Info about Depths of Fear :: Knossos:

Official game description:
**Depths of Fear :: Knossos** is a Greek-themed 1st person adventure game with stealth, action and edge-of-your-seat elements within rogue-like procedurally generated levels. You will run. You will hide. You will fight. You will die.  
The fate of Athens is in your hands as you step into the role of legendary Greek hero Theseus. Offering yourself for tribute unto the corrupt King Minos, you embark upon a perilous quest deep beneath the city of Knossos to slay the twisted mythical beast - The Minotaur. But, before you can complete this hero's journey you must steadfast the trials of ever-changing creature-filled labyrinths. Collect gold to deal with Daedalus, building up your armory whilst seeking out the mythological medallions that unlock a master sword, the only weapon known that can pierce the Minotaur's cursed flesh. May the gods of Greece be with you, son of Poseidon!  
*   **An ever changing Labyrinth**: Each stage in Depths of Fear is crafted to never be the same twice creating a constant state of tension of the unknown.  
*   **Face the Beasts of Ancient Greece**: Survive encounters against 8 immortal legendary creatures: Saytr, Cerberus, Centaur, Manticore, Griffin, Medusa, Hydra and the horror of the Minotaur.  
*   **Diverse Gameplay**: To survive one must learn when to sneak through the shadows, when to run and when to engage in combat as they attempt to survive each rung down into in the darkness.  
*   **Knowledge is Power**: Appease the gods by finding their books and earning their favor for special powers such as lightening from Zeus, Speed from Hermes, Earth shaking might from Poseidon or the illuminating light of Apollo.  
*   **Build an Arsenal**: Loot the labyrinths for gold to purchase 8 trusty weapons that range from Blades and Clubs to the Trident and Crossbow. Use these weapons to secure the 8 creature medallions that unlock the only weapon known that can slay the legendary beast Minotaur.  
*   **Challenge the Unknown**: When the adventure ends, the game has just begun. Beneath the skull a never-ending challenge awaits in the entrance of the unknown that provides countless replay value. How far down can you make it?  
*   **Unique & Adaptive soundtrack**: Featuring a tension-based music system, the soundtrack (recorded with mind-altering 70’s era synthesizers) adapts to your situation.

Release date: Apr 24, 2014

Categories: First-Person Dungeon Crawler, Roguelike, Stealth Gameplay, Action Horror, Greek Mythology Theme, Procedural Generation, Key-Finding Objectives, Endless Mode


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $2.00 - $6.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews cluster around a low indie price point. Several players frame the game as an easy recommendation at roughly $2 (sale price) and explicitly say it was 'worth every penny' and that they'd happily pay full price. One reviewer calls $6 full price 'incredible' value for a solo-developed game and another bought at full price without regret, which anchors the upper end near $6. However, at least one reviewer calls the ~€6 asking price unjustified and advises waiting for a sale, indicating the community tolerance caps out around $6 and the most comfortable fair zone sits between the deep-sale impulse buy (~$2) and the full indie price (~$6). DLC/MTX and technical complaints were excluded from consideration.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 12.5h
  - Story completion: 5.0h
  - Session length: 0.2h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The quote about completing the game in around 5 hours is the clearest main-story completion signal, so storyCompletion is set to 5 hours. The 3.5-hour minotaur quote provides an additional short main-progression datapoint consistent with a brief campaign. The quote about 10 to 15 hours to play through and get all achievements supports gameCompletion around 12.5 hours as a full achievement-inclusive completion estimate. The 10 to 15 minutes at a time quote supports a short sessionLength of about 0.2 hours. No numeric evidence isolates endgame time, so endgame remains null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players describe strong initial atmosphere and scares that make the early game gripping, but the fun fades as repeated level layouts and encounters become repetitive, with progression upgrades failing to sustain engagement.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Opening scares and atmosphere wear off quickly; Levels and key rooms are highly repetitive and nearly identical; Repetitiveness sets in by the third dungeon; Weapon purchases do not make fights easier; Unfair difficulty and poor performance; Frustrating progression
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Tolerance for repetitive level and encounter design affects how long enjoyment lasts; Enjoyment depends on how long the initial horror atmosphere holds up; Becoming overpowered accelerates the sense of repetitiveness
- Player Archetypes:
  - Atmosphere-Seeking Retro Horror Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Immersing in a rare Greek-mythology horror setting with a distinctive retro PS1 and 80s synth vibe.
