I love theme parks and I love dungeon crawling, so when I heard Critical Studios would combine the two for their debut action-RPG, I got a bit giddy.
Much likeMagicka, which shares the same publisher (Paradox),DungeonLandis a loot-centric, co-op clickfest that has the action ofDiabloand the comedic ambitions ofPortal.
There are a lot ofDiabloclones on the market as of late, not to mentionDiablo IIIitself.DungeonLandstands out for a couple reasons.
Its bright, cartoon visuals make me think ofTeam Fortress 2and kittens, instead of the numerous dark fantasy RPGs that flood the market.DungeonLandembraces this concept, bringing the food courts, rides, and other places that populate theme parks to life. I often get fatigued by the dreary, lifeless worlds of action-RPGs, so this is a welcome change of scenery.
Another interesting aspect ofDungeonLandis its AI director. LikeLeft 4 Dead, the game will change up placement of items and enemies on the fly, taking party performance and resources into account. You can also have a fourth player take on the role of dungeon master, strategically placing enemies across the map in real time.
With quick drop-in/drop-out co-op, tried-and-true mechanics, and a colorful, inviting world to explore,DungeonLandcould be the sleeper hit that will appeal to more than justMagickafans.
