Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 review – “A satisfying puzzler that will occasionally drive you crazy”

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  • Incredibly satisfying when completing a puzzle
  • Requires utmost precision
  • Definitely not for the casuals

Back in 2022, I stumbled upon a hidden gem called Dungeons of Dreadrock 2: The Dead King’s Secret, and I must say, it was a delightful return to the tricksy world of puzzle-solving! As someone who isn’t typically a whiz at puzzlers, I found myself utterly captivated by this sequel.

The story, set parallel to the original’s narrative, follows our new heroine, the priestess from the first game, on her quest for the elusive Crown of Wisdom. The cast may be small, but it is certainly mighty in creating a gripping tale that keeps you hooked. I found myself eagerly uncovering the secrets of the Holy Mother and rooting for our heroine to conquer her doubts and achieve her goal.

The game’s design is simple yet appealing, making those long hours spent deciphering tricky puzzles a bit more bearable. As you progress through the adventure, you gain new skills for your staff that add some refreshing mechanics to levels. I must admit that smacking enemies with my staff and then switching up abilities made me feel like a true puzzle-solving pro!

However, let’s not forget that this is Dungeons of Dreadrock we’re talking about – precision and speed are key elements here. The game demands your undivided attention as you navigate through timed switches, precise movement, and deadly enemies. It can be quite exhilarating when you pull off a perfect puzzle, but it can also be frustrating when a small mistake throws you back to the beginning.

My biggest gripe with the game lies in its pacing: some puzzles require an uncanny level of lateral thinking, and if you don’t have the solution, you may find yourself relying heavily on the hint system. I found myself scratching my head quite a few times as I struggled to decipher the answers.

Another issue is the balancing between the game’s precision demands and the controls: at times, they feel inconsistent, making it challenging to execute movements with ease. Swiping or changing items in your inventory can be hit-or-miss, leading to some frustrating moments.

Despite these minor setbacks, I must admit that Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 has its moments of brilliance. It provides a unique puzzle-solving experience that challenges both your mind and reflexes. If you’re looking for a game that will make you feel like a puzzling pro one moment and leave you scratching your head the next, then this is the game for you!

As an added bonus, remember: if you find yourself stuck in a dungeon of despair (or skeletons), just take a deep breath and remind yourself – even Indiana Jones needed a map now and then!

In the year 2022, I had the pleasure of assessing a relatively obscure title, Dungeons of Dreadrock, designed by Christoph Minnameier. Despite not being particularly skilled at puzzles, I recall having an enjoyable experience that was hard to forget. Therefore, when news broke about the sequel, Dungeons of Dreadrock 2: The Dead King’s Secret, I eagerly anticipated resuming my intricate escapade.

In “Dead King’s Secret,” we find a parallel narrative that intertwines with the original story, featuring appearances by its central characters, including both protagonists and their brother, as well as an engaging scene where they share the screen simultaneously. The main character in this tale is none other than the priestess who supplied the bloodstone in the initial story, and we follow her quest to obtain the enigmatic Crown of Wisdom after that point.

A rather captivating journey

Heading into the cavern under the watchful, and rather pragmatic, eye of the Holy Mother, whom you can converse with during campfire mediation, our Hero and this leader are arguably the two main characters, with a secret third popping up later, and it must be said even this small cast creates a gripping story. You want to keep playing to discover why the Holy Mother wants this crown above all else, and if your priestess can put aside her reservation and complete her goal.

With these fresh, dazzling characters, you’ll also find some captivatingly designed environments. Dreadrock might have a straightforward visual style, but it exudes an undeniable charm. This is fantastic news since you’ll be spending quite a bit of time gazing at it while tackling the intricate puzzles, initially at least.

A lot of diversity in the puzzles

We start with two skills: a magic staff that fires projectiles, and the ability to beat your target with that same stick. Throughout the adventure, your staff will change abilities, such as firing lightning or lighting fires. Smacking people is always fun, and I enjoy that your secondary ability changes – it adds some new mechanics to levels every so often.

Having spent countless hours immersed in the world of puzzle-solving games, I can confidently say that this game stands out as one of the most intriguing and challenging ones I’ve ever encountered. The variety it offers is truly remarkable, with puzzles that demand lateral thinking across multiple levels or those with fiendishly tricky solutions that are almost certainly beyond the reach of anyone trying to solve them on their own.

One particularly captivating level involves an ogre, a fire trap, and an invulnerability potion – I am convinced that no one in their right mind would be able to figure out the backwards path you’re meant to take from there. It’s a testament to the ingenuity of the game designers that they’ve managed to create such a maze-like conundrum, leaving even seasoned puzzle enthusiasts like myself scratching our heads in wonder.

I can only imagine the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment one would feel upon finally solving these mind-bending puzzles – it’s an experience I eagerly anticipate and look forward to diving back into this game for more challenges.

Luckily, Dreadrock has a very robust hint system, which borders on hilarious. It feels like you have a supportive friend with you who already completed the game. You start with gentle nudges towards the right path, but by the time you reach the last hint, your friend is saying, “Just give me the bloody controller” and it spells out the answer. I find it much funnier than it is.

You need to be on point

One of the main things you will pick up on with Dungeons of Dreadrock is just how much precision and speed play into things. Throughout the levels, you will contend with switches that need to be pressed at specific times, enemies that need killing at exactly the right spot, and moments where you need to get your movement perfect down to every single step.

The situation can get quite intense, and indeed it often does, but when you successfully navigate through it, the feeling of accomplishment is truly rewarding. There are some genuinely mind-blowing puzzles hidden within that make you feel like a genius for having solved them. I found immense pleasure in deciphering the pattern required to progress at those crucial instances.

It can be frustrating more often than it should be

Unfortunately, in one of those cases of complete and utter contradiction, the pacing is perhaps my biggest gripe. Imagine you are getting through a tricky puzzle with precise timing, and then one mistake throws you right back to the start. This by itself wouldn’t be an issue, but Dungeons of Dreadrock has some frustratingly slow enemies.

As someone who has spent countless hours navigating through video games filled with intricate puzzles and challenging enemies, I must say that the sections involving those Golem-like adversaries have been particularly tiresome in my recent gaming experiences. The slow counterattacks and laborious steps these creatures take can be frustrating, especially when you’re required to move them enormous distances without making a mistake. One wrong move and you’ll find yourself chasing after the lumbering beasts from the very beginning. It’s a tedious process that quickly wears on your patience. Having been through countless hours of gameplay, I can attest that these sections are not my favorite part of the gaming experience.

The balancing is off on some levels

Another issue I touched on briefly before: some of the levels are just too difficult. If you aren’t used to lateral thinking, you won’t get the solution. For that, the hint system is a godsend, but I found myself relying on it too much. By no means am I a puzzling genius, but I have gamed enough to know how these things work, yet some of the answers were just baffling.

I discovered one more issue: Given the high degree of precision required, the controls seem somewhat inadequate. They’re extremely inconsistent – sometimes when I swipe to move, it doesn’t respond, other times it takes me in an unintended direction, and occasionally I accidentally swipe and my character ends up in a dangerous situation. Furthermore, I couldn’t swipe through my inventory no matter how hard I tried, which made a specific skeleton level quite frustrating, possibly the most annoying gaming experience I’ve had in a while.

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2024-12-31 16:48