In the depths of a station dive, the situation quickly spirals out of control in Endless Dungeon. Just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, the team's weapons suddenly become ineffective, the wrong doors are opened, and buffs are deactivated at the worst possible time. Even the usually resilient crystal bot has already taken a beating.
This modern update of the unique roguelite hybrid, Dungeon of the Endless, thrives on its ability to turn the tide in an instant. While this dynamic aligns with the game's high-challenge premise, it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Trigger-happy players who prefer to steadily become stronger and overpowered at every step may find themselves alienated by the game's peculiar feel and unpredictable rhythms.
Endless Dungeon's Legacy
Dungeon of the Endless was a game that defied expectations upon its release. Combining elements of roguelike dungeon-crawling, RPG, survival, and tower-defense gameplay, it offered a unique and immersive experience. One of the standout features of the game was its stunning retro art style, which was a refreshing deviation from the mainstream at the time. As the popularity of pixel art in games began to grow, Dungeon of the Endless stood out with its beautiful visuals.
In addition to its captivating gameplay, the game also boasted a deep sci-fi narrative that was revealed through lore drops and emergent storytelling. This aspect of the game was not surprising, considering it was originally intended as a small project accompanying AMPLITUDE Studios' flagship releases. However, as its fanbase grew during its time in Early Access, Dungeon of the Endless gained a larger audience and continued to captivate players even after its official release.
Endless Dungeon, the highly anticipated sequel, introduces a real-time action framework that deviates from its predecessor's formula. However, it still manages to retain some of its foundational mechanics, ensuring a sense of familiarity for the original fans. These dedicated enthusiasts, being well-versed with the previous game, will quickly grasp the intricate tricks, rules, and best practices of the new installment. Yet, for newcomers or those who prefer to embark on solo adventures, the game's somewhat bizarre structure may become a source of frustration. It is crucial for them to adapt and understand the game's nuances in order to fully enjoy the experience.
Saloon: The Gateway to Adventure
The journey through Endless Dungeon starts in the Saloon, a bustling hub area where players gather and prepare for their adventure. This serves as both a co-op lobby and a place brimming with secrets waiting to be uncovered. As I first stepped into the game, I was immediately struck by its departure from pixelated graphics. The developers had opted for a beautifully animated 3D isometric style, which seamlessly blended lighting, colors, and particle effects. This visual presentation was not only readable but also incredibly attractive.
It wasn't just the visuals that caught my attention. The writing throughout the game was playfully strange, adding a unique charm to the overall experience. The OST and sound effects perfectly complemented the dark and slightly sarcastic sci-fi storytelling, creating an immersive atmosphere that kept me engaged from start to finish.
Engaging Narrative and Gameplay
In this gripping narrative, the plot unfolds in traditional roguelite fashion, immersing the readers into a mesmerizing space station setting. A motley crew of travelers and misfits find themselves ensnared within the confines of this enigmatic establishment. To break free from their predicament, the group must embark on a perilous mission, tasked with transporting a robot laden with precious crystals deep into the bowels of the station.
The objective is to reactivate the core of this mechanized companion, thereby disarming the station's formidable defenses and creating a pathway to freedom. However, success is far from guaranteed, as failure results in the adventurers being abruptly transported back to the familiar surroundings of the Saloon, offering them a chance to regroup, strategize, and embark on their quest once more.
In this exciting game, groups of one to three players embark on a thrilling adventure starting from a central hub. For those playing solo, a basic AI can serve as a partner. As players progress through the game, they unlock three starter zones by finding district keys in later areas. Each of these zones offers a unique biome with its own distinctive theme and various types of monster spawners.
What sets this game apart is the rock-paper-scissors elemental system, where different elements have varying strengths and weaknesses against specific mobs. The objective in each level is to guide the crystal bot from the starting point to the end, all the while defending it from relentless waves of creatures that are determined to destroy it. If the crystal bot is destroyed, the team is wiped out, making it crucial for players to work together and strategize effectively.
At the beginning of every level in the Endless Dungeon, players are faced with a familiar sight. A single room awaits them, filled with a squad of heroes ready for battle. Alongside them stands an immobile bot, a beacon of hope in the treacherous depths of the dungeon. Surrounding the heroes and the bot are a series of doors, each offering a different set of resources. Opening a door can lead to the discovery of three valuable resources: science upgrades, industry, and food. Science upgrades are essential for unlocking new turrets, providing the heroes with additional firepower to combat the impending dangers ahead. Industry is necessary for installing turrets, generators, and purchasing items from the merchant.
Food plays a crucial role in obtaining cumulative hero buffs and medkits, ensuring their survival in the ever-increasing intensity of the dungeon. However, players must tread carefully, as opening a door also brings the danger window closer to unleashing a monstrous wave of enemies. The spawners, eagerly waiting for their chance, will then unleash their payload of mobs, marching relentlessly towards the crystal bot, putting the heroes' skills and strategy to the ultimate test.
In this game, individual heroes possess distinct class affinities, such as tank, healer, or scout, which determine their role in battle. Additionally, the use of heavy guns or handguns is limited to specific characters, adding a layer of strategic decision-making to the gameplay. Each hero also possesses a unique passive ability, allowing players to further customize their playstyle. They have the flexibility to equip up to two weapons simultaneously, ensuring they are prepared for various combat scenarios. Furthermore, each hero has a special move and an ultimate ability, granting them powerful skills to unleash upon their enemies.
Regardless of their class or abilities, all heroes can contribute to the defense of their team by installing turrets in designated slots across the map. These turrets, which come in various elemental damage types and buffing capabilities, are crucial for repelling waves of enemies. Players can repair and upgrade these turrets by shoving them, making them even more efficient in slaying monsters. Overall, the game emphasizes the importance of teamwork and strategic turret placement to overcome challenging encounters.
