[EN] Devious Dungeon 1 + 2 🎮
Devious Dungeon – Woblyware, Ratalaika Games S.L. (2019)
Devious Dungeon 2 – Woblyware, Ratalaika Games S.L. (2020)
Platform: PC / Steam
Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1059880/Devious_Dungeon/
Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1059890/Devious_Dungeon_2/
Once upon a time, there was a castle. How many time did we hear it? I won’t say too many, but it doesn’t change the fact that this convention is hard to avoid. There is a castle, there is a monster beneath it. And there is a hero to slay it. Easy? Easy :) But anyway – it works!
Both parts of the game are similar to each other, so I decided to review them together. It’s possible that I’ll do such a thing in the future :) Each of them is a jump’n’run kind of game, without much fireworks – but with some enhancements. They are jump’n’runs with ‘RPG elements’. During a game you can collect coins, which can be used to buy upgrades in form of better gear. What is more, experience levels, gained i.e. by killing monsters, have an influence statistics like damage done. It’s quite interesting design choice, and for sure it increases longevity of the games.
In the firs game of the series we only have one hero – a lonely barbarian. In the second part we get to choose – there’s the barbarian, but also a rogue and a wizard, each of them with some special power. The powers are respectively: incoming damage reduction, double jump and a levitation. Whatever we choose, it’ll have an impact on the game – the ability to fight monsters or to avoid traps. It won’t change the game mechanics – it’ll only be for variety. Theoretically you can finish Devious Dungeon 2 three times – but when it comes to my experience, the game couldn’t hold me enough to keep me playing beyond the first run. But it doesn’t mean it does not fit me as a game :)
The audio-visuals stand on decent level. Graphics, pixelized, was made with an attention to detail. It’s a shame that some of them are identical for both games, by which I mean that sprites from the first part will appear on second as well, with some additions. The music is a little worse than that – the background track gets looped quickly. It could get some love.
Both Devious Dungeon and Devious Dungeon 2 are good for spending a nice evening in front of a PC monitor (heh). Jump’n’run fans won’t be disappointed, and the rest may find something for them in those. They are not hard or complicated. But whatever the taste :) It is possible to 'farm' coins and experience points – so the beating of both games is only a matter of time and determination.
Both games are not too expensive and finishing them will take some hours, so I can recommend them wholeheartedly. If you don’t have much of a requirements for a game like that – go for them.
Final grade: There was a dragon, there is my axe