Info about Dungeons of Aether:

Official game description:
  
Dungeons of Aether is a turn-based dungeon crawler designed by Nikita ‘ampersandbear’ Belorusov from the Aether Studios team. Rivals of Aether is known for its intense competition and twitch skills, while Dungeons of Aether allows you to take things at your own pace - but it’s still just as challenging! Every choice you make can lead you deeper into the dungeons or to an early demise. Will you carry out a treasure chest, or be carried out in a pine box?  
The combat in Dungeons of Aether uses a dice draft system that ensures each battle is unique while challenging the player to adapt the pool of dice each turn. Use fortune to your favor to defeat your foes, collect treasures and shift the odds in your favor...  
Dungeons of Aether introduces four exciting new heroes to the world of Aether, each with their own unique skills and memorable personalities.  
Fleet is the self-proclaimed protector of her hometown of Julesvale, although she’s seen as a clumsy menace more than a hero. As the jack of all trades, Fleet is a great character for learning the combat system.  
Hamir is a former Wall Runner from the mighty Rock Wall. He has made his way to Julesvale in exile after losing his trusted partner. Hamir now finds himself looking for a purpose and the courage to carry on.. Hamir is strong and sturdy, weathering blows until the time is right to crush his foes.  
Slade is a pirate from the far-off Polekai Islands. He has made his way to Julesvale hunting a mysterious rare mineral unique to Julesvale. Rumor has it the mineral is key to saving his homeland. Slade’s style and swagger allow him to dodge attacks entirely if his speed is high enough.  
Artemis is a renowned general in the Fire Mora who often fought alongside Zetterburn. She was sent to Julesvale by Emperor Loxodont on a secret mission. Artemis can heal her wounds in battle, showing off her innate regeneration abilities.  
The world of Aether is expanding and Dungeons of Aether adds a new, fascinating facet to the ever-expanding lore! Travel to the steam-punk town of Julesvale and brave the sprawling caverns underneath it. In Story Mode, you’ll play a roguelite adventure that has you starting each dive from town. There you can interact with towns folk and spend your hard-earned gold to gear up for your next run.  
Each of the dungeons you’ll dive into have new challenges to face and rewards to collect. As you dive into Julesvale Mines, the Lava Caves, the Underground Oasis and the Mineral Deposits, you’ll be able to collect Journal Entries that reveal even more about Julesvale and its legendary past.  
For those of you looking for true roguelike difficulty, the Challenge Dungeons are where you will want to test your skills. Each Challenge Dungeon is randomly generated with unique events and fights. Your mission is to go through all of the biomes in the game in a single run.  
Story Mode gives you a chance to casually prepare, interact with NPCs, and savor the exploration of the world, In Challenge Dungeons it’s all up to you!. The Challenge Dungeons also feature a leaderboard based on how much gold you have at the end of the run. Will you spend your gold to make sure you can get through or are you greedy?

Release date: Feb 28, 2023

Categories: Turn-based Combat, Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler, Character Progression, Dice-based Gameplay, Story Mode, Narrative Adventure


