Game Review: Dungeons

Welcome to the anti-Valentine edition!  No gooshy lovie-dovey stuff or candy hearts over here.  Instead, I'll be reviewing Dungeons:  a game where the main goal is to build evil... well dungeons and lure heroes to their doom.

In Dungeons by Kalypso Media you play a former Prince of Darkness who has been overthrown by his vile, vicious, and also now ex-girlfriend Calypso.  Banished to the lowly rank of Dungeon Lord, you must now work your way back down through the levels of the underworld by placing gimmicks, treasure, and monsters all designed to lure heroes to their doom.  Placing gimmicks (essentially dungeon decoration) earns you prestige, which is necessary for various tasks throughout the game.  It also helps lure heroes through the dungeon, as they tend to follow from one gimmick to the next.  Every hero is motivated by different needs; some are motivated by piles of shiny treasure, others by battling monsters.  As their needs are met, they fill with "soul energy," which is what YOU are after.  Satisfy your heroes and then slay them for a percentage of their soul energy, or imprison and torture them in order to squeeze every last ounce out.



While it sounds fairly straightforward and easy, there is some strategy involved.  Each entrance into the dungeon releases heroes at the rate of one or two every 3-5 minutes (some even faster).  Let me tell you keeping track of 5-10 different heroes and fulfilling their needs while simultaneously not letting any of them escape or attack your Dungeonheart (the source of your life and power in the underworld) isn't as easy as it sounds.  That's not all there is to each level, though.  There is usually some quest that you are fulfilling while waiting for heroes to be ready for death or imprisonment which is also taking your time and attention.  In addition from time to time (and usually at the worst possible moment) your bosses will show up with a job for you to do, and you have to keep the bosses happy!  Of course, if you get tired of the strategy aspect you can always switch over to "sandbox mode" which allows you to simply build dungeons and lure heroes to their doom outside of the main plot line.

Throughout the game the heroes will spout off hilarious phrases like "mmm, treasure!" or "taste my +1 dagger!"  On the whole the game is fantastically light and fun, making it a good break if you've been on run of heavy gaming sessions.  The game has a little for everyone, and while it may seem overly simple at first, it soon reveals itself to be a challenge.  I give it a 4/5.

Happy Gaming!