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- Happinet
- Happinet
- Happinet
- Happinet
Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle
Released On: Nov 14, 2017
65
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
65
30% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
50% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
65
30% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
50% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
I wasn’t really playing Hyakki Castle for the “gameplay” so much as the opportunity to run through a gauntlet of stunningly-rendered yokai, and the game really scratched that itch. This is the first game for Asakusa Studios, and with it, the team has announced itself as a real talent, and a group of artists and coders with a real understanding on how to meld Japanese tradition with very modern gameplay.
Hyakki Castle comes with quite a few flaws -- including its UI -- but eliminating ghosts in a haunted castle makes for a great deal of fun, and the exploration that has you split up your party is well utilized. If you enter this castle with the expectation that you will die a lot, a game full of excitement awaits.
Hyakki Castle probably wouldn’t be great for newbies to the dungeon-crawling scene, but if you already know you like the movement and combat system then it’s definitely something to try. It has its mechanical issues, and requires a lot of fiddling to figure out at first, but is executed creatively and diversely enough to still be engaging. It just needs a little extra touch to become the beacon that it wants to be.
Hyakki Castle isn’t for everyone, that much is apparent. I’m not even sure if I’d necessarily say it’s a game I’ll get the urge to play often in the ever growing landscape of various dungeon crawlers. But, its setting and its approach to the party system were intriguing enough to keep me hooked for the time being. For Asakusa Studio’s first outing into the gaming world, I think they have a solid product on hand even if it’s a bit flawed in the aspect of keeping players in-the-know. If you’re a fan of The Legend of Grimrock, or Eye of the Beholder, then Hyakki Castle may be worth your time.
Despite some great puzzles and an interesting group mechanic, I will be waiting before returning to Hyakki Castle. If you love dungeon crawlers and need something new, give it a try. If you are new to the genre then maybe start with the superb Legend of Grimrock.
Hyakki Castle is a 3D dungeon crawler rich with Japanese mythology and lore, however a lack of tutorial and repetitive textures can be a drag.
It is really depressing to play a game like Hyakki Castle. It has some things that could have made it a good game in a vastly underrepresented genre. It got the atmosphere just right, which is one of the most difficult things to nail perfectly. However, it is dragged down by many things that while independently does not ruin a game, it destroys the game when combined. Bad mouse and keyboard controls would not ruin a game, but the painful process of making gamepads work with the game does as it is almost mandatory to use a gamepad to enjoy the game at all, and do not even get started on the hunger system that makes exploring, which is one of the core pillars of enjoyment in the genre heavily, punishable. In the end, while it is easy to want to like Hyakki Castle and see how it could have been a great game, it is too hard to not see that it isn't a good game.
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Summary A fantastical world based on ancient Japanese folklore. Hyakki Castle, a mysterious castle built in a land of exile. This castle is brimming with mysteries and fantasy... Slay the Lord of Hyakki Castle! New strategies and puzzle solving by dividing parties...
Platforms:
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- PC
Initial Release Date: Nov 14, 2017
Developer:
- Asakusa Studios
Publisher: Happinet
Genres:
