Alchemic Dungeons (Nintendo 3DS) Review

Like the many classic fantasy games that inspired it, Alchemic Dungeons opens on the option of a character to play as, the familiar archetypes by other names; the Warrior, Wizard, Archer, and Valkyrie here being replaced with Fighter, Hunter, Dwarf and Witch. Each has slightly different stats but not really noticeable enough to make much of an impact on the overall gameplay. They each start with different equipment, too; the Witch in her robe with her staff that fires out ranged attacks compared to the Dwarf in his heavy armour and carrying his axe. Despite this assigned starting equipment, every class is able to equip any item it sees fit to craft.

Once a character is selected, it's out into the procedurally generated series of stage after stage. These are stuffed to bursting with enemies that range from simple critters like snakes and bats, through to fantasy classics like goblins, kobolds and so on. The combat being turn-based makes it quite easy at first; even when enemies gain ranged attacks and DoTs, it just requires a little bit of thought, although it gives a more enjoyable challenge in the later stages when suddenly huge mobs can appear upon entering a room. These "Pandemonium" rooms provide some frantic and fun areas.

The turn-based gameplay impacts more than just the combat in the gameplay, it gives a lot of originality to many aspects. Every step restores a little health, while also costing a little hunger from a meter that needs to be refilled by chowing down on the mushroom and animal parts rustled up along the way. Items collected up are a big part of the gameplay, too, thanks to a crafting system that can be used to make weapons and armour, along with potions, food and magical stones to enchant the armour. Initially, this is rather limited, with just stone arrows and copper blades. Completing each level rewards a coloured gem that expands the crafting catalogue, and subsequent levels offer up new crafting materials to utilise.

There are some problems with the crafting aspects, though, and they are due to the procedural nature of the adventure. It's often rather easy to end up with some equipment that makes the whole affair too simple. Enchanting weapons with life-stealing abilities and health-restoring armour makes most of the game very basic, especially with some ridiculously overpowered items like teleportation potions. The ease of acquiring gear is one problem but the opposite is another. After completing each level, the slate is wiped clean; no weapons, levels or skills are carried over, and there's no way at all to keep any progress. It's a poor design decision.

Stylistically, Alchemic Dungeons takes clear inspiration from the '80s arcade games like Gauntlet, combined with SNES-era RPGs, but with a very amateur-ish filter over the whole thing. It's serviceable enough but, definitely, has nothing that makes it stand above its phone incarnation or indeed any of the countless other phone games of the same style.