Info about Cursed Treasure 2:

Official game description:
Why be good when you can be... bad? Cursed Treasure 2 is an addictive tower-defense game that puts the power of darkness at your fingertips. As a creature of ultimate evil, you don't ask for much... just to raze the odd kingdom, and have your cache of all-powerful magical gems safely hidden away. Too bad the (ugh) good guys are out to steal them. Using the powers of the orcs, demons, and undead, you'll build unique and powerful towers along paths to destroy any hero that dares get close.  
Upgrade your undead cemeteries to instill fear in foes that makes them flee in the opposite direction, or turn your demonic temples into mighty icons capable of turning the ground to lava beneath anyone's feet. You'll upgrade and enhance each unique type, and of course, unlock spells of your own to enter the fray... when the going gets tough, the tough drop meteors on everyone else, after all.  
Sure, your enemies have paladins and angels and ninjas and more, but when you've got power like yours, they'll wish they stayed at home. Cursed Treasure 2 is casual but engaging tower-defense with style, packed with 24 levels that can be conquered normally or in Night Mode for even more challenge. It's good to be bad.  
*   Three powerful and monstrous tower-types, each with their own unique skills to unlock!  
*   24 levels of maniacal mayhem across a lush fantasy world.  
*   Replay stages in Night Mode with limited illumination for added challenge.  
*   Earn ability points to improve everything from spells to towers and more.  
*   A wide variety of enemies tricky powers and abilities to overcome.  
*   A vibrant and colorful style... just because you're evil doesn't mean you can't look good.

Release date: Jul 21, 2017

Categories: Tower Defense, Villain Protagonist Theme, Skill Tree Progression System, Three-star Rating System, Wave-based Defense, Terrain-based Gameplay, Night Mode Challenge

