Review by Jeffery Yue: I picked up Undercroft a while ago, and at first I wasn’t really getting into it. I’m not a very big fan of turn-based RPGs, but as I progressed, Undercroft really started consuming my time. The gameplay is engaging, and the way the combat system is implemented is ingenious. I have to say that I wholeheartedly recommend this game for both fans and non-fans of turn-based and RPG games alike.
Undercroft is a dazzling, epic adventure set in a fantasy world full of magic and monsters. It combines the atmosphere of classic role playing games with plenty of new features, and brings it all together with cool graphics and sophisticated level design.
Rumors fly throughout the land of a great evil that has arisen from an old abandoned graveyard near the city of Dolbrad: The dead walk the realm, killing anyone who dares to uncover the secrets of the tombs.
You control a party of hotheaded adventurers who face setting in motion a stream of erratic events with just one unwise move — lead them to the horrific graveyard to face their unexpected fate.
Game features:
* 20 hours of gameplay with great replay value!
* A party of heroes — because the whole is more than the sum of its parts! Enjoy building unique, specialized classes. Create a combined force with powers that overcome their weaknesses and make them a crew to remember!
* Intricate plot with dozens of quests, and plenty of side-quests for extra experience gathering!
* Unique turn-based combat system perfect for well thought out strategic moves as well as for fast, fluid attacks!
* Five hero classes with a wide variety of skills and spells for unique development!
* More than 750 items and 60 types of enemies!
* Sophisticated interface with quick access to all the extensive functionality!
* Many environments ranging from fiery pits and dark underground to forests, snowy mountains and large city!
In Undercroft, there is tons of customization. Right from the get-go you can choose the faces and classes of the four members of your party. With twenty-four faces and five different classes, it’s clear that Undercroft is amazing in terms of depth. You can choose whether you want your hero to be a warrior, mage, priest, summoner, or assassin. Each class has their own advantages and disadvantages; a warrior can absorb tons of damage but has no resistance bonuses, and the other four classes all are resistant to specific elements like fire, cold, and poison.
If I haven’t stressed the point enough, Undercroft has tons of content. The description states that there is over 20 hours of playtime, 750 items, 60 types of enemies, dozens of main quests with tons of side quests, an intricate plot, and a wide variety of skills and environments. Based on couple of hours I’ve played this game, it certainly seems that way. There are definitely tons of items and enemies that I’ve fought and collected, and the quests never seem to tiring or repetitive.
The controls in Undercroft are interesting for an RPG game; since the game is turn-based, you move by pressing arrows in the direction you want to go in, and when you fight you manually choose whether you want to use a normal attack or a skill. The controls in Undercroft are well-implemented, and I never had any trouble moving around or fighting.
My only problem with Undercroft was that there wasn’t a very clear map system, and it was always hard for me to figure out where to go. Every time I got familiar with one environment, I needed to journey on to a new one. Sometimes this got frustrating for me, and I’d like to see an update with a map that shows a layout of the town and where all the NPCs are.
Clearly, Undercroft is for hardcore iDevice gamers. The amount of customization and depth in this game is mostly unparalleled on the App Store, and that’s both a good and a bad thing; with so many things to do and so many areas to explore, casual gamers will have a hard time immersing themselves in Undercroft and finding the time to enjoy the game.
All in all, Undercroft is a great game for hardcore RPG fans. You definitely won’t be disappointed when you buy the game, and I’m sure that it will last you quite a long time. Even after finishing the game, you can play it again with new faces, classes, items, and configurations. With Undercroft, the possibilities are almost endless.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/undercroft/id334240336?mt=8
Conclusion
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| lots of content and depth, long play times, tons of replayability, | not for casual gamers, no map system |
| Verdict | Great |
| Rating |
