Super Dangerous Dungeons review
:: SUPER BAD CONTROLSPrice: FREE
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad Air 2
Graphics / Sound Rating:
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Super Dangerous Dungeons is a puzzle platformer heavily inspired by the 16bit era - and that could be to its detriment.
It's a mobile remake of the flash game,Dangerous Dungeons, and by the same developerof the Game Boy-style metroidvania Tiny Dangerous Dungeon, which featured a huge open dungeon to explore, puzzles to complete, and creatures to defeat.
That's all gone this time in favour of 48 brief levels set over four themed worlds, each of which has a boss to run away from at the end.
A backwards leap
The new design is more mobile-friendly, letting you dip in and out during a coffee break to complete a few levels. But the dumbed-down level approach feels a bit like a backward step from the focus on exploration, combat, and loot-gathering of its predecessor.
The levels aren't particularly challenging either - and would probably pose no challenge at all if the controls were as responsive as its peers League of Evil or Mikey Shorts.
It just feels too floaty. You'll try and make a simple jump but overshoot it then, when you try and backpedal in mid-air, you'll fall short. It's frustrating to say the least - particularly when you fail to achieve a simple jump at the end of a long level.
Then there's the poor collision detection. I can't count the number of times I've plummeted to my death because my character's head hit an invisible wall, or why spikes occasionally miss and hit me when I'm standing in the same spot.
On top of that, there's a chpppy framerate which is surprising to experience in a 16bit game on a device like the iPad Air 2.
Old school
Remember what I said earlier about the retro influences being a potential negative? How does drowning in a body of water smaller than your character sound?
And that's not the only issue - the whole experience just feels like a retread of what's been before. We've had pixel platformers in abundance on mobile and Super Dangerous Dungeons brings absolutely nothing new to the table.
Heck, it doesn't even live up to the sheer quality of its peers.
The bottom line
Super Dangerous Dungeons is an uninspired platformer with dodgy controls and a heavy-handed reliance on nostalgia.
If you have a real hankering for the old days you may get some pleasure from the music, feel, and searching for secret levels.
But there are far better examples of mobile platforming in abundance on the App Store. Go play them instead.