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 18; verdict: Fair / Low Risk; summary: The audit finds that the reviewed Steam version is primarily a paid game with paid DLC, not a confirmed live-service cash shop. Multiple reviews state that skulls were premium or pay-to-win on mobile but are grindable on Steam, and some explicitly deny a cash shop. The main recurring complaint is endgame grind and DLC value, not confirmed real-money power. Isolated cash-shop mentions are ambiguous and contradicted by Steam-specific evidence, so they do not meet the threshold for a high monetization score.
- Proton/Linux: score 40; verdict: Works with Proton Workaround; summary: The reviews show a mixed Linux picture: the native Linux build is reported to lose savegames and settings, and Proton is cited as a workaround. At the same time, one user reports running the game fine on Ubuntu with Radeon hardware, and another praises Linux support. No anti-cheat or launcher blocker is identified. Overall, the game appears playable on Linux but with workaround-level friction.
- Steam Deck: score 80; verdict: Broken; summary: The evidence shows a high-friction Linux/Steam Deck experience. Users report a required Proton workaround, failed save and settings persistence, broken offline mode, frequent crashes, and frame-rate problems including late-level 30fps caps. One positive report confirms Linux can work on older hardware, but the dominant feedback supports a broken rating.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $4.99 - $7.99
  - Reasoning: The reviews repeatedly anchor the fair value around a low full price, with one explicit reference to $5 and others saying the game is worth full price, low price, and the cost per hour. Sale mentions of roughly one euro or five reais show bargain pricing but are not base-game anchors. The consensus supports a fair base-game range centered near $5, with some tolerance up to about $8 for full-price value, but no evidence supports a higher full price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 25.0h
  - Story completion: 8.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: 15.0h
  - Reasoning: The 8-hour completion report supports story/campaign completion around 8 hours. General gameplay estimates of about 15 hours and all-achievement reports of 20-30 hours support full completion around 25 hours; the remaining late-game, night-mode, and achievement-focused grinding is supported by reports of literally hours of skull farming for missions 19-24 and high ranks, giving an endgame estimate of roughly 15 hours. Session reports range from 5-minute bursts to longer sessions over 2 hours, so a practical typical session length of about 1 hour is used.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Most reports describe immediate, addictive tower-defense fun powered by distinct towers and a forgiving skill progression, though grinding, repetition, and late difficulty spikes are recurring friction.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Tedious design decisions and repetitive missions; Special-currency and late-game skull grinding; Late-game difficulty spike; Loading, FPS, and crash issues; Limited strategies and luck dependence
  - Unlock drivers: Skill progression that advances even after failure; Replaying missions, leveling abilities, and changing customizations; Fast-forward option; Situational skill-point resets
  - Conditions: Likely best for players who already enjoy tower defense; Tolerance for grinding and repetition affects enjoyment; Achievement hunting requires heavy late-game farming; Late levels can spike in difficulty; A steep learning curve may require replaying missions
- Player Archetypes:
  - Tower Defense Genre Loyalist (buy)
    - Motivation: Reliable classic tower-defense gameplay that satisfies genre expectations.
    - Playstyle: Builds and upgrades towers across varied maps, compares the game with other TD titles, and values strong genre fundamentals.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Nostalgic Flash-Era Returner (buy)
    - Motivation: Revisiting a childhood Flash-era favorite and supporting the developers.
    - Playstyle: Returns to familiar maps in short casual sessions and buys the Steam port as a nostalgia purchase.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Weekend Defender (buy)
    - Motivation: Relaxed, short, low-pressure tower-defense sessions with mild challenge.
    - Playstyle: Plays in short one-handed sessions on lazy weekends, preferring accessible challenge over hardcore optimization.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Kingdom Rush
  - Completionist Grind-Critic (sale)
    - Motivation: Earning 3 stars and full completion, despite repetitive grinding.
    - Playstyle: Replays levels repeatedly, redistributes skill points, grinds skulls or XP, and chases high scores and achievements.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - 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:
- Excellent classic tower defense (weight 0.34): Reviewers consistently praise the game as a classic, well-made, and highly enjoyable tower defense title with polished mechanics and satisfying gameplay.
- Overall positive but vague feedback (weight 0.17): Some reviewers give generally positive comments without specific details, calling the game okay, good, or worth playing.
- Cute and fun casual tower defense (weight 0.09): Players describe the game as cute, fun, and casual, making it accessible and entertaining for a wide audience.
- Colorful and well-done graphics (weight 0.09): The graphics are frequently praised for being colorful, cute, and well-executed, enhancing the overall visual appeal.
- Addictive and fun gameplay (weight 0.08): The game is described as incredibly addictive and fun, keeping players engaged for long sessions.
- High replayability with night mode (weight 0.08): Night mode and day/night cycles for each level add significant replayability, along with star ratings and missions to complete.
- Great skill tree system (weight 0.08): The skill tree is well thought out and offers many useful upgrades, adding depth to character progression.
- Good music and sound (weight 0.08): The music and sound design are noted as good, catchy, and decent, contributing positively to the experience.
- Superior sequel to the first game (weight 0.07): Reviewers who played the first game note that the sequel improves almost every aspect and adds much more content.
- Permanent tower upgrades (weight 0.07): Towers can be permanently upgraded, with upgrades changing attack patterns and becoming available after killing enough enemies.
- Variety of tower types (weight 0.07): There are numerous tower types and upgrade options, allowing for diverse strategies and combinations.
- Above-average but balanced tower defense (weight 0.06): Some describe it as above-average and relatively well balanced, though not exceptional.

