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'B' is for 'Babby'

One of my favorite things about RPG Maker games is that they can explore the kinds of silly premises that a AAA studio game would never bother with. Only in an RM game can you play an RPG starring a dog.

Or in this case, a baby.

Come on, I don't even need to write any more at this point. You know you want to go play this now.



D is for Dungeon is a dungeon-crawler (get it?) with a fun twist. Every 500 years, a dark lord appears and is vanquished by a hero of light. Unfortunately, this time around the dark lord had a really aggressive PM breathing down his neck and managed to get his campaign of destruction going about twenty years early. The fabled hero is still an infant, but even so, he is the only hope for humanity. And so he boldly crawls into the dungeons to face the evil.

D is for Dungeon takes its silly premise and runs with it. The enemy graphics are mostly cute and inoffensive, the stats are adorably alliterative, and generally the game doesn't take itself seriously at all. Instead, it just as fun with itself.

when the game begins, you can decide the difficulty, name your baby, and decide your baby's starting stats. As the game uses the Tankentai side-view ATB battle system, speed is king, but the game is balanced very well and every stat feels useful and important. You can allocate stat points however you like throughout the game and generally the game offers a lot of customization and options so each playthrough will be a little different.

This must be one of those designer 'smart babies' I've been reading about.



Since your hero's comic relief sidekick and spunky love interest apparently haven't been born yet, your baby begins the game alone, armed with naught but his diapers. However, by acquiring 'soul gems' hidden through the dungeon, you may summon the spirits of great warriors to serve as companions. There is a wide variety of such companions available to be recruited, each having their own strengths and skills. This lets you build your own party and supplement your own hero's abilities however you like.

As you traverse the dungeon you'll meet a recurring shopkeeper to buy items from, hire helpers, and generally serve as your base of operations as you proceed throughout the game, managing your inventory and party for you. It's always nice to see a friendly face in a dungeon, although maybe this one is a little too friendly...

I NEED AN ADULT



So the game gives a lot of customization options, from your party to equipment to the difficulty of the game itself, but let's not kid ourselves, this whole game is about combat. You'll progress through two dozen floors of enemies to destroy the darkness. The game does offer some variety in dungeon design, from simple puzzles like lighting torches (because babies should play with matches) or even dodge traps and ambushes, but what the game really comes down to is a lot of fighting and grinding.

So how does one make grinding fun?

D is for Dungeons light-heartedness and fun enemy design help, but what really makes this game sparkle is how well-designed the combat is. The ATB bar and attack animations all come out really fast and never leave you waiting or bored. Enemies can be dispatched quickly with proper skills, and always leave rewards that feel substantial. Every time you level up, the results can be very significant. In short, combat is designed to be super user-friendly and always rewarding. This makes the battles in this game a joy to fight.

Aha! Now the rubber band's on the other claw!



I admit, I played this game on casual mode because I'm cranky and old and don't like frustration. I had a ball just breezing through the encounters and exploring the dungeon, trying out the new allies and skills that I acquired, and just experimenting. And the game lets you do that and doesn't punish you for failing to read its mind or prepare in exactly the manner it expects. It's a game that's okay with you just playing around and having fun. And of course you can crank the difficulty up if you're looking for a challenge, so there's something here for everybody.

If you're looking for a fun, accessible dungeon crawler, give D is for Dungeon a try.

Posts

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Wow! I wasn't expecting another review for this game. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much Solitayre! This was a great read and I really got the sense of how much fun you had crawling in my dungeons. I wonder what your favorite companions were.

I might make a sequel to this game in the future with different play mechanics and a greater emphasis on story. We'll see how things go though. Time is stretched thin for me these days. Thanks for the kind words good sir! They really made my day.
No Dungeon For Old Men

flip the story timeline around! Make it be an old fogey who has to save the day
Solitayre
Circumstance penalty for being the bard.
18257
I gave my baby a heavy magic build so my first ally was a Swordace with a fast bruiser build. I tried Pyrolancer next but wasn't wild about it, since the game heavily favors focusing in Brains or Brawn, not both, and the Pyrolancer's skill set didn't play well with that. I switched her for a Mantrist with the lovely party buffs and my fourth was a Peddler with her amazing whistle.
author=kentona
No Dungeon For Old Men

flip the story timeline around! Make it be an old fogey who has to save the day


Lol! And he has to reach the end of each floor before kicking the bucket. He regains a little bit of youth after each boss. I'd play it.

author=Solitayre
I gave my baby a heavy magic build so my first ally was a Swordace with a fast bruiser build. I tried Pyrolancer next but wasn't wild about it, since the game heavily favors focusing in Brains or Brawn, not both, and the Pyrolancer's skill set didn't play well with that. I switched her for a Mantrist with the lovely party buffs and my fourth was a Peddler with her amazing whistle.


Nice! I'm glad to see someone use the Peddler. She's one of my favorites.
Solitayre
Circumstance penalty for being the bard.
18257
Yeah the Peddler is great. The mass haste buff alone would make her worth using but she can also get you a lot of money.
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