The turrets in Endless Dungeon play a crucial role in the game's structure and are a key ingredient to success. While players may feel confident against certain waves, the game challenges them to strategically install and upgrade turrets in order to effectively defend against the toughest special waves and scenarios.
A significant moment in the game occurs when the door to the next area is revealed and activated, requiring the crystal bot to be carefully escorted from one end of the map to the other. This escort mission puts players' turret placement and design skills to the test, as they must create a well-designed turret matrix that can withstand the relentless assault of enemies. This aspect of the game truly showcases its dedication to the tower defense genre, providing players with an intense and thrilling gameplay experience.
Endless Dungeon can be a merciless teacher, forcing players to learn the hard way that hours spent on a single run can be swiftly destroyed in mere seconds. It is a frustrating realization that sends players back to the Saloon, where they can use the upgrades and currency they have collected. However, the rewards from these efforts are usually underwhelming. The game offers permanent unlocks in the form of new heroes, each with their own specific quest that unlocks additional skill boosts and abilities. Unfortunately, the majority of runs in the game do not result in a satisfying sense of progression or increased power over time.
While rinsing the hero quests may seem simple, the resulting upgrades are somewhat useful but also limited in their scope. The idea of alternate entry points into the station appears promising in theory, as it could add variety to the gameplay. However, upon exploration, it becomes evident that each biome is not significantly different from one another. The core mechanics still revolve around opening doors, hoping for good drops, and finding more manageable maps. The ability to set up a small selection of turrets remains a staple strategy.
Although Endless Dungeon's systems are refined and well-positioned, they lack the captivating magic often found in other roguelites. The absence of the wild and unpredictable broken builds, the surprising RNG (random number generator) moments, and the inspiring differentiation between runs leaves players yearning for more excitement and unpredictability.
Solo players will undoubtedly find themselves facing difficulties in Endless Dungeon. While AI companions can be commanded to perform basic actions and employ defensive tactics, they lack the ability to execute complex strategies such as upgrading turrets when necessary. One would assume that gaining a third AI helper would be a helpful feature for solo players, but unfortunately, it is a perk that must be unlocked with scrap currency. This design decision seems oddly punishing for those who prefer to play the game alone, leaving them to question the reasoning behind such a choice.
Playing Endless Dungeon in online co-op mode is practically a necessity, as coordinating with friends over voice coms enhances the overall experience. However, there are some challenges that come with co-op play. One of them is the lack of a fully-fledged map ping system, which can cause difficulties when playing with international companions. Additionally, the presence of unvetted players can be frustrating, as they may choose to sabotage a run by opening random doors or selfishly using shared resources. While this type of behavior is not exclusive to Endless Dungeon, the game's lengthier runs make it more likely to result in a justified rage-quit.
Boss Encounters and Additional Features
One of the standout features in Endless Dungeon is the presence of a boss on the second floor of every route. These encounters serve as notable high points in the game and add an extra layer of excitement and challenge. Each boss fight incorporates unique mechanics that deviate from the game's standard, making them truly engaging. For instance, players may find themselves dodging the boss' area-of-effect attacks while also dealing with swarms of enemies.
In another instance, players must guide a crystal bot to a weak point while simultaneously protecting it from damage. With only one boss encounter and one final boss in each complete run, these well-designed confrontations require full team alignment and cooperation to successfully overcome.
Endless Dungeon offers players a host of additional features that enhance the overall gameplay experience. One such feature is the special challenge modifiers that can be activated at the Saloon's bar. These modifiers add a unique twist to the gameplay, providing players with an extra layer of difficulty and excitement. Additionally, players have the opportunity to unlock sweet skins for each hero, allowing them to customize their characters and make them truly their own.
The game's story is conveyed through lightly animated cinematic interludes, adding depth and immersion to the overall narrative. Taking the time to explore the lore points in each level or watch the animated shorts in the Saloon unveils the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that has been put into crafting the game's story. However, amidst the chaos of a frantic co-op session, it can be challenging to fully appreciate these finer details.
Endless Dungeon takes the already captivating game, Dungeon of the Endless, and transforms it into a real-time structure, making it even more intriguing. This update enhances the game's accessibility and clarity, making it easier for players to grasp and enjoy. The gunplay mechanics and turret formations are simple to comprehend and provide a satisfying learning experience. Even when players fail to progress, the journey towards mastery remains enjoyable. Endless Dungeon brings a fresh and thrilling twist to an already fascinating game.
Nevertheless, it is clear that AMPLITUDE Studios has put in work to make their unique idea more efficient and straightforward. In doing so, they have removed some of the complexity and diluted the deeper RPG elements, which may not necessarily be a positive change. Many of the permanent unlocks and temporary upgrades feel uninspired, with a multitude of minimal stat buffs that players have to sift through. It almost seems as if the game's foundation was so delicately balanced that any drastic changes would risk breaking it. Since lengthy runs are a key aspect of the game, the lack of radical perks and hero changes may discourage players from diving back in after making a crucial mistake.
Verdict
Despite its flaws, Endless Dungeon still manages to shine through with its strong presentation, captivating sci-fi culture, and innovative cooperative approach. The game thrives on quick decision-making and intense combat encounters, often teetering on the edge of success and failure. These qualities will undoubtedly attract patient and masochistic roguelite enthusiasts, especially if they have a like-minded and cooperative team by their side. The game offers a challenging and strategic co-op experience, with minimal hand-holding, making it a perfect choice for those looking for a truly rewarding and immersive adventure. However, Endless Dungeon falls slightly short of becoming the next obsession for roguelite fans, as its delicate structure leaves room for improvement.
