Dungeon Hunter: Alliance is not a good game. Don’t be fooled that it’s technically competent and is the first PSN RPG to feature four player co-op; it’s a soulless, dull hack and slash that was done better by Diablo back in 1996.
 |
| “Don’t judge a book by its cover” works both ways |
The comparisons to Diablo will run through this review, because Dungeon Hunter: Alliance copies it in every way possible. You’ll start the game out in a crypt, and are quickly introduced to a silly story where you’re a long-dead king brought back to life to deal with a wife who you tried to bring back from the dead but came back corrupted, killed you and is now terrorising the local population.
Which means in four-player, there are four long-dead kings running around. Poor setup, really, and it also means that this game is a sausage fest. Female characters not welcome. From the crypt, you’ll proceed to trek down samey dungeon halls which, although technically proficient are generic to the point of boredom, and slaughter equally generic goblins, demons and undead.
Once you complete this generic tutorial, you’ll emerge into a generic fantasy town (with a downbeat theme song which almost sounds like it was pulled from Diablo), where you’ll shop, accept more quests, and then trek back through the same dungeon setups. To be fair, the highlight of the entire game is here in this town – a street kid’s soundbite channels Summoner Geeks. That bit is funny.
 |
| Wow. Because we haven’t seen these guys a hundred times before |
Why Diablo was successful was it captured a real Gothic atmosphere within its randomised dungeons, with Dungeon Hunter, it’s just bland. There’s no creepy atmosphere, there’s no gloomy halls. Although the visuals are technically well-done, they’re just not interesting.
What really kills Gameloft’s knockoff is the gameplay itself. You have three characters to choose from – a mage, fighter and rogue – and just like in Diablo they have skill trees, and status points that you can upgrade each time you get a new level. The game does a poor job of explaining how this all works though – it’s almost like you’re expected to have played Diablo before this game, but if you have, it’s straightforward enough.
Enemies attack you in respectable sized swarms, and you’ll beat them down with a respectable variety of attacks. The button layout is good – the ever-vital potions are mapped to L1, and it quickly becomes the most important button.
 |
| Sigh. If Gameloft would just put a little effort into some original ideas, its games would be great |
But it’s all too boring to get into. The character moves fairly slowly, and the backtracking to find potion dispensing glowing crystals (I kid you not) will have you comatose. You can team up with 3 people, and like everything else in the game, it works largely without fault, but then you’re going to end up with four bored people being bored together. Bosses are sometimes tough, but dull design means they’re also completely forgettable.
This technically-competent-but-bland knockoff is Gameloft to a T, of course, and in all fairness, at least this RPG isn’t laboured with needing to produce a “quality” story like Eternal Legacy failed at miserably.
But then this is $Aus20 – approximately twice as much as it’s worth. Modern Combat: Domination gets away with being a cheap Call of Duty knock-off because it is actually cheap. This game is expensive for PSN, and you can get a retail copy of the far superior, more modern Diablo homage, Sacred 2
for around that price. Don’t bother with this.
for around that price. Don’t bother with this.
The affiliate link to Amazon provides Digitally Downloaded with revenue. It keeps us fed, and we write better news and reviews when we’re fed 🙂
I grabbed this game last night and played it for 7 hours straight.
I cought my self reviewing it in the back of my head on my way to work this morning, and here's the short version:
I was nearly exctatic to have obtained this game, yet constantly thinking that this realy is not a good game by any standards.
What makes it a good pick-up is the time and place.
Ever since I finally decided get a console after having been a persistant PC gamer since the Nintendo SNES day, I've unsucessfully been searching for some local co-op RPG action.
This game is it.
In lack of an alternative, and if you're missing some oldschool hack, slash and lootwhooring multiplayer, this game is worth the money.
But if you're a reviewer, this is easy pray to every stereotypical fault a game might have.
I am glad I picked it up, and I wil be playing it again tonight and fully enjoying it. Despite the game connoisseur in me deeming the game lousy.
I grabbed this game last night and played it for 7 hours straight.
I cought my self reviewing it in the back of my head on my way to work this morning, and here's the short version:
I was nearly exctatic to have obtained this game, yet constantly thinking that this realy is not a good game by any standards.
What makes it a good pick-up is the time and place.
Ever since I finally decided get a console after having been a persistant PC gamer since the Nintendo SNES day, I've unsucessfully been searching for some local co-op RPG action.
This game is it.