    - Playstyle: Plays cautiously through dark, randomized stealth sections, soaking in atmosphere and avoiding monsters rather than optimizing combat.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Roguelike Combat and Progression Tinkerer (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastering randomized runs, fighting mythological monsters, and unlocking weapons and spells.
    - Playstyle: Alternates stealth avoidance with melee combat, buys weapons with gold, and repeats levels to reach bosses and progress.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Quake
  - Cautious Early-Access Critic (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Evaluating whether the game is worth its current price and warning others about balance, bugs, and lack of polish.
    - Playstyle: Pushes through runs to bosses, tests mechanics, and notes broken AI, repetition, and early-access stagnation.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Achievement and Quick-Completion Hunter (sale)
    - Motivation: Quickly earning achievements and trading cards, then completing the short game without a long grind.
    - Playstyle: Rushes through the short campaign, completes runs efficiently, and avoids extended item grinding.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: achievement hunters; trading card collectors
    - 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:
- Creepy and Atmospheric Horror (weight 0.41): Players consistently describe the game as genuinely scary and creepy, with a strong atmospheric horror vibe. The dark dungeons and monsters provoke proper reactions, creating terrifying moments when the monster finds you.
- Great Core Concept (weight 0.36): The idea of fighting Greek mythological monsters in eerie dungeons is considered very cool and excellent. The concept is a major draw for players.
- Excellent Atmosphere and Aesthetic (weight 0.32): The atmosphere is widely praised as fantastic, brilliant, and well-made. The aesthetic and ambiance are consistently highlighted as a major strength.
- Outstanding Sound Design (weight 0.24): Sound and music design are phenomenal and fit perfectly into the gameplay. Audio greatly enhances the experience.
- Exciting Chase and Escape Moments (weight 0.14): Scrambling to find exit keys while avoiding monsters creates exciting tension. Confronting or evading creatures is thrilling.
- Fun Despite Bugs (weight 0.14): The game is compelling and fun even though it suffers from bugs. Players find it enjoyable if they can overlook technical issues.
- Procedural Generation Adds Variety (weight 0.13): Procedurally generated maps make each run unique and increase replayability. Every playthrough feels different.
- Diverse and Interesting Bosses (weight 0.13): Bosses feature different abilities and weapon sets, providing neat diversity. This keeps combat encounters fresh.
- Simple yet Fun Gameplay (weight 0.13): The game is fun for its simplicity, allowing players to enjoy without overthinking. It works well as a straightforward game.
- Decent Stealth Gameplay (weight 0.13): The first-person stealth mechanics are considered decent, though not exceptional. It offers a nice stealth experience.
- Cool Lighting and Effects (weight 0.12): Lighting and flame effects are neat and well-executed. They contribute positively to the visual atmosphere.

Common complaints:
- Broken and Simplistic Stealth (weight 0.43): Stealth mechanics are consistently criticized as sub-par, broken, or too simplistic, with inconsistent behavior and weak enemies. They fail to provide a satisfying stealth experience.
- Frequent Bugs and Jank (weight 0.39): Players encounter numerous bugs, including getting stuck in walls, collision issues, and general jankiness. These issues significantly hinder the gameplay experience.
- Basic and Unfun Combat (weight 0.35): Combat is described as basic, bland, and un-fun, often involving repetitive attack spamming with little strategy. It lacks depth and satisfaction.
- Outdated and Poor Graphics (weight 0.31): Many reviews criticize the graphics as old, sub-par, or terrible, with lighting and animations also being poor. Visual quality is a major complaint.
- Unpolished and Unfinished Feel (weight 0.3): The game feels rough around the edges, unfinished, and lacking polish, with menus and content seeming incomplete. It gives the impression of an abandoned project.
- Excessive Darkness Impairs Visibility (weight 0.28): Players frequently report that levels are too dark to see clearly, even with a torch. This makes navigation and gameplay frustrating.
- Procedural Generation Flaws (weight 0.22): Randomly generated levels can be abysmal, sometimes blocking exits or causing players to get stuck. This leads to forced restarts and frustration.
- Archaic Controls and Mechanics (weight 0.22): Controls and mechanics are considered archaic and awkward, with strange movement. This makes the game feel dated and clunky.
- Poor Execution Overall (weight 0.2): The game is executed badly and lacks polish, with many aspects feeling poorly done. This general criticism appears in some reviews.
- Poor and Choppy Animations (weight 0.13): Animations are choppy and clunky, detracting from the overall visual experience. This adds to the game's unpolished feel.
- Camera Issues and Motion Sickness (weight 0.12): The camera view is weird and can easily cause motion sickness. This is a significant issue for some players.
- No Voice Acting (weight 0.12): There is no voice acting at all, which some players find disappointing. This contributes to the game feeling unfinished.
- Bosses and AI Get Stuck (weight 0.12): Terrible AI causes bosses to get stuck against walls while chasing. This breaks immersion and challenge.
- Unjustified Price (weight 0.12): Players feel the price is unjustified and not worth the asking price. This reflects dissatisfaction with the overall value.

Gameplay feedback:
- Theseus in Minotaur Labyrinth (weight 0.96): Players assume the role of Theseus, the Greek hero, navigating the labyrinth of Knossos to defeat the Minotaur. The game is deeply rooted in Greek mythology, with the boss fight against the Minotaur as a central objective.
- Randomly Generated Levels (weight 0.86): Levels are procedurally generated, ensuring a unique dungeon layout each playthrough. This roguelike element adds replayability and unpredictability to the exploration.
- Stealth and Torch Mechanics (weight 0.5): Stealth is a core mechanic, with players able to hide in shadows or turn off their torch to avoid detection. Torch management is crucial as the game is set in pitch-black environments.
- First-Person Dungeon Crawler (weight 0.49): The game is a first-person dungeon crawler with roguelike elements, focusing on exploration and survival. Players navigate mazes, fight enemies, and find keys to progress.
- Gold-Based Weapon Progression (weight 0.46): Players collect gold during runs to purchase better weapons from Daedalus. This progression system allows for upgrading arsenal and tackling tougher enemies.
- Greek Mythology Enemies (weight 0.39): Enemies include a variety of creatures from Greek mythology such as satyrs, centaurs, medusas, and the Minotaur itself. Boss fights against these mythical beings are a key feature.
- Weapon Variety and Combat (weight 0.38): Combat involves both melee and ranged weapons, each suited for different situations. Players can build an arsenal to effectively deal with various threats.
- Horror Roguelite Atmosphere (weight 0.34): The game blends horror and roguelite genres, creating a tense and atmospheric experience. The dark, trap-filled labyrinth and pursuing monsters contribute to the horror ambiance.
- Key-Finding Objectives (weight 0.3): Each stage requires finding a key to unlock the exit door and advance. This objective is central to the dungeon progression, often combined with platforming sections.
- Endless Mode Available (weight 0.17): After completing the campaign, players can access an endless dungeon mode for extended play. This mode provides additional challenges and replayability.
- Lava and Trap Hazards (weight 0.17): Levels are filled with hazards such as lava pits and sharp spikes, adding danger to exploration. These environmental threats require careful navigation.
- Starting with Only Torch (weight 0.13): Players begin with minimal equipment, often just a torch and possibly a stick. This initial vulnerability emphasizes stealth and resource gathering.
- Pray to Gods for Spells (weight 0.12): Players can pray to deities to receive favors or spells, adding a divine intervention mechanic. This feature ties into the Greek mythology theme.

Performance notes:
- Poor Performance and Optimization (weight 0.28): Many players report significant performance issues, including low FPS, lag, and stuttering. The game is considered poorly optimized and runs slowly even on capable hardware.
- Technical Issues Cause Unplayability (weight 0.19): Technical problems such as crashes and the need to force DirectX 9 in launch options make the game unplayable for some users. Crashes occur before saving, particularly near the last level before the minotaur.
- Performance Varies by Hardware (weight 0.19): Performance is highly dependent on hardware. Some users with high-end systems report flawless performance, while others with older setups experience frame drops and low FPS.
- Inconsistent Combat and Jumping (weight 0.08): Combat and jumping mechanics feel inconsistent, lacking weight and responsiveness. Controls do not always react, making gameplay feel slow and unresponsive.
- Dark Visuals Compared to Trailers (weight 0.08): The game appears much darker than shown in trailers, causing visibility issues on monitors. This discrepancy can affect gameplay and overall experience.
- Settings Tweaks Improve Performance (weight 0.07): Turning off post-processing effects and lowering graphical settings can improve performance, but the game still does not look great. These adjustments may help mitigate some issues.
- Windowed Background Causes Slowdowns (weight 0.07): Holding the game in windowed background can cause slowdowns that require a restart. This issue affects multitasking users.

Recommendations:
- Buy on sale (weight 0.44): A large number of reviewers advise waiting for a discount before purchasing, often citing the Steam sale as the ideal time. Many of these same players say the game is worth trying only at a reduced price.
- Appeals to specific niches (weight 0.36): Many positive recommendations target fans of Greek mythology, horror, roguelikes, stealth, and uncanny valley aesthetics. These reviewers suggest the game is best suited for players who already enjoy these themes.
- Low price justifies purchase (weight 0.36): A recurring theme is that the low price makes the game worth buying even with its flaws. Reviewers often mention specific price points like under $3 or under 1€ as making it a no-brainer.
- Recommend with caution (weight 0.3): Many reviewers give a conditional recommendation, suggesting players should look past flaws, janky combat, or technical issues to enjoy the game. These recommendations often come with caveats about patience and tolerance for rough edges.
- Fun and thrilling experience (weight 0.28): Some players describe the game as absurdly fun, a pleasure to discover, or a thrilling experience for the low price. They give strong positive recommendations based on enjoyment.
- Not recommended currently (weight 0.26): Some reviewers explicitly state they cannot recommend the game in its current state, citing poor balance and technical issues as the main reasons. Others say it is not worth playing except for the most patient players.
- Mixed or negative sentiments (weight 0.24): Some reviews express disappointment, saying the game is not worth the price or that one should not expect to have fun. These opinions often cite poor gameplay or lack of enjoyment.
- Worth checking out (weight 0.22): Several short reviews simply state the game is worth a try or worth checking out, without detailed justification. These opinions often come from players who found the experience enjoyable despite its shortcomings.
- Patience required for enjoyment (weight 0.21): Several reviewers note that the game demands patience to adapt to its difficulty or overlook its issues. Those without patience are advised not to buy it.
- Recommended for horror fans (weight 0.21): Several reviewers specifically recommend the game to horror enthusiasts, including indie horror and uncanny valley horror fans. They highlight the game's scary and atmospheric elements.
- Bugs and technical issues (weight 0.21): Technical problems and bugs are frequently mentioned as drawbacks, though some players are willing to tolerate them. These issues contribute to mixed or cautious recommendations.
- Tips for better experience (weight 0.2): Some players offer specific gameplay tips, such as ignoring the stealth suggestion and running headlong into danger, or saving up for the trident. Others recommend consulting a guide for labyrinth secrets.
- Centaur shield bug (weight 0.13): Multiple users report a game-breaking bug where bringing the shield into the Centaur boss fight makes the boss impossible to damage. Players warn others to avoid using the shield during that encounter.
- Supports solo developer (weight 0.11): A few reviewers give a thumbs up specifically because the game is an original one-man project, even if they stopped playing. They encourage supporting the developer through purchase.

Other player notes:
- Solo developer project (weight 0.58): The game was created by a single developer, often noted as a one-man effort or indie project. This is a common observation across many reviews, highlighting the game's independent origins.
- Comparisons to other games (weight 0.54): Reviewers frequently compare the game to other indie titles like Eldritch, The Binding of Isaac, and Amnesia, as well as classic games like Hexen/Heretic and Thief. These comparisons highlight its roguelike and horror elements.
- Short completion time (weight 0.39): Players report completing the game and earning most achievements in about 2 to 7 hours, with some taking 10-15 hours for full completion. This short playtime is a common point of discussion.
- Frequent developer updates (weight 0.31): The developer has been responsive to feedback, releasing multiple patches and updates to fix issues and improve the game. This ongoing support is appreciated by reviewers.
- Low price point (weight 0.27): The game is frequently sold for under $10, often around $5.99 or even under 1€, making it an affordable purchase. Reviewers mention its low price as a key factor in their evaluation.
- Steam features (weight 0.23): The game supports achievements and trading cards, but lacks cloud saving and Steam Workshop. These features are often mentioned in reviews.
- Retro pixel graphics (weight 0.22): The game features pixelated graphics reminiscent of older dungeon crawlers and games from previous generations, intentionally creating an old-school atmosphere. Some compare the textures to Minecraft.
- Greek mythology setting (weight 0.22): The game is set in Greece and features Greek mythology, with the story involving defeating the Minotaur and collecting medallions. Characters like Theseus and Daedalus appear.
- Availability issues (weight 0.18): The game was previously unavailable on Steam but has returned, and is also available through resale keys. Some reviewers obtained it from bundles.
- Bugs and glitches (weight 0.17): Several reviewers mention bugs, such as getting stuck on geometry, which can hinder progress. Some bugs have been patched, but issues remain for some players.
- Roguelike elements (weight 0.17): The game features a random roguelike campaign with theoretically infinite playability, similar to The Binding of Isaac. An endless mode extends playtime.
- Ray Harryhausen influence (weight 0.17): The game takes obvious cues from classic Ray Harryhausen films, such as Clash of the Titans, in its style and creature design. This influence contributes to its mythological feel.
- Feels unfinished (weight 0.17): Some players feel the game is unfinished or still in development, with a state of permanent beta and little change from early access. This perception affects their overall satisfaction.
- Lack of variety (weight 0.17): Reviewers note a limited number of weapons and spells, and after reaching certain points, only one melee weapon is worth using. This lack of variety can make the game feel repetitive.
- Technical details (weight 0.13): The game runs on Windows XP without trouble and technically has controller support. No Russian language support is available.
- Sequel hopes (weight 0.13): Reviewers hope for a sequel that addresses complaints, and the developer has hinted at a follow-up planned for 2015. This indicates interest in the game's future.
- Italian horror soundtrack (weight 0.13): The soundtrack is heavily inspired by Italian horror films, particularly the works of Dario Argento and bands like Goblin and Tangerine Dream. This gives the game a distinct horror ambiance.
- Horror atmosphere (weight 0.13): The game has a horror vibe, with tension built through sound design and stealth mechanics. It is comparable to horror games like Amnesia.
- Positive classic status (weight 0.11): Some reviewers consider it a bona fide classic and look forward to the developer's future work. It is seen as a good acquisition on Steam.
