Dungeons: The Eye of Draconus

[crimefighters3]

Another new beat em up.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/303510/

While I love the sprite work and the gameplay is decent, the engine is just too sloppy. I really wished they'd used Obor for this.

Still love some of those sprites, it's a real pity.

 

[aL BeasTie]

I'm just curious, I'm sure I'd agree if I played it.  But if the gameplay is okay why does he engine matter?

What are the shortcomings of the game caused by the engine?

I can see few reasons OpenBOR was, sadly, not an option for them.

•1-3 player online / local co-op
•Hand Painted Backgrounds
•Un-lockable Steam Achievements, Cards and Badges

 

[crimefighters3]

I suppose you have have a point. It just feels loose and it is glitchy, the gameplay also doesn't feel very solid kind of floaty. Apparently their netcode wasn't so good either.

I'm sure it probably go on sale for a dollar at some point, worth getting for the sprite work, hopefully they have a revision someday, it just wasn't very popular at all though.

 

[DCurrent]

I'm just curious, I'm sure I'd agree if I played it.  But if the gameplay is okay why does he engine matter?

I have to agree, although if the engine was custom built and I imagine it was, then it kind IS their engine's fault for some of it. Particularly the floaty mechanics (bad gravity system).

That said, it's more design and preference than anything. I don't care for the loose "anything is a combo" Castle Crashers style game play in a beat em' up. For one thing, it's an excuse not to have cool grappling. IMO if you don't have grappling at least on par with Streets of Rage, then you've already started off on the wrong foot.

The other problem with a loose and floaty system is it just doesn't have that brutal impact, and the sound effects used don't help matters. I want to feel like the characters are beating the holy crap out of each other. When Blaze suplexes some goon so hard it shakes the ground or smashes a lead pipe upside his head you almost feel sorry for the guy. Then Max walks up...

Games like this feel more like you're just swinging wildly with a tennis racquet and hoping to be the last guy standing when it's over.

DC

 

[aL BeasTie]

I totally understand what you mean about the impact of moves, that's usually my gripe with most games.  I at least try to add this to my openbor mods best I can, finding the right sfx, tweaking animations so moves look convincing etc. 

 

[O Ilusionista]

Games like this feel more like you're just swinging wildly with a tennis racquet and hoping to be the last guy standing when it's over.

That happens in many Mugen chars too.