Characters are both parody and tributes to sci-fi archetypes but ruun much deeper than caricatures. Whether leaving it up to turret defenses to stave off enemy forces or a matter of making a run for the lift, ascending each floor is consistently challenging and fun.ĭotE features the most diverse character roster I’ve ever seen in a sci-fi game. Once an elevator’s discovered, players have the option to carry the crystal to the next floor however, lifting the crystal causes all the doors on the floor to open and for enemies to come pouring out. “Industry” is used to build turret defenses and resource modules, “food” to level and heal characters, “science” to upgrade modules and turrets, and “dust,” a resource collected by opening doors and defeating enemies, to power rooms. At the start of each turn, enemy forces spawn in unlit rooms and players are awarded resources. Rather than countdowns cuing enemy waves, “turns” marked by players opening doors dictate the flow of gameplay. Players can control character movement and abilities as well as build defenses all within a single turn. The objective of the game is to ascend all thirteen floors of a sci-fi dungeon by locating every floor’s elevator, meanwhile defending and transporting a crystal that acts as home-base. Gameplay is essentially a turn-based system playing out in real-time. It may sound like a big mess but, trust me, it quickly becomes intuitive. It took me a few trial runs to figure out the system of building defenses, managing resources, scouring room to room for an elevator, and leveling and equipping characters all while defending a home base. In case, you’re unfamiliar with DotE, gameplay blends elements of turn-based strategy, tower defense, and dungeon crawl beautifully, resulting in well-balanced, inimitable gameplay testament to Amplitude’s wit and care. Organic Matters makes some subtle additions to mix up dungeon crawling and Rescue Team, despite its characters’ bland visual design, brings a nice helping of new content to DotE at a price too reasonable to pass up. The new Organic Matters Update and Rescue Team DLC bring an abundant roster of characters, enemies, and tools into play, Amplitude Studios admirably supporting the title over a year after release. Most importantly, however, Dungeon of the Endless’ gameplay loop never failed to compel me. Its original cast defied genre stereotypes without contrivance, every character design unique and running much deeper than pure role reversal. Its Rogue-lite elements allowed players to create personal sci-fi narratives while its diverse, defined cast of characters brought substance to its otherwise procedurally generated mission. Dungeon of the Endless was one of my favorite games of 2014.
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