Pixel Descent

Introduction

Descend into the abyss and face relentless enemies in a quest for secrets and glory. This game blends methodical combat, strategic tactics, and randomized level design for an engaging dungeon-crawling experience. If you’re up for the challenge, prepare for fast-paced action, pixel-perfect visuals, and an ever-present race against time.

Storyline

The story is pretty simple so I will just copy it from the game description. Without fear, you signed the contract which would forever sever your ties to the world above, and now it is your sworn duty to brave the abyss and uncover the secrets of the old world. Your death is guaranteed, but so is your status as a legend. That is basically it.

Gameplay

The gameplay is a mix of fun and methodical combat and tactics. The most important things that will decide if you win is understanding the pathfinding of enemies and also how both of your attacks work. You will have to not only kill hordes of enemies but also destroy their spawn points and find keys to be able to unlock parts of the level and get to exit. It is really important to learn enemies move speed and for the ones that shoot at you their bullets color and attack patterns.

You go deeper and deeper underground and defeat more powerful monsters on each level till you will find the last level with dragon that is the boss in hopes of finding the answers to your questions about the old world. Along the way you will also meet some unique enemies that have their own attack patterns and are basically mini-bosses. With time you also become more powerful thanks to collecting XP from defeated enemies and leveling your attacks and stats. There are 21 heroes to choose from – 4 are unlocked from the start – the rest you have to unlock by using the gold that you can find on the levels. Gold is also used for unlocking the permanent upgrades so all your next runs will become little easier. Levels are good as they are a mix of premade maps that the game picks randomly from the map pool and then it randomizes where the keys and potions and chests will be and what types of enemies will be in what part of each level and where the exit will be placed.

The game also requires you to move fast as on each level after you spend 7 minutes there the death will spawn and will start to move slowly in your direction trying to kill you. For me this is not a big problem as the more you learn about the game and your heroes the easier it is to clean each level before the death spawn or even just pick the last chest or kill a few enemies when it spawn and escape before it gets near you. But for some players such mechanic that limits the time they can spend on each level can be something that they can’t deal with and thus this game might not be fun for them.

I think that some heroes are just more powerful than others just because they got better attacks in my opinion by having better attack patterns and speed etc. I think it is mostly personal feeling but I just find that the heroes with attacks that have the best speed are the strongest while heroes with the slowest attacks are the weakest. I think this is because of how fast spawners can create new monsters thus making fast attacks more valuable than slow ones.

Graphics and Sound

The game uses a good looking pixel sprites so all the heroes you can pick and all the enemies you will fight against look good. All heroes attacks also looks good and are unique for each hero thus showing the amount of work that was put into pixel graphics to represents these attacks and each hero own identity. I also like that each level has it’s own music setting the tone for each level. Because each level has it’s own music the music in the game is never boring – it would be hard to listen to the same music for one hour but it is not boring if every 4-8 minutes you get to a new level and you get new music that fits that level perfectly.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: A mix of strategic combat, pathfinding, and tactical enemy management.
Variety of Heroes: 21 heroes with unique attacks and abilities, offering diverse playstyles.
Challenging Levels: Randomized layouts and enemy placements keep each run fresh.
Progression System: XP and gold allow for upgrades and hero unlocks, adding replayability.
Time Pressure Mechanic: The death spawn adds urgency and excitement to each level.
Pixel Art: Visually appealing pixel graphics that bring heroes and enemies to life.
Dynamic Music: Unique tracks for each level enhance immersion and variety.

Cons

Simple Story: The minimal narrative might not appeal to players seeking a deep plot.
Time Pressure Stress: The death mechanic may frustrate players who prefer a slower pace.
Hero Balance: Some heroes feel significantly stronger due to faster attack speeds.
Repetitive Objectives: Despite randomization, the core gameplay loop may feel repetitive over time.
Steep Learning Curve: Understanding enemy patterns and tactics can be challenging for new players.

Conclusion

This dungeon-crawler offers satisfying combat, strategic depth, and vibrant pixel art, making it a solid pick for fans of fast-paced action and roguelike mechanics. While the minimal story and time-pressure mechanic may not appeal to everyone, the variety of heroes and dynamic levels keep the experience fresh and engaging. A great choice for those who enjoy descending into chaos and battling their way to glory.

Rating: 7/10