Recent reviews by lefiath

This is not a bad game. I'm only giving negative, because I don't believe the game deserves such glowing ovations - this isn't a 9/10 game. Wish I could give a neutral for this one.

The game looks, feels and sounds cool. It's an interesting spin on the rogue like formula, mixing resource gathering with sort of tower defense gameplay. There is no inventory, and physics play a big role here - if you're clumsy, you'll pay for it. You have some different game modes, some different abilities and you unlock things as you progress. You lose a game or two, start learning and progress. And here we come into problems.


You mine resources as efficiently as you can, hoping to find as many upgrades/features for your dome that will make you even more efficient, and after a certain period of time (which starts short and becomes a bit longer as the run progresses), you need to go back to your dome to defend it against a wave of enemies. On paper, it sounds great, and for few hours, it is. If I rated the game just by first impressions, it would score highly.

The hardest part of the run is the initial first half - usually, when you reach mid to late stage of a run, you are all set, and just go through motions. While you can up the difficulty to downright unfair, or add some obnoxious modifiers if you really hate yourself, the same issue applies, you still struggle at the beginning, the second half of a run is usually just part for the course. I've played the other mode, but the endless sandbox is sort of a bonus, not something I want to primarily play.

After first few hours filled with addicting gameplay, I felt a bit deflated, as I've realized that core gameplay just isn't that engaging to me. Let me try to make a comparison, so it makes more sense.


I always bring out Binding of Isaac as a perfect example of great value - it's a golden standard in rogue likes, because the game can change drastically each run. When it comes to the amount of content in a rogue like, there is a lots of it, and it's meaningful, it's not quantity over quality!

Dome Keeper doesn't have this - there is a small selection, and most importantly, it doesn't change too much during each round, as you choose the main stuff yourself. You get additional support items, which are all sorts of active powerups, ranging from an automated turrets to lifts that help you carry resources. All of this is good, but it's just not enough, there are only like 10 additional items that you can find during each run.

The game would function much better if it was multi-layered, if there were multiple things to strive for in a run, if you could switch the equipment you get, if you could buy additional things in a shop, I honestly would love to see a sequel that would borrow from BoI or similar rogue like games, because the core of this game is solid, but it's just not enough to keep me invested on it's own. The additional modes are fine, but clearly not something that can keep you occupied - if the core gameplay isn't good enough, obsessively chasing numbers does nothing for me. I also miss any kind of mystery or discovery - there isn't really anything like that. You can find few nice powerups in the mine, but they repeat in almost every run.


There isn't necessarily a strong sense of progression, which I find it be really important in these rogue-likes. While the main equipment you unlock is very meaningful, as it can change how you play the game quite a bit, I think it also sort of works against it, because after switching my character for example, my initial impression was horrible, because the new character controlled very differently, and while I'm sure the experienced gamers might prefer this character, for me, it was just hellish. And that was the first thing I've unlocked! This is clearly very subjective, so if you like the idea of completely changing parts of the game around with different core abilities, you're going to love this, because the main abilities really change the gameplay significantly.

You still do the same stuff (mining, defending), but a sword dome controlls very differently to laser dome etc., and you will feel that in your gameplay. There are some really cool additions, like a little dinosaur with a drill that helps you in the mines, an automated shotgun turret or a lift for the materials you carry. You can find a teleporter and there are many ways you can make your run easier and more convenient.


Every game is repetitive to an extent, but here, it became mindless for me. There is no danger in the mines, your only concern is to be as efficient as possible, getting back in time and use additional gadgets when you can. Also I must say the back and forth dynamics didn't quite do it for me - it's fine, but just sort of irritating here. In other games like Kingdom, you also race with time, but you have plenty of quiet time to relax. Here, if I'm not digging or moving around, I'm wasting my time, and it's not like there is anything to really see in the mines.

I've seen plenty of reviewers going for 30+ hours, so the game kept their interest for much longer than me - however, going by the achievements, I would be surprised if majority of players spent over 10 hours in this game.

Sad to say, but this game is incredibly grindy and doesn't have a gameplay loop or the amount of content similar to clear inspirations, such as Terraria or Stardew. It wants to imitate those games, but doesn't stand on it's own - it's actually closest to the Starbound, another disappointing "wannabe", which at the very least was just short and didn't have the audacity to ask for so much grind.

I didn't buy the game under premise that I'm going to have to make a Sony account, which might get hacked sometimes in the future. Scumbag corporations will be scumbag corporations. I'm doing my part!

Not for me.

Completely nonsensical puzzles that still make absolutely no sense even with the walkthrough giving me tips. Peak 90's adventure design, just as bad as I remember it, except those games at least used to have decent stories.

It's more of the same, with some new twists, just what you would expect from a sequel, or an expansion, if you will, with one problem, which I didn't think would be that big of a deal, but as I kept playing, it got worse and worse.

It's really easy. This is a puzzle game, it's not supposed to be "click somewhere and watch things move" kind of a cinematic experience. For a game, there has to be some challenge. And most of the time, it feels like you're playing a tutorial. The first game managed to keep the balance brilliantly, where I had plenty of "aha" moments, where I would briefly get stuck, but here, I've flown through the game without ever really having to think about anything. That's boring.

