The factor about video games concentrating on area of interest audiences is that I can often determine the area of interest. That isn’t the case with AdventureQuest 8-Bit: Dungeons & Doomknights. Followers of NES-era RPGs appeared the doubtless candidate, however after taking part in AdventureQuest 8-Bit, I feel it’s simply extra of an in-joke for AdventureQuest followers.
That’s to not say there aren’t jokes for the remainder of us. The sport is filled with references to every little thing from Nintendo to the Evil Lifeless. I laughed when an early enemy informed me “It’s protected to go alone,” and proceeded to steal my ax. I obtained a kick out of the extent that abruptly turned the sport into Pac-Man. Nice surprises like these occur all through AdventureQuest 8-Bit’s entirety, however I principally felt like I used to be lacking the punchline.
It doesn’t assist that the gameplay merely isn’t that nice. Having by no means owned an NES, my data of 8-bit motion RPGs is admittedly restricted; my classes have been restricted to the video games my associates had and what I’ve tinkered with via Nintendo Swap On-line. So, I’ll should ask you…
Was fight all the time so clunky? Regardless of a rising arsenal of weapons and abilities (together with a pomeranian that may be unleashed for ranged injury), our hero, Artix, by no means feels in command of what he’s doing. He can swing his ax and miss an enemy proper in entrance of him, however hit one who’s clearly standing nicely under him. Proximity detection is bizarre all through, and I’m unsure if that’s a part of the gag or simply odd programming.
Was motion such a chore? Navigating the sport’s mazes is awkward as Artix will get hung up on partitions that don’t appear to be blocking him. There’s even an element the place he retains falling down a nicely for no obvious purpose apart from to maybe riff on that Atari 2600 E.T. recreation (which I’ve performed). The sport will get irritating once you begin dying as a result of seemingly invisible obstacles forestall you from getting the positioning you want.
Have been controls inconsistent? There appeared to be no rhyme or purpose to when the bounce button labored and when it didn’t. Typically the Y button would launch that aforementioned canine, generally it might swing a weapon. I couldn’t inform if the sport was altering performance primarily based on my instant threats, if I had missed a tutorial someplace, or if the system merely wasn’t working.
Was there some extent? There actually isn’t a lot of 1 in AdventureQuest 8-Bit: Dungeons & Doomknights. Artix returns from a earlier journey to seek out his village in ruins, so he units out to rescue any survivors. I’m nice with a story that does little greater than arrange the motion, however I really feel this recreation’s comedic bent would’ve been higher served by a sharper plot parody. As an alternative, it depends nearly solely on reference jokes and its behavior of turning RPG tropes on their head.
So, is that sufficient? Are you the viewers for that? If not, the sport’s saving grace might be map exploration. Working your approach via the a number of ranges is fairly enjoyable, and people ranges do a superb job of teasing you with locations to go with out telling you tips on how to get there. Killing the identical enemies each time you come to a earlier room actually will get tedious, however I do know that’s half and parcel of the style and period. And it’s rewarding to find {that a} notably tough room is rather a lot simpler when you possibly can strategy it from a distinct facet. The sport can be fairly pleasant with save factors, so repeated deaths are by no means rage-quit-frustrating.
The boss battles present a pleasant shot of adrenaline, serving to to maintain issues contemporary. The graphics are good with that, too. Consistently shifting palettes creates a enjoyable temper, and the colour selections are sometimes fairly placing.
The sport additionally contains quite a few, enjoyable choices for altering the show to fit your throwback preferences.
AdventureQuest 8-Bit: Dungeons & Doomknights is $20, and I feel that’s a bit excessive for what it gives. If you happen to’re up for the gag and think about the sport’s clunkiness as a part of the joke, there’s some enjoyable available right here. In any other case, you’re higher off taking part in any of the myriad video games being parodied right here when looking for your fox of nostalgia.
