In Endless Dungeon, Sega and Amplitude Studios bring forth a thrilling amalgamation of roguelite, tactical action, and tower defense set within Amplitude’s long-running Endless franchise. Stranded on an abandoned space station, players must navigate treacherous corridors, strategically open doors, and fend off hordes of monsters to safeguard a fragile crystal against relentless waves of adversaries. Whether braving the dangers solo or teaming up in 3-player co-op, the game offers a diverse and challenging experience that combines the intensity of a twin-stick shooter with the foresight required in a tower defense game – we tried it out on a PlayStation 5.
The game introduces a cast of shipwrecked heroes, each contributing unique skills and personalities to assemble a squad tailored to the player’s preferences and preferred style of cooperation. The narrative unfolds gradually as players delve deeper into the space station, revealing a tragic history that over time adds a narrative layer to the gameplay. The cyclical nature of the game, with death leading to reloading in the Saloon for upgrades and a chance to try again, ensures that each failure is a stepping stone to growth and improvement – while the narrative context urges you to push on.
With its gameplay formula, Endless Dungeon blends strategy and action well, requiring players to carefully consider which doors to open, as each choice has consequences that can be a matter of life and death. The procedural generation of stages adds replayability, and the mix of shooting and defense is finely balanced. The variety of characters, locations, and weapons keeps the experience fresh, providing a dynamic and enjoyable gameplay loop – staving off a sense of repetition for quite a while.
Visually, Endless Dungeon exudes a bright and colorful vibe, capturing the essence of Sega aesthetics more so than previous Amplitude games did. The characters, despite having a limited amount of dialogue, have a sense of personality, contributing to the game’s lighthearted yet adventurous hero-like tone. The space station setting feels alive as well, with diverse environments and engaging level design that manages to maintain a cohesive and visually appealing atmosphere – very much unlike the cold interiors often seen in space stations.
However, amidst the excitement, combat can become a little confusing in crowded situations, where visibility becomes an issue as you get overrun. Navigating through packed battles is meant to be a challenge, but shouldn’t be hindered by an overly crowded view of the battlefield. Despite this, the overall presentation always remains solid – this is just a bit of nitpicking.
Endless Dungeon’s (fresh take on) tower defense elements stand out, offering players the opportunity to strategically deploy turrets, manage resources, and adapt to evolving challenges. The integration of an upgrade system, diverse weaponry, and a persistent progression structure in the Saloon adds depth to the roguelike experience. While the randomness of available weapons and turrets may occasionally lead to frustrating moments when things don’t fall your way for a while, the overall balance of challenge and reward is well-maintained.
In conclusion, Endless Dungeon stands as an entertaining, polished, and finely-tuned roguelike that successfully merges action and tactics. Whether played solo or in co-op, the game combines impactful micro-decisions, a good cast of characters, and a compelling cycle of exploration, defense, and progression. While combat may get overwhelming at times, the game’s strengths in gameplay variety, strategic depth, and charming aesthetics make it an excellent addition to the Endless franchise. We had first played this one a year ago during Gamescom, and the final game has been well worth the wait.
Score: 8.0/10
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