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows a mix of opinions on the game's value. Some users find the game worth the price at around $15, especially with additional content like challenge modes. Others suggest waiting for a sale, indicating that the game might not be worth the full price of $15 to $20. The positive reviews highlight the game's enjoyment and value, while the negative reviews suggest that the game might not be worth the full price, implying a lower fair price range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 12.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime for the target game, Dungeons of Aether. The first quote mentions a relatively short run time of about 10 hours for the story campaign, which aligns with the story completion metric. The second quote indicates that 100% completion of the game took about 12-13 hours, which can be considered as the game completion metric. The third and fourth quotes mention that the story mode took a couple of hours, which could be interpreted as session length.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Dungeons of Aether has a strong initial appeal with its art style, music, and character design, but the gameplay can become repetitive and tedious over time. Unique character abilities and engaging lore help mitigate some of the friction.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Character upgrades and unique abilities
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive combat; Slow-paced battles; Tedious gameplay loop
  - Unlock drivers: Unique character abilities; Engaging lore
  - Conditions: Charming characters; Stellar art and music; Narrative and campaign progression
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of strategic gameplay and nostalgia.
    - Playstyle: Strategic and thoughtful, focusing on puzzle-like combat mechanics.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: strategy fan; old-school gamer
    - Reference games: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon; Fire Emblem; Shining Force
  - Frustrated Casual (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Looking for a relaxing and enjoyable gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Casual, preferring games that are easy to pick up and play without excessive grinding.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: casual gamer
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Quality Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of high-quality, albeit short, gaming experiences.
    - Playstyle: Focused on completing the game and enjoying the story and characters.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: story-driven gamer
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Praised art style and music (weight 0.68): Players consistently praised the game's pixel art style and music, describing them as fantastic, beautiful, and amazing. The visuals and soundtrack were highlighted as standout features that contributed significantly to the game's charm and overall appeal.
- Strategic and complex gameplay (weight 0.6): The gameplay was praised for its complexity, strategy, and innovative mechanics. Players enjoyed the strategic thinking required and the well-thought-out gameplay systems.
- Engaging and enjoyable story (weight 0.31): The story was described as interesting, enjoyable, and well-crafted. Players found the narrative to be engaging and a significant part of their overall enjoyment of the game.
- Characters with personality (weight 0.28): Players found the characters to be well-written, charming, and full of personality. The character animations and voice acting were also praised for bringing the characters to life.
- Enjoyable character designs (weight 0.28): The character designs were frequently mentioned as beautiful, interesting, and well-crafted. Players appreciated the distinct and appealing designs of both characters and enemies.
- Unique character abilities (weight 0.09): Players appreciated the unique abilities and playstyles of the characters. The diversity in character abilities added depth and variety to the gameplay.
- Well-crafted worldbuilding (weight 0.09): The worldbuilding was praised for being well-thought-out and enjoyable. Players found the game's world to be immersive and engaging.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive and boring gameplay (weight 0.57): Many players find the gameplay repetitive, tedious, and boring, with little variety. The core mechanics quickly become stale and the experience lacks depth.
- Tedious and prolonged fights (weight 0.42): Fights are often described as tedious slogs that drag on for too long. Players frequently encounter stalemates and prolonged battles that become frustrating.
- Excessive reliance on RNG (weight 0.29): The game heavily relies on random number generation (RNG), which many players find frustrating. Combat and other mechanics feel overly dependent on luck rather than skill.
- Unbalanced and unfair combat (weight 0.23): Combat is often seen as unbalanced and unfair, with enemies having overwhelming stats and better options. Players feel that the combat mechanics need serious rebalancing.
- Disappointing and short game (weight 0.21): The game is criticized for being too short and disappointing. Players feel that the length and content do not meet expectations.
- Lack of content and variety (weight 0.19): Players report a lack of content, including limited enemy variety and repetitive items. The game feels light on content and replayability.
- Annoying enemy gimmicks and AI (weight 0.16): Enemies often have annoying gimmicks and powerful skills that make combat frustrating. The enemy AI is also criticized for being ruthless and leaving minimal margin for error.
- Initial difficulty and frustration (weight 0.12): The game can be difficult and frustrating initially, with a steep learning curve. Players often struggle at the beginning, which can be off-putting.
- Misleading genre expectations (weight 0.07): Some players feel misled by the genre labeling of the game, leading to disappointment. The game does not meet the expectations set by its genre.

Gameplay feedback:
- Dice-based combat system (weight 0.43): The game features a unique combat system centered around dice mechanics, including dice drafting and turn-based battles.
- Character-specific abilities (weight 0.35): Each character has unique abilities and playstyles, which significantly affect gameplay and provide diverse experiences.
- Strategy and luck balance (weight 0.28): Gameplay involves a mix of strategic planning and luck-based elements, requiring players to adapt their strategies based on dice rolls and other random factors.
- Roguelike and dungeon crawling (weight 0.22): The game includes roguelike elements and dungeon crawling mechanics, with randomized maps, items, and enemies in challenge modes.
- Stamina management mechanics (weight 0.19): Combat involves managing stamina resources for both players and enemies, adding a layer of strategy to battles.
- Enemy variety and stats (weight 0.14): Enemies have a variety of stats and abilities, with some having powerful skills and dynamic stamina allocation.
- Original and challenging gameplay (weight 0.11): The game offers original and challenging gameplay mechanics that require strategic thinking and adaptation.
- Hard mode and difficulty (weight 0.09): Different difficulty settings, including hard mode, provide varied challenges for players.
- Japanese feedback on luck and items (weight 0.08): Feedback in Japanese highlights the heavy reliance on luck and items, which can significantly impact the difficulty and gameplay experience.
- Spanish feedback on gameplay (weight 0.08): Feedback in Spanish describes the gameplay mechanics, including dice rolling, combat phases, and map navigation.
- Character swapping mechanics (weight 0.06): Players can swap characters, each with unique abilities, to change the difficulty and dynamics of the game.
- Character interactions (weight 0.05): Players express a desire for more interactions between characters, suggesting that character dynamics could be further developed.
- Stalemate situations (weight 0.05): Stalemates can occur in battles, requiring changes in luck or strategy to resolve.