Common complaints:
- Save data loss and corruption (weight 0.28): Players report that save games frequently disappear, get corrupted, or are wiped entirely, causing loss of all progress. This issue occurs randomly, upon restarting, or due to Steam Cloud sync problems, and forces players to start over.
- Final levels overly difficult (weight 0.22): Players consistently report that the last few levels (especially the last three) are excessively hard and poorly designed. This spike in difficulty feels unbalanced and makes 3-star completion nearly impossible without significant effort.
- Skull currency required for late game (weight 0.21): Many players find that later levels cannot be completed without using skulls (power-ups or spells), even with maximum upgrades. This forces grinding or purchasing skulls to progress, which feels unfair and pay-to-win.
- Excessive grinding required (weight 0.16): The game becomes very grindy, especially in later stages, requiring players to repeatedly farm skulls or resources to progress or achieve 100% completion. This grinding is seen as excessive and detracts from the fun.
- Limited tower placement freedom (weight 0.11): Tower placement is restricted by terrain, with only specific tower types allowed on each terrain. This limits strategic freedom and makes many maps feel restrictive, reducing tactical options.
- Overall balance issues (weight 0.1): Players feel the game is unbalanced, particularly in later levels where difficulty spikes unfairly. The combat system and level design are criticized for lacking proper balancing.
- Technical performance problems (weight 0.09): The game has technical issues such as being locked at 30fps or 60fps with frame drops, fullscreen mode not working properly, and a small cursor that is hard to track on large displays.
- Poor controls and hotkeys (weight 0.06): Controls are worse than in the first game, and there are no keyboard shortcuts for building towers or activating abilities, making the game less convenient.
- Repetitive music (weight 0.04): The music becomes repetitive quickly and can become annoying over extended play sessions.
- Short game length (weight 0.04): The game is quite short, leaving players wanting more content.
- Forgettable story (weight 0.04): The story is unmemorable and can be completely ignored without affecting the experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Classic tower defense gameplay (weight 0.37): The game is widely described as a classic tower defense game with basic mechanics, multiple tower types, and waves of enemies. It is often compared to its original Flash version and retains straightforward tower defense conventions.
- Skulls as currency (weight 0.29): Skulls are collected from defeated enemies and used as currency to buy upgrades, bonuses, spells, and other perks. They are essential for progression, especially in later levels.
- Three tower factions (weight 0.24): Orc, Demon, and Undead are the three core tower types, each with distinct attack styles and upgrade paths. Terrain matching and specific building spots are tied to these factions.
- Terrain-based tower placement (weight 0.19): Towers can only be built on specific terrain types (e.g., Orc on grass, Undead on snow, Demon on desert). This restriction adds a strategic layer to placement.
- Three-star rating system (weight 0.19): Levels are rated up to three stars or a 'brilliant' rating, encouraging replayability and mastery. This is a common progression goal.
- Tower upgrades and progression (weight 0.19): Towers can be upgraded multiple times, often branching into different variants. Upgrades are unlocked through experience gained in battle or by spending resources.
- Play as villain theme (weight 0.15): Players control the evil side, defending treasure or gems from waves of heroes. This inverted perspective is a key narrative and gameplay hook.
- Skill tree and upgrades (weight 0.14): A skill tree allows permanent upgrades and customization over time, often unlocked with experience points. This adds RPG-like progression to the tower defense formula.
- Night mode challenge (weight 0.07): A special night mode restricts tower placement to illuminated areas, requiring players to use light sources to expand buildable zones. This adds a unique puzzle element.

