real game

Tldr is, try this game if you are a fan of the genre, but also remember that there are better ones. I originally wrote this review at 13 hour mark, then updated with relevant thoughts as I played more.

Early game is very boring and repetitive, especially with starting arrangement of classes. I think not wanting to do another run after dying is an extremely bad sign for a roguelike.

Lack of an easy to use look function, incomplete damage breakdown in-game, and very interesting design choices as to status effects and their availability make this game not that comfortable to play.

Certain design decisions make this game feel kinda boring when compared to the closest alternatives - Adom, Qud, DFAdventure Mode, CDDA i guess too if we are on it. I am pretty sure that this feeling should be gone by the point you reach level 25, but I was severely disappointed when a class such as archmage felt like it could boil down to shooting different colored arrows. (update: i was correct, the game starts to be fun once you get your first prodigy (ie, some cool super power), but i think its an interesting indicator of how the game feels and how much of fun is derived from your build and less so interesting world for it to exist in)

The game does not use conventional healing item system - instead resorting to something unique - Infusions. Infusions are magical runes that can be inscribed onto your character to give them access to new abilities (on cooldown), such as healing, teleportation, status cleanse, etc. Enemies also get access to infusions and understanding the system, what enemies have what, and how you can deal with that is very important.

The game uses a system of fixed dungeons with a randomized layout with a possibility of additional random encounters and structures within. Some dungeons open up to higher tier areas, but you are in most cases warned about the rough danger of a zone. Sometimes the warning is a lie, level 35 orc cryomancer isnt a fun encounter to have when you are a level 9 barbarian.

As for dying, I think the main problem is that once you do, it is back to the same 3-4 dungeons for you, then the other 3-4 dungeons, then the other, etc, etc, which takes a while and is really, really boring. It is not helped by the fact that almost every single early on dungeon feels like its populated by some random combination of rat, skeleton, bandit, shooting rock, random vermin, troll, giant, etc, who in term all feel like chaff.
(update: the game keep reusing enemies majorly even into the late game, however the dungeon and enemy diversity does get better. the sight of the WHITE RAT, LEVEL 38 gave me an aneurysm though.)

Another issue is very incomprehensive textlog of what happens in combat, meaning that when you do die it feels like a setback, more so than a learning experience. My last death was to an assassin lord, and the only thing I learned is to have more HP I guess. (update: assassin lord is basically unbeatable for a new player, as it is a one-time encounter you get once you reach a certain level - and the lord massively outlevels you at this point. if you back out, its lost)

Enemy AI is interesting and can actually guess where you are, and try to hit you even if they dont see you. Projectiles also have speed, meaning that you will often have an opportunity to move out of their way.

Stealth is boring and doesn`t feel like stealth.

Writing in the game is varying in quality, but doesnt feel that original. (update: i wanted to be charitable but its very bad, i am sorry)

Very nice game