In lack of an alternative, and if you're missing some oldschool hack, slash and lootwhooring multiplayer, this game is worth the money.
But if you're a reviewer, this is easy pray to every stereotypical fault a game might have.
I am glad I picked it up, and I wil be playing it again tonight and fully enjoying it. Despite the game connoisseur in me deeming the game lousy.
Hi Zzar,
I think you've hit the nail on the head – and it applies to most Gameloft games. They're guilty pleasures. They're bad games, but because they're usually the first of any given genre on the service, people buy and play them.
Iplayed a lot of Modern Combat: Domination, even thought I knew it was a bad game. They're easy to play and comfortably familiar.
I just wish Gameloft would put a bt more effort in once in a while. There's some talent over there, it would be nice to see that talent put to use.
Hi Zzar,
I think you've hit the nail on the head – and it applies to most Gameloft games. They're guilty pleasures. They're bad games, but because they're usually the first of any given genre on the service, people buy and play them.
Iplayed a lot of Modern Combat: Domination, even thought I knew it was a bad game. They're easy to play and comfortably familiar.
I just wish Gameloft would put a bt more effort in once in a while. There's some talent over there, it would be nice to see that talent put to use.
You are absolutly right.
I guess to some degree it depends on your expectations.
Seeing as this game is essentially ported from ..phones, to the PS3. – mine was not terribly hight 🙂
You are absolutly right.
I guess to some degree it depends on your expectations.
Seeing as this game is essentially ported from ..phones, to the PS3. – mine was not terribly hight 🙂
not going to lie, this is like eating instant noodles. It fills you up, it's fast and easy, but it won't ultimately satisfy you. Still there's nothing wrong with packet noodles if thats your kinda thing
not going to lie, this is like eating instant noodles. It fills you up, it's fast and easy, but it won't ultimately satisfy you. Still there's nothing wrong with packet noodles if thats your kinda thing
If you're looking for great console action rpg's, i recommend you take a look at the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance series for the Playstation 2. Champions of Norrath and Champions: Return to arms are also great games, offering more of the same hack n slash goodiness. They can be played alone or with friends, and i think you can find them pretty cheap nowadays.
If you're looking for great console action rpg's, i recommend you take a look at the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance series for the Playstation 2. Champions of Norrath and Champions: Return to arms are also great games, offering more of the same hack n slash goodiness. They can be played alone or with friends, and i think you can find them pretty cheap nowadays.
Hi Anonymous,
Couldn't agree with you more – those three games are all truly awesome. Especially Dark Alliance, I remember playing through that game over and over back in the day. It was right up with my favourite PS2 games of all time.
PS3 specific games, there aren't so many at this stage, but Sacred 2 is good fun, and long enough that it'll tide you over until something else can come out.
Hi Anonymous,
Couldn't agree with you more – those three games are all truly awesome. Especially Dark Alliance, I remember playing through that game over and over back in the day. It was right up with my favourite PS2 games of all time.
PS3 specific games, there aren't so many at this stage, but Sacred 2 is good fun, and long enough that it'll tide you over until something else can come out.
Lol, compare it to diablo….please!
this is a game for 12.99 €, what did you expect? an epic role-playing game and a worthy competitor for diablo 3?
LMAO!
the game is a lot of fun for the relatively low price. Grab it, hack and slash, level up and team up with a few friends. If you want more, wait for dungeon siege 3 or diablo 3. this one is just for the fun (and very enjoyable with the move controller, didnt expect that!)
Lol, compare it to diablo….please!
this is a game for 12.99 €, what did you expect? an epic role-playing game and a worthy competitor for diablo 3?
LMAO!
the game is a lot of fun for the relatively low price. Grab it, hack and slash, level up and team up with a few friends. If you want more, wait for dungeon siege 3 or diablo 3. this one is just for the fun (and very enjoyable with the move controller, didnt expect that!)
To each his own… Wasted money is wasted money. Id rather put $20 towards a good game than waste it on a throwaway game that hasn't moved on from 1996, personally.
To each his own… Wasted money is wasted money. Id rather put $20 towards a good game than waste it on a throwaway game that hasn't moved on from 1996, personally.
Yeah and since there is no ultimate definition of a "good" game or a "bad" game everybody has to decide this for himself. And i decided that this game provides a lot of fun compared to it's low price (and compared to some overhyped full price games…)
Yeah and since there is no ultimate definition of a "good" game or a "bad" game everybody has to decide this for himself. And i decided that this game provides a lot of fun compared to it's low price (and compared to some overhyped full price games…)
Here's the main selling point that makes it worth the few $.
