Review Round Up: Arboria, Huntdown, And Lots Of Dungeons
Eddie Marsan in your house
We have reached the end of another month, which means we’re closing in on the halfway point of this, the most cursed year in many of our lives. That can only be a good thing, and hopefully, things can start looking up soon. Well, at least we’ve always got games, and we’ve had some excellent ones this month.
Arboria
Arboria is a roguelike Dark Souls where you play as a whole tribe of Yotunz. All of them speak in a way that is kind of annoying, but it’s not a text-heavy game, thankfully. The main aim is to follow after one of your own who went rogue, that’s basically all the story you need. This is a game very much about its gameplay, and for the most part, it works.
You’ve got light attacks, heavy attacks, special moves, and lots of loot to find. It’s all fairly standard stuff, and it can feel a bit sluggish in parts. However, it still manages to be good fun despite this thanks to the variety. Whenever you die in the dungeon, you move to the next Yotun who has to plumb the depths and fight off monsters. It’s simple, and I think it serves as a solid base for an Early Access game. I also think it should get a lot better, so keep in mind that this is score is indicative of how I feel about it now, and not of its potential, which I believe to be far higher.
[Reviewed on PC]
6/10
Huntdown
Huntdown is old-school. Not like, “doesn’t follow regulations and is probably a danger to themselves and others” old-school, more like “a damn good time and kind of a renegade” old-school. It’s part of the wonderful movement of games that takes an old formula and adds in modern design ideas to create the best of both worlds.
Action sequences aren’t all just a case of spraying and praying either, a lot of the game looks like that, but you need to approach things in a more considered matter if you want to actually survive. There’s a constant cycle of fun decisions to make in your weapon choices, movement options, and tactical decisions, and they all elevate Huntdown far above many other run and gunners.
[Reviewed on PC]
9/10
Deathtrap Dungeon
Deathtrap Dungeon is as more of an experience than a game, but not in a way that demeans either. You basically get to listen to Eddie Marsan talk you through a book and explain your actions and consequences to you as you do so. It’s an interesting concept, and while the core ideas are good on their own, it’s hard to deny the huge boon that is the narrator here.
It’s perfect for anybody wanting to play a game with a partner who isn’t normally interested, because it’s fairly hands-off. There are enough choices to make it worth a few playthroughs, and it’s an especially unique way to spend a night indoors with a loved one. It’s one of those games that can help bring new people into the fold.
[Reviewed on PC]
8/10
Dungeons of the Endless
Dungeons of the Endless is six-years-old, well, nearly, and it arrived on Nintendo Switch this month. It’s an excellent game, one where you have to try and guide a team of explorers through the turmoil of trying to repair their crashed ship. Needless to say, things aren’t exactly friendly where they’ve crashed.
It’s a really interesting take on a dungeon game, because you’re not actively controlling anything, and it often feels more like you’re just suggesting that your characters go and do something rather than actually getting them to do it. The mechanics are incredibly cool, and managing your power as you explore while trying to defend your home and also push further into the unknown is very satisfying.
[Reviewed on Nintendo Switch]
8/10
Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons is a lot of fun, but it’s a little lacking in depth, and it’s rather short to boot. It’s almost exactly what you’d expect from a game looking to fuse the cute world of Minecraft with the gameplay of Diablo, but it sadly never really reaches the potential of either.
As I said though, it is good fun. It is replayable too, but it’s hard to really commit to doing so unless you’re helping along someone who is less familiar with games, say a younger sibling or your own kids. This puts it in an important bracket of gaming, where its perfect as an introduction to the genre, but it’s not going to offer much more than a distraction for anyone used to ARPGs.
[Reviewed on PC]