The Ouroboros King
- February 27, 2023
- Oriol Cosp Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"The Ouroboros King" is a challenging precision platformer where players control a mysterious snake-like creature. Traverse through neon-lit, geometric levels filled with deadly traps and obstacles. The game features a unique mechanic that allows you to rewind time, adding a strategic element to the fast-paced gameplay.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and creative twist on chess, combining it with roguelike elements that enhance replayability.
- Players appreciate the variety of new pieces and mechanics, which add depth and strategy to the gameplay.
- Adjustable difficulty settings allow players to tailor their experience, making it accessible for both casual players and chess enthusiasts.
- The AI can be frustratingly unbalanced, often leading to situations where it checks the player repeatedly without a clear strategy.
- Many players feel the game lacks content and can be completed too quickly, leading to a sense of repetitiveness.
- There are significant balance issues with certain pieces being overpowered, which can diminish the strategic aspect of the game.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its strategic depth and variety of mechanics, reminiscent of chess but enhanced with unique units and roguelike elements, offering a rewarding experience as players learn and adapt their strategies. However, some players note issues with balance, AI difficulty, and a lack of replayability after a few hours, suggesting that additional modes or legacy mechanics could enhance long-term engagement. Overall, while the game is fun and engaging, it may benefit from further content to maintain interest beyond initial runs.
“I really like the strategy-based gameplay.”
“The mechanics of the game, with all the different pieces and power-ups, are so nuanced that the AI gets totally confused.”
“Enticing gameplay, wide variety of units allows for replayability with different strategies, but does not have an endless mode.”
“It's hard to come back from even a small imbalance in chess, but it is very easy to draw out a game to a ridiculous extent long after it's clear that victory is not an option. Rogue-likes are often designed around making large imbalances as part of the gameplay.”
“I feel like attacked squares should just automatically be highlighted all the time, because memorizing all of the attacks of each unique enemy type is a tedium that becomes a bad part of the gameplay. Pawnbarian solved this problem intuitively.”
“I think it could do with some more replayability; however, the mechanics begin to get a bit stale around the 3-5 hour mark.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers good replayability with various strategies and content, appealing to players seeking different experiences. However, some users note that the game can feel limited after a few hours, particularly due to its lack of an endless mode and a finite storyline. While many appreciate the replay value, there are suggestions for further enhancements to maintain long-term engagement.
“The game has a nice yet extraordinarily simple storyline, cute art, and lots of replayability.”
“Simple and effective game with a ton of replay value considering the price.”
“Enticing gameplay, wide variety of units allows for replayability with different strategies.”
“On the other hand, it is rather short and replayability is limited.”
“Enticing gameplay and a wide variety of units allow for replayability with different strategies, but it does not have an endless mode.”
“I think it could do with some more replayability; however, the mechanics begin to get a bit stale around the 3-5 hour mark.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as simplistic and underdeveloped, with many players finding it bland and the characters forgettable. While some appreciate the cute art and potential for replayability, there is a strong desire for a more engaging narrative and additional content to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the story feels minimal and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more.
“The game has a nice yet extraordinarily simple storyline, cute art, and lots of replayability.”
“I love the game, it's amazing; sadly, not much content at the moment, but I'm strongly hoping to see some more pieces and some more to the story. This is a great experience, and I can't wait to see what the developer has planned.”
“Fairy chess with a story.”
“There might as well be no story; playtime for a run is very short, and there aren't really any bonuses carried from run to run.”
“Lastly, I think I expected a story of some sort, but it was kind of just PNGs. This made me kind of sad, but I understand not wanting one.”
“But I would really like it if the story just kept going.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with users noting a few glitches and bugs, but it functions well for the most part. It runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, provided players adjust the settings to full screen.
“Runs great on Steam Deck; just make sure to go into settings and select full screen.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a very stable gameplay experience.”
“Very good, but there are a few glitches.”
“Very cool game, a bit buggy, but it works very well for the most part.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often feeling that a significant portion of gameplay is spent on drawn-out matches that should have concluded earlier. Achieving all accomplishments can take considerable time, with some achievements requiring luck and extensive grinding to obtain the necessary resources.
“It's hard to blame the team for not making an AI that can recognize when it should surrender, since that is an incredibly difficult challenge. However, without it, this game feels like 80% of the time is spent tediously trying to mop up a game that should have ended a dozen turns prior.”
“It took me about 14 hours to get all the achievements, though most of that was simply grinding for the hardest one, as it relies largely on getting lucky enough to obtain enough good pieces to stand a chance.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as simple yet visually appealing, effectively fitting the game's theme and making it suitable for chess players.
“The graphics are simple and nice to view; I recommend them to players of chess.”
“The graphics are nice and fit the theme.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by amusing elements, such as quirky robot antics and overpowered units like the martyr, which provide initial laughs but can lead to repetitive gameplay. While the comedic aspects are entertaining at first, they may lose their charm as players find themselves relying on the same strategies for victory.
“Haha, funny robot steps go brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”
“A few units are really overpowered and can basically defeat every single enemy every time, like the Martyr, which is funny the first few times but gets boring pretty quickly. I usually just end up resetting until I get Rook, Viking, and Leper, and I win every time.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, contributing positively to the overall vibe and style, complemented by a pleasant soundtrack. However, some users have expressed frustration with the inability to control the music while playing.
“The vibe and style of the game are very nice, in my opinion, with a lovely soundtrack to complement it.”
“I don't know why I can't move any pieces or turn off the music.”
“The music is repetitive and becomes annoying after a short while.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety and fails to enhance the gaming experience.”
