Type of permadeath?

[DirectOrder]

I saw the description on the store page mentioned Permadeath, and that got me really excited. However, can you elaborate on how permadeath will work in this game? I feel like it typically does not work very well in games where you have multiple characters in a party, because it's very rare for all of them to die at the same time. And even if you have one still alive, you can usually go back to town and recruit more characters. So even though you permanently lose characters along the way, you can just replace them, and you very rarely have to start over from the beginning.

The next thing I'm about to say is just MY opinion, and I realize that others don't share my opinion, and I'm not trying to force it on anybody. I'm just trying to find out if this game is for me.

The thing I like about permadeath is the exhilaration from standing at death's door, and knowing that I will lose EVERYTHING (including dozens of hours of progress) if I die and have to start over from the beginning. Games that work like I described above (with permadeath on individual party members, but rarely losing the game outright) don't really provide this excitement, because you are never really risking EVERYTHING, you are just risking a few individuals that are easily replaceable. Sure, it sucks to lose a high level character, but you get to keep playing and retain 90% of your progress. I play permadeath games to risk ALL of my progress, not 10% here and 15% there.

Can anybody describe how permadeath works in this game? Again, I'm not saying this is bad game if it doesn't work like *I* want it to. I am not the majority. I just want to know if *I* will enjoy it.

Thanks! And sorry for the wall of text. It's hard to describe in just a few words :)

[Pixel Hero]

Hi Denigrate!
I'm really glad to hear that your personal concept of how permadeath should work in a game represents exactly what we were aiming for with Pixel Heroes.

You have three Heroes and once you enter a dungeon there is no turning back. If one of your Heroes dies, you first have to complete the whole dungeon (including the boss) before you can revive him at the town. It's really hard to do this with just two or one Hero left so you will be finding yourself at the brink of death quite often.

I hope this answers your question.

[Pixel Manuel]

If one of your heroes dies you will have to finish with the rest of your party. There's no way to get back to town to get a new hero or revive during a dungeon.
Only after you have finished the dungeon and managed to get back into town you can revive the fallen heroes in the temple (in Pixel Heroes Death is corrupt so you can buy your heroes back). But there has to be at least one hero to get back into town.

And believe me: if you lose one of your heroes during a dungeon it won't be easy to beat this dungeon. So the chance of losing all your heroes isn't that small once you have lost one.

But if all of your heroes are dead - that's it. No reload, continues or revvive. They stay dead.
You can only mourn them in your graveyard and you have to start a new game.

So in every battle it is always the "on the edge of death" feeling. Specially if you have spent hours of playing to get to the higher dungeons.

[DirectOrder]

Thank you so much for your responses. You just sold me on your game :) I wish more party-based RPGs took this approach. I can't wait to play it!

[Kloodge]

I respect all opinions and know that not every game is for everyone. I just wanted to toss it out there that non-optional permadeath is the sole reason I will be passing on the game.

An easy mode where you can run away or resurrect in town would hurt no one and sell more copies.

[Sanctified Reach 420]

agreed

Originally posted by Kloodge:

I respect all opinions and know that not every game is for everyone. I just wanted to toss it out there that non-optional permadeath is the sole reason I will be passing on the game.

An easy mode where you can run away or resurrect in town would hurt no one and sell more copies.

[Jaquo Da Jester]

I mean yeah it isn't your cup of tea but take the Fire Emblem series. Awesome by far but if your character goes down, POOF! that's it! Luckily Awakening didn't use all the methods the original series did. Still a fun game is fun. Raging hard, punch a wall fun, but fun none the less.

[Darkborn24890]

Originally posted by Kloodge:

I respect all opinions and know that not every game is for everyone. I just wanted to toss it out there that non-optional permadeath is the sole reason I will be passing on the game.

An easy mode where you can run away or resurrect in town would hurt no one and sell more copies.

I totally agree with you. Just because some people like hardcore games, doesnt mean that everybody likes them. And it would not hurt to add a difficulty mode for people who prefer a more simple approach of a game. Sadly, but I to have to pass on such games. just not willing to waste my time and then loose everything, just to restart from Zero. Nah.