Info about Ziggurat:

Official game description:
Dungeon-Crawling First Person Shooting at its finest! Fast-paced combat! Dozens of perks, spells and enemies! Level ups! Random Dungeons! Traps! Badass bosses! Carrots! Ziggurat is the best combination of First Person Shooter and Rogue-LITE you have ever seen.  
Become a neophyte sorcerer, and get ready for your rite of passage: Enter the labyrinth and face dangerous challenges to prove your worth and become a powerful wizard!  
The game focuses on fast-paced first person shooting, with an old-school vibe, and updated handling and game mechanics. Dungeon crawling and RPG/Roguelike elements are added into the mix, resulting in a fun, challenging and varied game, with lots of content to discover.  
Fight almighty bosses, get through rooms filled with traps, and treasures that may help you in your journey... Each game is a whole new experience!  
Unlike most Rogue-thingies, on Ziggurat your combat skills will be the most important asset to keep advancing. Leveling up and randomly generated content is there to improve variety and make each game different, not to make the game a roll dice or an unbearable grind.  
Most perks are designed to change the way you have to play or the weapons you'll want to use. Do you want more speed in exchange for less health, or maybe is better to have mana regeneration? Increase drop rate, or refill ammo here and now? No number game here, simple and direct choices.  
We've also ensured that, as a proper FPS game, the experience is quick and direct. There's no inventory to manage or the need to compare two almost equal item drops, just weapon selection, and mana/health are usually the bargaining chip.  
A whole arsenal of magic and alchemic weapons will be at your disposal. Wreak havoc among your enemies, but watch your mana reserves or you might regret it later!  
Magic staves, spellbooks, magic wands... dozens of weapons with different attack strategies that help keeping the game fresh!

Release date: Oct 23, 2014

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler, Character Progression, Procedural Generation, Magic System, Fast-paced Combat, Boss Fights


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $1.40 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community generally finds the game worth purchasing when it is on sale or at a discounted price. The repeated mentions of buying the game on sale indicate that the full price might not be considered fair by many users. Additionally, the specific mention of the game being worth 10元 (approximately $1.40 USD) on sale provides a concrete data point for the lower end of the price range. The overall sentiment is that the game is enjoyable but best purchased at a discounted price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 1.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: 20.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct references to playtime metrics. The first two quotes indicate that a typical run or session lasts between 45 minutes to an hour, which aligns with the session length metric. The third quote suggests that completing the game on normal difficulty takes around 5 hours, which can be interpreted as the game completion time. The fourth quote implies that there is significant replay value and endgame content, suggesting a high number of potential playtime hours for those seeking to complete all characters and difficulties.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Ziggurat offers a fast-paced and addictive gameplay experience that can be fun and satisfying, particularly for fans of roguelikes and fast-paced shooters, despite some repetitive elements.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: After a few runs
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: repetitive level design; repetitive music; slow initial experience
  - Unlock drivers: understanding game mechanics; progression system; fast-paced combat
  - Conditions: enjoyment of roguelikes; preference for fast-paced shooters; tolerance for repetitive elements
- Player Archetypes:
  - Classic Shooter Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and similarity to beloved classic games.
    - Playstyle: Fast-paced, strategic, and enjoys challenging gameplay.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old-school player; FPS fan
    - Reference games: Binding of Isaac; Don't Starve; Heretic; Hexen; Tower of Guns
  - Casual Gamer (sale)
    - Motivation: Accessibility and ease of play.
    - Playstyle: Relaxed, enjoys easy mode, and not overly concerned with deep mechanics.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual gamer; newcomer
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Roguelike Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Challenge and the unique experience of each run.
    - Playstyle: Strategic, enjoys the roguelike elements, and seeks out challenges.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: roguelike fan; challenge seeker
    - 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:
- Variety in characters and upgrades (weight 0.59): The game offers a wide range of characters, weapons, perks, and enemies, enhancing gameplay variety and replayability.
- Pleasant graphics and atmosphere (weight 0.48): The game features appealing graphics, sound effects, and a likeable soundtrack, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere.
- FPS and roguelike fusion (weight 0.47): The game uniquely blends fast-paced first-person shooter mechanics with roguelike elements, creating a dynamic and engaging experience.
- Intense and satisfying gameplay (weight 0.46): The game offers smooth, intense, and rewarding gameplay, making it both fun and addictive.
- Classic FPS reminiscent (weight 0.41): Gameplay and weapons evoke nostalgia for classic FPS games like Heretic, Hexen, and Doom, appealing to fans of those series.
- Challenging gameplay (weight 0.28): The game provides a balanced and fair challenge, making it both enjoyable and engaging for players seeking difficulty.
- Solid gameplay mechanics (weight 0.28): The game features a solid gameplay loop, addictive mechanics, and smooth controls, contributing to its overall quality.
- Randomized dungeons and items (weight 0.23): Randomly generated maps, items, and enemies ensure high replay value and varied gameplay experiences.
- High replayability (weight 0.2): The game encourages replayability through its dynamic gameplay, variety, and different challenges.
- Magic-based combat (weight 0.19): The game features a unique niche of magic-based combat, offering a different experience from traditional FPS games.
- Well-implemented roguelike elements (weight 0.16): Roguelike elements are well organized and integrated, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- Multiple game modes (weight 0.16): The game includes various game modes, such as Endless mode and Daily Challenges, adding to its replayability and variety.
- Fun and underrated (weight 0.16): The game is described as fun and underrated, offering an enjoyable experience that may not have received the recognition it deserves.

