Portal Dungeon: Goblin Escape

Even though it seems at first glance like this was just a generic game thrown together with cheap assets, it ended up being playable and entertaining enough for a few hours. Just don't expect much. You, a goblin slave, have been given the task of clearing 20 portals. If you've ever played a game similar to this one, you won't have much issue handling the enemies and traps. If there’s an enemy standing in your way, hit it. If there’s a hazard, jump or avoid it. That is all there is to know. A stage is completed when you find a key and kill a set number of enemies. Controls are weird and have this floaty feel to them. Gamepad is supported, but buttons can’t be changed. The attack's location on the right shoulder button was the greatest mistake. When all you're doing is pressing the button, it's incredibly awkward. I don't understand why this wasn't moved to one of the two free face buttons. Common adversaries that may be found in every hack and slash game are blocking your path. You will only be battling spiders, dogs, rats, some large ogres and nasty leeches. For each of the five environments, there is typically just one enemy, however they come in various types. There are very few stages where you'll be battling multiple species at once. They lack intelligence and die quickly, especially when the door is too narrow for them and they just stand there. However, as the door closes behind you, they enjoy ambushing you out of nowhere. The issue arises during ludicrous boss fights against king-sized variations of the main enemy. You must constantly move and hammer the attack button because there is no dodge button. But you'll quickly understand that there is no strategy because you will always get hit. The only approach to defeat them is to upgrade often enough to outlast the boss in a direct fight. Thankfully, only the first two bosses are actually dangerous. The other two are just sitting there, minding their own business. Overall, the second half of the game felt like there was lack of ideas. Stages got shorter, the key was nearby and you only had to kill a few enemies. The final stage was disappointing; a gauntlet of five rooms for each enemy type and no big bad boss. Every other object on the level, save walls and the structures, can be destroyed for coins. You name it: pots, tables, bookshelves, etc. The marked walls that conceal a hidden chest can be destroyed, but the rest is made of solid stone. The key needed to complete the stage is the primary, more significant reason to destroy items. Depending on the level, the key might be hidden in a random object. The acquired coins are used to upgrade the goblin’s armor and starting pickaxe. It’s a big plus that upgrades are also visible on the character. While your weapon gradually get more lethal and transforms into swords, axes, and finally battleaxes, armor only adds more plates to the body. You only ever carry one weapon; the upgrade merely replaces it. You can replay previous stages and grind for cash if a weapon doesn't feel powerful enough. The goblin also gains experience by hitting things. You advance in level and receive a couple more points for your overall health once the bar is filled. All of this may be done in the main portal room, which also contains the bestiary, healing station, and challenges. If you don't want to bother with the three available, you can refresh the challenges with a token. Because you can view opponent health, damage, and in which portal they can be found, the bestiary is quite fascinating. With the exception of the multiplayer achievement, which requires you to revive a player, the rest of the achievements are nice and doable. The issue with multiplayer is that no one is playing the game. I’ve had to ask on the discussion board and luckily found a gamer willing to help. Also, there's a clipping issue when you upgrade armor and weapons too much; your character will clip through the floor when you die.