leveling up your character.”
“From a story standpoint, things haven't changed much.”
“The story is pretty much exactly the same as before - there's an evil sorcerer who lives at the bottom of the dungeon and is trying his best to kill you, via subterfuge and the numerous enemies he summons on each level.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which can be both enjoyable and tedious depending on the player's perspective. While many players appreciate the grind as part of the experience, particularly in dungeon crawling and treasure hunting, others find it repetitive and frustrating, especially in late-game content and new game+ modes. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, appealing to fans of the genre but potentially deterring those who prefer a more streamlined experience.
“My one critique is that I don't think there's a viable way of beating New Game+ other than grinding out +1 stat points.”
“I have noticed as I try to 100% the achievements that grinding through the same levels over and over again to get items that just won't appear has gotten monotonous and frustrating.”
“It's very repetitive, and involves a lot of grinding, which makes it great to play while splitting your attention.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, old-school pixel art style that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics, though some players note minor graphical bugs and primitive visuals. Despite these issues, the graphics are generally well-received for their simplicity and effectiveness in enhancing gameplay, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals complement the dungeon-crawling experience, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate nostalgic design.
“Fun, throwback 16-bit graphics.”
“Graphics: 10/10 (love the simple pixel graphics style; randomized map generation and hidden rooms)”
“The graphics are typical old-school RPG style and fit the game well.”
“There are several graphical bugs that really ruin this port; just play the free flash version.”
“I thought, 'damn, I bought a crappy game that was rated very well, has pretty primitive graphics, and probably wasn't even worth buying on sale.' 3 hours later I was still playing, with no crashes after.”
“The graphics are primitive, but the RPG element has great depth, between upgrading and getting new gear via drops or the shop that appears every 10/20 levels and upgrading your actual character by leveling or getting gems for the main stats.”
- music17 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by the renowned Grant Kirkhope, receives high praise for its memorable and fitting quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players find it blends into the background, many appreciate its relaxing nature and replayability, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“And who can say no to music from the legendary Grant Kirkhope?!”
“It's an absolute banger of a game and the soundtrack is also fire.”
“Extremely replayable, memorable music (by Grant Kirkhope!!), and the best roguelike progression system that never feels like a grind.”
“I found the music just blended into the background.”
“Despite the inclusion of Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong Country) as composer, the music is... underwhelming, considering his pedigree.”
“Luckily, the gameplay becomes mindless enough that I can listen to music or talk radio at the same time and still enjoy myself.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the random dungeon generation and engaging challenges that enhance replay value, others find it limited due to its short length and lack of significant new content after completion. Some reviews highlight a strong roguelike progression system and enjoyable gameplay, while others note that once mastered, the game may not offer much incentive to replay. New game+ options provide some additional replayability for those seeking a challenge, but opinions vary on its overall longevity.
“Because each floor is randomly generated, it's got good replay value.”
“Extremely replayable, memorable music (by Grant Kirkhope!!), and the best roguelike progression system that never feels like a grind.”
“This game has great replay value since its dungeons are random, something you don't see much of nowadays.”
“It's a fun game but is fairly short and doesn't seem to have any real replay value once you beat it.”
“Low replayability; it rather makes more sense to continue playing with one character.”
“The replayability is limited in that there is a New Game+ option, allowing you to go back to the start of the game with harder enemies, but keeping all your character progression from your previous game.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its relaxing quality, enhanced by great music and a balanced difficulty that makes each playthrough enjoyable. Players find the combination of challenge and reward contributes to a fun and immersive experience.
“This creates a relaxing atmosphere for the game.”
“Music is great and the general atmosphere is kind of relaxing.”
“I have enjoyed every run - it's punishing and rewarding at the same time. The difficulty is nicely balanced and the atmosphere is great; item scaling is really nice - it's just fun to play.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is appreciated for its simplicity and lightheartedness, making it an enjoyable choice for players seeking a fun experience. While the gameplay is straightforward, it effectively incorporates comedic elements that enhance the overall enjoyment.
“It can be a very good choice if you want to spend your time with a very simple but funny game.”
“At the start, the game is interesting; the system is simple but funny. It's like a roguelike but easier.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express strong emotional responses to the game, highlighting feelings of joy and satisfaction, particularly when achieving progress through its rewarding system. The gameplay encourages a sense of investment in managing resources, which enhances the emotional engagement with the challenges faced.
“When I saw it was on Steam for $5, I cried tears of joy.”
“It's a very rewarding system, and it made me feel like I progressed through each level of the dungeon. It caused me to actually manage my health and magic and ensure I could take down a certain foe.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Many users express frustration with monetization practices in games, particularly criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions that hinder the overall enjoyment and completion of the game experience.