Common complaints:
- Limited enemy variety (weight 0.41): Enemies are criticized for being repetitive, not distinct, and lacking variety. This makes combat feel monotonous and uninteresting.
- Weak and unsatisfying weapons (weight 0.34): Players report that the weapons in the game are often bad, lack impact, and feel weak. The shooting mechanics and hit detection are also criticized for being unsatisfying.
- Game lacks engagement and fun (weight 0.32): The game is often described as boring, uninspired, and repetitive. Players find the game design uninteresting and the gameplay grindy, leading to a lack of engagement.
- Poor level design (weight 0.2): The levels are criticized for being generic, repetitive, and lacking strategic elements. Players feel that the level design is uninspired and does not offer any unique challenges.
- Generic and annoying music (weight 0.18): The music in the game is often described as generic, annoying, and not memorable, detracting from the overall experience.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.17): The gameplay is often described as repetitive, with players going through similar rooms and floors, fighting the same enemies repeatedly.
- Difficulty balance issues (weight 0.16): The game's difficulty is a mixed bag, with some players finding the default difficulty too challenging while others feel it could be more difficult. This inconsistency affects the overall experience.
- Repetitive environments (weight 0.16): The procedural environments in the game often blur together and feel repetitive, reducing the overall enjoyment.
- Excessive and poorly mixed randomness (weight 0.15): The game's randomness is often criticized for lacking meaningful construction and being poorly mixed, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- Lack of character progression (weight 0.13): Players feel there is no meaningful character or meta progression, which reduces the incentive to continue playing.
- Randomness in weapon drops (weight 0.13): The randomness in weapon drops can be frustrating, as some weapons are clearly better than others, and the initial weapon is also randomly assigned.
- Game feels basic and barebones (weight 0.09): The game is often described as very basic and barebones, lacking depth and content compared to newer games.
- Not worth the price (weight 0.09): Many players feel that the game is not worth its full price, suggesting that it may be overpriced for the content and quality offered.
- Enemies spawn unpredictably (weight 0.09): Enemies can spawn behind the player or suddenly appear, which can be frustrating and disrupt the gameplay experience.
- Limited build variety (weight 0.09): Players feel that there is a lack of variety in builds, limiting the ways they can customize and play their characters.
- No tutorial or starting help (weight 0.08): The game lacks a tutorial or any form of starting help, which can make it difficult for new players to get into the game.
- Bland initial experience (weight 0.08): The initial experience of the game is often described as bland, failing to make a strong first impression.

