Delve into Dungeons of Aether, a turn-based dungeon crawler set in the Rivals of Aether universe. Control four new heroes as they uncover the mysteries of the Julesvale Caverns in Story Mode or test your mettle in the grueling Challenge Dungeons.
The game's turn-based combat system revolves around players and enemies drafting from a shared pool of dice at the start of each round. Players must carefully select and arrange these dice, which represent stats like Attack, Accuracy, Speed, and Stamina, to overcome their opponent's defenses and deal damage, while also ensuring they have enough Stamina to power their moves. This combat system requires players to think several moves ahead, anticipating their opponent's actions and planning their own moves accordingly. Players must balance offense and defense, allocate their limited Stamina resources, and exploit their character's unique abilities and playstyles.
The game introduces four playable characters, each with their own unique mechanics and approaches to combat. For example, Fleet the Fox relies on gaining extra dice from previous round's abilities, encouraging a more reactive playstyle. Hamir the Armadillo has a fixed Stamina pool that he must manage carefully, trading off offense and defense. Slade the Shark focuses on mobility and dodging attacks, sacrificing defensive power. Artemis the Dragon specializes in regenerating health at the cost of Stamina, playing a high-risk, high-reward style. Mastering each character's strengths and weaknesses is crucial, as players must adapt their strategies to the unique demands of each playstyle.
Many reviewers praise the game's high level of challenge, particularly in the later stages, where enemies scale in power. This forces players to meticulously plan their moves and manage their resources to overcome formidable opponents. While the battles can be tense and drawn-out, demanding the player's full attention and strategic thinking, reviewers note that mastering the game's mechanics and finding the right tactics to succeed leads to a strong sense of accomplishment. The game's difficulty can be adjusted, allowing players to tailor the experience to their skill level.
Reviewers highlight the strategic depth of the combat system, which encourages players to carefully consider their options and make meaningful decisions each turn. The ability to manipulate the shared dice pool, combined with each character's unique playstyle, creates a wealth of strategic possibilities and avenues for experimentation. This depth, coupled with the game's roguelike-inspired Challenge Dungeon mode, ensures a high degree of replayability. Players can approach each run with different strategies and character choices, leading to varied and engaging experiences.