The game isn't bad, it's just disappointing, because I see the ideas and creativity, but it seems like the devs were really afraid this time and made sure even a demented grandma, or a 6 years old would be able to do most of the levels. And in return, the gameplay suffers, because getting the difficulty right is essential in a game, where the core gameplay is the king. I enjoy the world, but I'm not playing this just to see shapes move. The music and presentation remains awesome - but that alone is never enough of a reason to play a game.

Almost everybody mentions it, but nobody has the guts to call the developers out for it - well, I'm doing that right now. I want a sequel, but it should be closer to the first game. If it's going to be in the spirit of the second game, where I can get through it without turning my brain on, I'm not gonna bother.

Tis be a good game! Shame it never got finished, it is! Not much, but what is there, satisfying, so says the Duke!

I wish there was more, but I'm afraid some stories just aren't meant to be. Still, I am grateful I got to play it. Unlike many other adventure games with their batsh*it moon logic, I was actually able to figure everything out on me own, so i'll take it. I would rather have a simple game that's short than a one where I'll spend half the time consulting walkthrough, because no sane person could ever figure things on their own.

It's well written, even though Duke sort of changes his personality a bit over the course of the game, which was explained by the devs actually starting him off as more of a caveman, which quickly got old, so he then becomes a bit... wiser and less retarded. And there is an almost bizarre attention to detail with lots of little things to explore and Duke's ability to comment on just about everything, even if 75% of it doesn't make any sense (there is a unique reaction to trying to bite/eat just about every object or a person).

Great little appetizer without followup, which sadly seemed to happen to Bill Tiller a lot, as I still remember A Vampyre Story 2 never becoming a thing. Still, especially for the price, a must play for any adventure game enjoyer.

It's somewhat short, but of high quality - I really appreciate how I didn't have to use any help to complete the game, a lot of puzzles are quite easy, but even the harder ones are done so well that it's hard to get stuck, and the "aha" moment will come sooner than later.

Sadly, this is quite the outlier, as I've played many puzzle games that are more popular, but have been nowhere near as polished when it comes to the logic of the puzzles itself. So a must have, if you enjoy puzzles at all.

It's one of these games that starts rather strong, and then gets progressively worse - not by that much, but at times it really stings. This game's final act feels unfinished, and might cause you some grief - I've played on hard, which probably wasn't the best idea for a first playthrough, but I don't think I'll be playing it again any time soon. It's hard to recommend the game, but I will cautiously do it, just for the gameplay, which is satisfying and unique - after all, the core gameplay is the most important thing about a game, and here, it's solid.


I was concerned about the story and acting, as it was mentioned in some of the negative reviews in particular, but then I've looked back at how poorly written those reviews were, which put me at ease. The main story itself isn't bad, but it's balancing on the edge of being cringeworthy, as there are plenty of awkward moments, not just lines, entire scenes (the whispering is something you have to get used to, and I completely understand if some people just disregard it as corny - it's not a good idea, as far as I am concerned, but the actress does a decent job, so it never really bothered me). If a studio like Remedy could take this story and properly rework it, I think it could be amazing, but alas, you get there is, and sometimes, I think it's for the better to suspend your disbelief. It does a decent job and even though the ending is lackluster, the journey was satisfying enough.


Initially not convinced, I've eventually really grown to like the combat - when you unlock the first few basic maneuvers, it really becomes second nature, not too overwheming, but complex enough - this is what games like Falconeer would wish they could be. However, at times, you will be facing brief difficulty spikes, with plenty of smaller things that frustrated me, and I've begrudginly pushed through them.

There are lots of smaller things I could criticize, like your ship looking like a tiny model inside the hangar, where the devs just didn't manage to capture any scope, but those don't take away from the game being enjoyable and reasonably immersive. I've accepted the game's world, for what it was worth, and had fun with it. The world and music are beautiful, it's not "the top" that would blow your mind, but it certainly felt good existing in this world. Maps are unique, different and stand out from each other.

What made my blood boil were the boss fights and few encounters with harder enemies - this game is mainly about combat, so it makes sense that the frustration will come from this. Especially the final boss, which will make you howl "In Chorus!", when you finally lose your mind and curse the developers, to put the game down for few weeks, only to come back and beat the boss rather easily... what gives? The bosses aren't necessarily difficult, but despite some basic instructions, you will be puzzled what exactly you are supposed to do to stay alive, given the game's rather overwhelming nature - you are flying around, very fast, dodging all sorts of crap on your screen, and during these fights, it's very easy to get overwhelmed, as it almost turns into a bullet hell, except in full 3D space. When you get a grip and realize what exactly you're supposed to do, it's quite fair, and there are reasonable checkpoints, but I just wish the game didn't feel so overwhelming at times.

This is a prime candidate to be remade by studio like Remedy, who insist on continuously making games, where you run around with a human, so why not a spaceship? The gameplay is great and begs to be adopted by a larger studio with more time and budget to make it into something really special. But for now, if you want something different, and aren't deterred by some jank, give it a try.

Unfortunately, compared to the much more famous rip-off Game Dev Tycoon, this one falls really short. I've tried, but even though this is the original classic, it hasn't aged well at all, couldn't get to it due to several small nuisances. It has it's charm, but it's really begging for modern reimagining with much needed quality of life improvements.