Gameplay feedback:
- FPS Roguelite Gameplay (weight 0.97): The game is a first-person shooter with roguelike elements, featuring randomized levels, permanent death, and RPG mechanics. It combines fast-paced action with magical themes and fantasy settings.
- Variety in Enemies and Weapons (weight 0.68): The game offers a diverse range of enemies with unique behaviors and tactics. It also includes a variety of weapons, such as spells, staves, and alchemy tools, enhancing gameplay diversity.
- Procedurally Generated Levels (weight 0.51): Levels and dungeons are procedurally generated, providing a unique experience each playthrough. This includes randomized maps, enemies, and room contents.
- Character Progression and Perks (weight 0.46): The game features a leveling system with perks for character enhancement. Players can choose from a variety of perks at level-ups, allowing for customized character progression.
- Boss Fights and Room Exploration (weight 0.43): Players must explore rooms to find keys that summon level bosses. The game features various room types, including challenge rooms, lore rooms, and treasure rooms.
- Mana Management System (weight 0.18): The game includes a mana-based ammunition system where each weapon category has its own mana pool. Players must manage their mana effectively, which becomes easier as they progress.
- Unlocking Additional Characters (weight 0.14): Players start with a limited roster of characters and can unlock additional characters with unique stats as they progress through the game.
- Enemy Drops and Resource Management (weight 0.13): Enemies drop experience gems, mana, and healing potions, which players must collect to restore health and mana, adding a layer of resource management to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Smooth performance and controls (weight 0.26): The game runs smoothly with controls that are easy to get used to, and it handles many enemies on screen without performance issues.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.2): The game can run on low-end hardware, making it accessible to a wider range of players.
- Sound and graphical issues (weight 0.13): There are reports of broken spatial sound and minor graphical quips, but also praise for well-made sound effects and music.
- Settings and resetting issues (weight 0.13): Players report issues with resetting language and video options, as well as general settings problems.
- Crashing and progress wiping (weight 0.1): Some players experience game crashes and issues with progress being wiped.
- Performance instability (weight 0.09): There are reports of frame rate instability and performance problems, even on high-end GPUs.
- Long loading times (weight 0.05): Players have mentioned that the game has long loading times.
- Graphics settings independence (weight 0.05): Graphics settings do not significantly affect the game's performance, allowing for consistent gameplay experience.
- Auto-aim feature (weight 0.05): The game includes an auto-aim feature that makes targeting easier for players.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for roguelike and FPS fans (weight 0.44): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy roguelike and first-person shooter games. It offers a fun and challenging experience with fast-paced combat.
- General recommendation (weight 0.32): The game is generally recommended by many players. Some suggest buying it on sale for better value.
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.21): Many players advise waiting for a sale or discount before purchasing the game. They suggest that the game is worth playing but better value can be found at a lower price.
- Consider other games (weight 0.15): Some players recommend trying other games like Immortal Redneck, Ziggurat 2, or Quake instead. They suggest these alternatives might offer a better experience.
- Recommended for arena shooters with fantasy (weight 0.12): The game is recommended for fans of arena shooters with fantasy elements and magic-based FPS games. It offers a unique combination of these genres.
- Avoid full price purchase (weight 0.08): Some players do not recommend spending full price on the game. They suggest waiting for a sale or discount to get better value.
- Try the sequel (weight 0.08): Some players recommend trying the sequel to the game, suggesting it might offer an improved or additional experience.
- Easy mode for casual gamers (weight 0.05): The game offers an easy mode which is recommended as a good starting point for casual gamers.
- Avoid Chinese platforms (weight 0.04): Some players advise purchasing the game from non-Chinese platforms to avoid potential censorship issues.

Other player notes:
- Secret rooms with developer notes (weight 0.05): Players have discovered secret rooms containing developer notes, adding an element of intrigue and depth to the game.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the game's blend of classic FPS mechanics with roguelite elements, appreciating the variety of weapons, characters, and fast-paced combat. The high replay value, responsive controls, and engaging progression system contribute to a positive and fun gameplay experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players are frustrated by the game's high difficulty, repetitive elements, and lack of clear tutorials or progression. Technical issues such as crashes, resetting settings, and lack of saved progress also contribute to this frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of depth, repetitive gameplay, and limited variety in enemies and weapons. The game's outdated mechanics and lack of meaningful randomness also contribute to this sentiment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players find satisfaction in the game's challenging and rewarding progression system, high replayability, and variety of unlockable characters and skills. The fair challenge and skill-based gameplay also contribute to this feeling.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.08): Players experience nostalgia due to the game's old-school stylistics and comparisons to classic games like Heretic, Hexen, and Risk of Rain 2. The game's aesthetic and gameplay reminiscent of older titles evoke fond memories.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Players are excited by the game's addictive and fast-paced gameplay, variety of weapons, and high replayability. The unique blend of genres and diverse gameplay mechanics also contribute to this excitement.
- Boredom (weight 0.05): Players find the game boring due to its lack of variety, repetitive room design, and uninspiring gameplay. The tedious nature of completing certain tasks also contributes to this boredom.
- Excited (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the game's unique concept, engaging combinations, and varied weapons. The adrenaline-pumping action and immersive gameplay also contribute to this excitement.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Players feel frustrated due to the game's high difficulty, lack of tutorials, and issues with map generation. The procedural generation and random elements can also lead to frustrating moments.
- Disappointed (weight 0.02): Players feel disappointed due to the game's repetitive gameplay, lack of variety in enemies, and uninteresting characters. The lack of depth and quick completion time also contribute to this sentiment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's long-lasting appeal, enjoyable gameplay, and high replay value. The challenging and fair gameplay experience, along with positive comparisons to classic games, contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's detailed gameplay mechanics, variety in enemies and weapons, and suitability for children. The developer details and daily challenges also contribute to this appreciation.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Players find the game fun due to its enjoyable gameplay and fast pacing. The overall engaging and entertaining nature of the game contributes to this sentiment.
- Addictive (weight 0.01): Players find the game addictive due to the engaging nature of unlocking various items and content. The continuous updates and improvements also contribute to this addictive quality.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the game's enjoyable gameplay, replay value, and mix of genres and mechanics. The overall positive experience and engaging gameplay contribute to this satisfaction.
- Appreciative (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's mix of genres, continuous updates, and improvements. The developer's efforts in providing a variety of content and maintaining the game contribute to this appreciation.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game's art style and level design. The unique and appealing visual elements contribute to this sentiment.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are positively surprised by the game's unique features and enjoyable gameplay. The unexpected quality and engaging aspects of the game contribute to this surprise.}