Review

Developed by:Dodge Roll Published by:Devolver Digital Genre(s):
  • Shoot’em UP
  • Platform:
  • Microsoft
  • Nintendo
  • PC
  • Sony
  • Cost:$14.99 ESRB Rating:EVERYONE 10+ Players:1-2 Release date:April 5, 2016 Reviewed on:PC
    8.8

    Enter the Gungeon

    Have you ever asked yourself “I wondered what it would be like if the Legend of Zelda and Contra had a baby?” Yeah, neither have I, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a really great idea. Now that the idea is stuck in your head, thank the gaming heavens because something like that actually exists…

    What’s the name of this glorious incantation of video game breeding, you ask? I’d call it the “Legend of Guns” but the developers at Dodgeroll have named it “Enter the Gungeon” – clearly, they know what they’re doing.  This top-down dungeon crawler pays homage to some of the greatest video games while still creating its own identity through addictive gameplay and wacky storyline. Somewhere on a remote planet is a fortress that houses a legendary gun, rumored to be able to kill the past. The fortress seemed impenetrable, that is until a giant bullet fell from the sky, destroying everything in sight. Afterwards, a new fortress was built by living bullets or undead bullets (they’re called the gundead). Now four Gungeoneers have ventured forth to lay claim to the gun. Apparently, they all regret something from their past and the prospect of acquiring the legendary gun is worth facing legions of gun toting bullets.

    If you’re like me, you need some time to pick up pieces of your brain all over the place because that’s such an awesomely ridiculous idea. But it fits the game’s style once you dig deeper into the Gungeon. After picking one of these Gungeoneers, you’ll venture into the tomb like fortress. Similar to games like Crypt of the NecroDancer, the layout of each floor is procedurally generated; where the rooms are located and what’s in them change every time you visit that area. Though the layout changes, they all have a theme and one of three possible bosses per floor. At the bottom of course, is the main boss who protects the legendary gun. With only five floors, you’d think that it wouldn’t be that hard to reach the end. That’s far from the truth. With bullets filling the screen at any given moment, you’ll need to be on your toes.

    No seriously. This isn’t an easy game. But that’s what really makes Enter the Gungeon shine. It gives us that nostalgia of playing a game and feeling accomplished because you actually had a hard time finishing it. No, it isn’t incredibly story driven like most games dropping today. What it lacks in story driven plot it significantly gains in non-repetitive gameplay. Each level brings another raid of difficult enemies in different formations ready to kill anyone who comes for the legendary gun. You’re going to die. That’s a given. And with the roguelike elements forcing you to restart your journey after perishing, death can seem like a harsh pill to swallow. Through progression though, and some dungeon hunting, you will unlock powerful guns to help you take down anybody in your way; they’ll unlock, meaning once found they can drop randomly while playing. Trust me, you’ll need it because this is no walk in the park.

    The pace and random nature of things keeps the action from going dull. One minute you’re fighting against sniper rifle wielding bullets and then all of sudden, you’re bombarded by mages that fill the screen with projectiles. Flipping tables to create cover or dodge rolling through blasts in order to line up your shot is all a part of the fun. Don’t get me started on the crazy bosses with clever names – The Beholster and The Gorgun come to mind.

    The moment you load up the game things will feel familiar, but in the best kind of way. It’s astounding how, with all these advancements in technology, some of the best looking games are 2D titles. From the adorably dangerous gundead to the exceptionally difficult boss battles, everything seems so new but just feels familiar. I can’t tell you how funny it was the first time I saw a gundead flip a table for cover on me and fire back. It’s hard not to smile when your enemy is a gun wielding shotgun round that’s flipping around the room like he’s in a John Woo film. Basically, Enter the Gungeon has a retro style that feels fresh in today’s market.

    My only issue is the lack of a four player mode. I really feel like there was a missed opportunity here for some co-op gameplay. With an added difficulty for having 4 players, it could have been like old an arcade game. I know it would have changed the gameplay a bit, but I’d be willing to give up a bit of that just so I can enjoy this experience with my friends in real-time. This isn’t me asking for the original campaign to be co-op, but maybe a different game mode like fighting waves of gungeon characters to add to the overall play time. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of secrets, unlockable items, and so on. It just seems like it would be more fun if the developer allowed for more than just two players to tackle the fortress.

    Extremely fast paced combat in a beautifully rendered 2d top-down world takes us back to our roots while showing us that we can still grow as gamers and developers – Devolver has been on fire when it comes to picking talented developers to get behind. Enter the Gungeon earned the right to stand by its brethren in gaming. With its silly premise and dungeon crawling/roguelike elements, I couldn’t help but to smile throughout my entire playthrough. Speaking of playthroughs, it’s time I laced up those shell toes and slid back into my old parachute pants; I have a Gungeon to take over!

    Gameplay:

    9

    Easy to learn shooter mechanics mask the game’s difficulty. After a few failed runs, you won’t be able to play “just one more time”.

    Graphics:

    9

    Take what made classic shooters look great, throw in some styling aesthetics, and finally add silly characters. BOOM…an awesome looking game!

    Sound:

    8

    The nostalgic, arcade like music and pew pew…all I needed was somebody behind me complaining that I was taking too long on their favorite machine.

    Replay Value:

    9

    This was the easiest to score. Whether it be a speed run or just another playthrough, it’s easily worth completing again and again.

    Final Score:

    8.8

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