Very functional multiplayer.
The reason I went and bought a console at all, instead of just sticking with computer as I always did, was so that I could have some same screen action when freinds is over.
– Surprisingly there realy is nearly none of this for consoles these days, I later discovered.
Cool thing about DungeonHunter though is that not only can you play 4 player co-op on one screen, you can also play like 3 on one screen and make a server of it to have a 4th join up over the internet. ..or you can just join a group of 1-2-3 other players through a functional simple game finder online.
Again, I won't go and say that this game is awesome, but it's worth the money cause it simply has all these simple features that quite frankly should be standard for console games.
Here's the main selling point that makes it worth the few $.
Very functional multiplayer.
The reason I went and bought a console at all, instead of just sticking with computer as I always did, was so that I could have some same screen action when freinds is over.
– Surprisingly there realy is nearly none of this for consoles these days, I later discovered.
Cool thing about DungeonHunter though is that not only can you play 4 player co-op on one screen, you can also play like 3 on one screen and make a server of it to have a 4th join up over the internet. ..or you can just join a group of 1-2-3 other players through a functional simple game finder online.
Again, I won't go and say that this game is awesome, but it's worth the money cause it simply has all these simple features that quite frankly should be standard for console games.
Hi Zzar,
Good to hear you got value out of the game! I personally didn't enjoy the multiplayer – found it pretty dull – but that's why I wrote the review the way I did.
I'm glad there is the alternative view in the comments so people that read this can see both sides of the argument 🙂
Hi Zzar,
Good to hear you got value out of the game! I personally didn't enjoy the multiplayer – found it pretty dull – but that's why I wrote the review the way I did.
I'm glad there is the alternative view in the comments so people that read this can see both sides of the argument 🙂
I was over the moon when I saw this game on PSN as I'm a sucker for this type of game. However I was just bored out of my brains after a few hours play. The game is just dull. The game functions ok despite a few glaring bugs. Collision detection is awful in places. Spend your money on the PS2 Baldurs Gate games instead.
I was over the moon when I saw this game on PSN as I'm a sucker for this type of game. However I was just bored out of my brains after a few hours play. The game is just dull. The game functions ok despite a few glaring bugs. Collision detection is awful in places. Spend your money on the PS2 Baldurs Gate games instead.
there are no hack and slash games for PS3, like this would be the 3rd one ive even heard of (aside from upcoming games) the other two being untold legends and sacred 2. since ive played and gotten bored with both I cant see why I wouldnt be happy paying $10 for this game, also the co-op in sacred 2 was a joke and the game released unfinished.
there are no hack and slash games for PS3, like this would be the 3rd one ive even heard of (aside from upcoming games) the other two being untold legends and sacred 2. since ive played and gotten bored with both I cant see why I wouldnt be happy paying $10 for this game, also the co-op in sacred 2 was a joke and the game released unfinished.
Well with a ps + subscription it can be picked up for 9.74 in a time where the market is virtually dry of new and exciting game this seems like it would pervide some sort of entertainment and get you trough till sumthing better was in your hands but for me I like charter development and plot a bit to much to settle for it all guys all livin the same story meh ill pass
Well with a ps + subscription it can be picked up for 9.74 in a time where the market is virtually dry of new and exciting game this seems like it would pervide some sort of entertainment and get you trough till sumthing better was in your hands but for me I like charter development and plot a bit to much to settle for it all guys all livin the same story meh ill pass
You are being too harsh on this game.
I got it a week ago for $12.99 without much expectation. It clearly satisfies my Diablo 3 itch and I find myself coming back to it more and more, especially for a quick 10 min game.
Sure u can get Diablo 2 for cheaper, but then again, this is on console and has respectable graphics, especially compared to old games.
Torchlight would be the ideal filler until D3 comes out, but it's not on PSN so whatever, this has online coop which more than makes up for it.
You are being too harsh on this game.
I got it a week ago for $12.99 without much expectation. It clearly satisfies my Diablo 3 itch and I find myself coming back to it more and more, especially for a quick 10 min game.
Sure u can get Diablo 2 for cheaper, but then again, this is on console and has respectable graphics, especially compared to old games.
Torchlight would be the ideal filler until D3 comes out, but it's not on PSN so whatever, this has online coop which more than makes up for it.