Performance notes:
- Game has bugs (weight 0.04): Players have reported encountering bugs while playing the game. These issues affect the overall gaming experience.
- Slow animations reported (weight 0.04): Some players have noted that the animations in the game are slow. This can impact the pacing and fluidity of gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Recommended with some reservations (weight 0.24): While the game is recommended by many, some suggest waiting for a sale or discount before purchasing. Others mention it is worth checking out if you are curious.
- Not recommended due to gameplay issues (weight 0.21): The game is not recommended due to lack of engaging gameplay, variety, and depth. Some players find the gameplay frustrating and not worth the time or money.
- Highly recommended by many (weight 0.2): Many players highly recommend this game, praising it as a great experience and worth the money. It has received high ratings and positive feedback.
- Highly recommended for Rivals of Aether fans (weight 0.2): Fans of Rivals of Aether will find this game highly enjoyable. It is recommended for those familiar with the characters and lore from Rivals of Aether.
- Recommended for strategy and puzzle fans (weight 0.18): This game is highly recommended for fans of turn-based strategy, puzzle games, and optimization. It offers a charming experience with strategic gameplay, making it ideal for those who enjoy these genres.
- Worth it for art and music (weight 0.12): The game is recommended for its art style, characters, and music. Fans of pixel art, dice, and good music will find it worth a shot.
- Recommended for fans of the series (weight 0.1): Fans of the series and patient players are likely to enjoy this game. It is recommended for those who appreciate the franchise and its unique mechanics.
- Recommended for unique roguelite experiences (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for fans of unique roguelite experiences and tabletop mechanics. It offers a different experience compared to other games in the genre.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.37): Players are frustrated by the heavy reliance on RNG and luck-based mechanics, which often lead to repetitive and tedious gameplay. The combat system, especially in later stages, becomes boring and one-sided, with enemies adapting to player strategies, causing stalemates and excessive defending.
- Joy (weight 0.28): Players enjoy the game's addictive turn-based RPG mechanics, unique character designs, and beautiful art style. The music and soundtrack are highly praised, and the overall gameplay experience is described as fun and engaging.
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): Players feel disappointed due to the game's short length and lack of content depth. The gameplay, despite its initial appeal, becomes repetitive and tedious, with a lack of enemy variety and meta-progression.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): Players are excited by the game's innovative and challenging gameplay mechanics. The strategic combat system, unique character abilities, and enjoyable character designs contribute to a dynamic and engaging experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the game's unique dice-based combat, appealing character designs, and fulfilling battle system. The overall experience is described as fun and engaging, with great music, spritework, and story elements.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players are satisfied with the game's strategic depth, unique gameplay mechanics, and high replayability. The well-thought-out rogue-like elements, interesting lore, and great soundtrack contribute to a fulfilling experience.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Players are interested in the game's unique combat system and tactical elements. The blend of roguelike mechanics and story elements keeps players engaged.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players experience boredom due to the disappointing combat system and lack of variety in abilities. The gameplay can become tedious and monotonous, leading to a suffocating experience.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Players feel a sense of pride when successfully executing strategies and feeling like a genius during gameplay.
- Humility (weight 0.01): Players feel humbled by the game's difficulty, which reminds them of the challenges they face.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game's combination of strategy, unique characters, and engaging gameplay elements.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's unique dice-based strategy and great soundtrack, which enhance the overall experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic as the game reminds them of other beloved series, evoking fond memories.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the significant difficulty difference between story mode and challenge mode, which adds an unexpected layer of challenge.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the studio's ability to create a different genre of game, showcasing their versatility and skill.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Players feel relief upon realizing the strategic use of certain game mechanics, such as the bank, which helps in managing resources effectively.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players experience confusion due to the game's steep learning curve and complex combat mechanics, making it hard to grasp and remember characters and strategies.}