- Unity engine usage (weight 0.11): The game is built with Unity and is considered one of the good Unity games. It resembles a first attempt under Unity.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.25): Players experience frustration due to frequent bugs that cause characters to get stuck on objects, tables, and geometry, often blocking exits and making levels impossible to complete. They also cite unfair difficulty, broken stealth mechanics, poor enemy AI, and technical issues like no brightness controls, which lead to repetitive deaths and restarting.
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): Disappointment stems from the game's unpolished execution despite a compelling concept, with clunky controls, broken stealth, and poor graphics. Players feel the grind is not worth it, as the game feels unfinished, repetitive, and fails to deliver on its potential, with technical problems further ruining the experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Enjoyment is driven by the compelling gameplay loop of scavenging for supplies while avoiding capture, unique atmosphere, and excellent music. Players also appreciate the Greek mythology and horror RPG elements, finding the game fun despite bugs and simplicity.
- Fear (weight 0.08): Fear is caused by the tense atmosphere, terrifying sound effects from satanic sheep and slamming doors, and limited visibility in the dark. The presence of monsters like the Satyr and growling eyes in darkness also instill fear.
- Appreciation (weight 0.07): Appreciation comes from the well-integrated Greek mythology, the developer's responsiveness to feedback, and the unique atmosphere with procedural generation. Players also value the narrative and effort from a single developer.
- Fun (weight 0.05): Fun arises from the simple concept of dungeon exploration, sneaking segments, and combat approaches. The game is enjoyable when ignoring bugs, with absurdly fun gameplay involving stealth, loot, and deity prayers.
- Amusement (weight 0.05): Amusement is caused by exploitable mechanics like repeatedly dropping a vase for money, dumb mobs running into walls, and janky events like music or lighting issues. Funny situations such as being killed by a territorial griffin also provide amusement.
- Annoyance (weight 0.05): Annoyance stems from minor glitches like getting caught on corners, clipping issues, and bugs such as getting stuck or dying at the start from lava. Broken stealth mechanics and poor performance also contribute to annoyance.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Satisfaction is felt from the general gameplay loop, challenging thinking, and good lighting and combat feedback. Rare victories are sweeter, and the game offers great value for the price.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement is driven by exploring, fighting, and fleeing for life in an ancient Greek setting with a nostalgic 80s synth soundtrack. The feeling of pursuit backed by darkness and dynamic soundtrack also excites players.
- Love (weight 0.04): Love is expressed for the immersive atmosphere, music, and overall presentation, including creepy atmosphere and terrifying monster encounters. Players enjoy the game's idea and intense gameplay despite flaws.
- Tension (weight 0.03): Tension is created by the genuinely tense atmosphere, stealthy exploration interrupted by satyr cries, and the need to hide from monsters like a minotaur scanning the room.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom results from repetitive gameplay by the third dungeon, feeling like a chore, and repetitiveness especially when overpowered. The game bores some reviewers an hour in every time.
- Terror (weight 0.02): Terror is caused by nightmare fuel and uncanny valley horror, with unnerving atmosphere, satyr cries, and oppressively inky darkness. Simple animations and animal sounds throw players into a genuine nightmare.
- Disappointed (weight 0.02): Disappointment is due to bland combat and chaotic game balance, making it hard to keep playing. Low completion and atmosphere also contribute to this feeling.
- Immersed (weight 0.02): Immersion comes from atmospheric details like footsteps and howls in the darkness, and dripping water sounds with distant monster howls creating a great atmosphere.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Frustration is caused by bugs and lack of collision system preventing play, and issues like cannot buy things in the shop and accidentally stepping on an ant nest ending the game.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by tolerable and interesting gameplay, and the roguelike elements with weapons and gods.
- Creepiness (weight 0.02): Creepiness is achieved through effective use of darkness and sound, such as distant shadows and shrieks, and an atmospheric and creepy game environment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm stems from an atmospheric and offbeat indie experience, and a wonderful mix of genres that is a blast to play.}