VERLIES II
- September 24, 2015
- Koya Game
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Verlies II" is a challenging 2D platformer with metroidvania elements. Traverse through treacherous environments, battle dangerous creatures, and solve puzzles to uncover the mystery of the Abyss. With its tight controls and permadeath system, each playthrough is a tense and thrilling experience.
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and challenging dungeon crawling experience with a high level of difficulty that rewards skill and strategy.
- Players appreciate the addictive nature of the game, with many expressing enjoyment in mastering its mechanics and character progression.
- The art style and atmosphere of the game are praised, creating an immersive experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- The game suffers from a lack of tutorials and guidance, leaving players feeling lost and frustrated, especially with its punishing permadeath mechanic.
- Many players report technical issues, including crashes and glitches, which detract from the overall experience.
- The combat system is criticized for being clunky and unresponsive, with some players feeling that the mechanics lead to unfair deaths.
- graphics15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users criticizing the amateurish artwork and low visual quality, which detracts from the overall experience. Some appreciate the unique comic-style graphics and simplicity, finding them charming despite not being up to modern standards. Overall, the lack of resolution options and graphical tweaks further disappoints those seeking a polished visual experience.
“I find the graphics to be gorgeous, even though they aren't pretty by today's standards.”
“Level tone and design change every 3 floors and while there's no lush vistas nor DX12 features, the comic-style graphics are lovely.”
“[b]Verlies II[/b] is a hardcore dungeon crawler with a very interesting art style and an addictive combat system.”
“The artwork here is terrible; it's a hodgepodge of amateurish 'my first Wacom tablet' style drawings used instead of professional-looking game assets.”
“It's unclear if this is due to a lack of budget to hire someone who can create graphical assets properly, or a lack of talent. Regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low, enough on its own to deter gamers.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple yet engaging mechanics that require strategic thought and consideration, though it can be punishingly difficult, especially for new players. Users appreciate the graphic style and character progression, but many express frustration with the controls and certain illogical rules that hinder the experience. Overall, while the game offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of older titles, it demands a steep learning curve and can lead to frequent character deaths.
“It didn't take too long before I turned 'show intro' off and 'fast dice game' on--this game's mechanics are simple, delightful, and their integration leads to a very elaborate experience that requires thought, consideration, and choice.”
“I like its simplicity, graphic style, the combat mechanics, and character progression.”
“It takes a few hours of learning the game mechanics, tactics, and timing to defeat the monsters...but you will become familiar with what to do and what not to do through the unfortunate deaths of your first many characters.”
“For gameplay purposes, because the user interface for this game is mostly just 2D static images, it might as well be a browser game.”
“The major problem, though, is the blocking mechanic where you still take damage.”
“The problem with Verlies II is not its gameplay difficulty, but the ridiculous and annoying controls, plus highly illogical rules that limit the player.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and enjoyable, contributing positively to the overall experience. While some players appreciate the ability to customize the music through modding, they note that this is more about personalizing the interface rather than true modding. Overall, the music and sound effects are considered satisfactory.
“Visually, I think the game is fantastic and the music/sound effects are fine.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, highlighting that perseverance can lead to unexpected outcomes. Additionally, "Verlies II" introduces significant structural changes that differentiate it markedly from its predecessor, suggesting a fresh narrative experience.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be grindy, particularly due to the necessity of repeatedly playing the dice game in the inn to earn money for better gear and health potions.
“This game feels grindy in a sense.”
“By grindy, I mean you have to grind the dice game in the inn for money so you can buy better gear and lots of health potions.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of clever self-mockery from the developers and lighthearted, sometimes silly elements, such as amusing sound effects. Players appreciate the balance between creepy atmosphere and comedic moments, contributing to an overall entertaining experience.
“The sound design is great, creating an atmospheric and creepy vibe, but also includes some dumb and funny elements, like the cash register trading sound.”
“The developer's use of humor and self-mockery in their apologies adds a charming touch to the experience.”
“The game's humor is cleverly woven into the dialogue, making even the most serious moments feel light-hearted.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for its design, as players are compelled to take damage each turn regardless of their defensive actions, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from skill-based gameplay.
“This game has difficulty that isn't based on player performance; it's based on the fact that you are forced to take damage on every turn, even if you block.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
“I often find myself struggling with performance issues that detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a mix of effective, creepy sound design that enhances immersion, alongside moments of humor, such as the quirky cash register sound, creating a unique and varied auditory experience.
“The sound design is incredible, creating an atmospheric and creepy experience that really immerses you in the game.”
“The ambiance is perfectly crafted, with a mix of eerie sounds and unexpected moments that keep you on edge.”
“The atmospheric elements, from the haunting music to the subtle sound effects, truly enhance the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its instability, featuring numerous bugs and a steep difficulty curve, compounded by a lack of tutorials and documentation, as well as the inclusion of permadeath mechanics.
“The game is incredibly buggy and overly difficult, lacking any tutorials or documentation to help players navigate its challenges.”
“The permadeath feature adds an unnecessary layer of frustration, especially given the game's instability.”
“Without proper guidance or support, the game's numerous bugs make it nearly unplayable.”