Performance notes:
- Frequent crashes lose progress (weight 0.23): Players report constant crashes that often wipe out all progress and save files. Crashes occur at launch, during levels, and after longer sessions, sometimes requiring multiple relaunches.
- Lag and frame drops (weight 0.08): The game lags with visible frame loss and slows down frequently, especially when many enemies are on screen. Stutters occur at wave starts during 3x speed with heavy loot.
- Crashes at level end (weight 0.07): The game frequently crashes right at the end of a level or during advanced missions, which compounds progress loss. Crashes are more common on higher levels and when using 3x speed.
- Frame rate is capped (weight 0.06): Players report the game is locked to 30 FPS, with some noting a 60 FPS cap. The fixed frame rate is seen as a limitation compared to other versions.
- Slow level load times (weight 0.05): Levels take around 30 seconds to load, and loading pauses if the game is minimized. Noticeable load times and general loading issues are reported.
- Linux save persistence bug (weight 0.05): The Linux version is buggy, forgets settings, and does not persist save games. Players use Proton as a workaround, while some report it runs fine on Ubuntu with Radeon.
- Display and resolution issues (weight 0.05): There is no working fullscreen mode in some setups, and the resolution is fixed and cannot be changed. The game may also start fullscreen despite a windowed mode setting.
- Isolated minor crashes (weight 0.04): Some players report only one or two isolated crashes with infrequent failures on map completion. These are less severe than the widespread crash reports.
- Missing graphics on startup (weight 0.04): Players see black squares and missing graphics on startup and the mission selection screen. On Windows 10 notebooks this requires restarts after nearly every level.
- Crashes using fast mode shortcuts (weight 0.03): The game sometimes crashes when using shortcuts during fast game mode. This ties into wider reports of instability at 3x speed.
- Runs fine for some (weight 0.03): A few players report the game runs fine or on almost any computer. These positive experiences contrast with the majority of stability complaints.
- Alt-tab can crash game (weight 0.02): Alt-tabbing out of the game takes a second or can outright crash the application. This is one of several stability issues affecting multitasking.
- Steam Deck progress loss (weight 0.02): A possible Steam Deck-specific issue causes progress loss. This appears related to the broader save data problems across platforms.
- Slow menus (weight 0.02): The menus are described as very slow to navigate. This is a minor but noticeable usability complaint.
- Audio cuts out (weight 0.02): Sound effects went out a few times and required a restart to restore. This is an isolated but disruptive bug.
- Choppy fullscreen performance (weight 0.02): The game runs choppy specifically in fullscreen mode. This is separate from general frame drop reports.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for tower defense fans (weight 0.35): Many reviewers strongly recommend the game to anyone who enjoys tower defense games, often calling it a must-play for the genre. This sentiment appears across multiple clusters and is the most frequent positive point.
- Buy only on sale (weight 0.2): Several reviewers advise waiting for a discount, stating the game is worth buying at a reduced price but not at full price. This is a common recommendation pattern.
- Worth the price (weight 0.19): Reviewers frequently mention that the game offers good value for money, with many saying it is worth every penny or a fair investment. This aligns with the positive price-to-quality ratio noted by users.
- Only for tower defense enthusiasts (weight 0.13): Some reviewers caution that the game is only suitable for those who already like tower defense games or are collectors of old flash games, and not for a general audience. This caveat appears in multiple clusters.
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.1): Several reviewers give a simple high recommendation without specifying genre, indicating general satisfaction. This is a broad positive sentiment.
- Not recommended by some (weight 0.09): A few reviewers explicitly do not recommend the game, advising against purchase and stating it will likely disappoint. This negative sentiment contrasts with the overall positive reception.
- Great for Kingdom Rush fans (weight 0.08): Fans of Kingdom Rush are specifically called out as the ideal audience for this game, with multiple reviewers recommending it to those who enjoyed that series. This suggests a strong similarity in appeal.
- Version and bundle advice (weight 0.06): Some reviewers suggest buying a specific version (Cursed Treasure 2 Evil Evolution) instead of this one, and advise against purchasing the bundle. This is relevant for potential buyers deciding between options.
- Save issue prevents recommendation (weight 0.04): Two reviewers mention a progress-saving problem that currently makes them give a thumbs down, though they would recommend if it were fixed. This technical issue is a specific concern.
- Difficulty spike warning (weight 0.03): A couple of reviewers note that the game has a sudden difficulty spike, recommending it only to players seeking an extra challenge. This is a niche point but worth mentioning.
- Avoid unless playing in one sitting (weight 0.03): A minor point advises avoiding this version unless the player plans to complete the game in a single session, possibly due to save issues. This is a niche recommendation.

Other player notes:
- Originally a Flash game (weight 0.27): The game was originally a free Flash game available on sites like Armor Games, Kongregate, and Newgrounds, and the current version is a port or remaster.
- Similar to Kingdom Rush (weight 0.21): Many reviewers compare the game favorably to Kingdom Rush, noting similarities in gameplay and art style, and some consider it better or a clone.
- Free on other platforms (weight 0.14): The game is available for free on other websites and platforms, making the paid Steam version less appealing to some.
- Available on Steam (weight 0.13): The game is sold on Steam for a price, with some exclusive content like the last three stages, and also available on Android.
- Microtransactions in free version (weight 0.12): The free mobile version includes microtransactions, such as skulls as premium currency, while the PC version has none.
- Low price and good value (weight 0.11): Reviewers consider the game cheap, especially during sales, and find the price reasonable for the content offered.
- Around 10-30 hours playtime (weight 0.09): Reviewers report varying playtimes, from about 10 hours to complete to 20-30 hours for full completion.
- 24 levels plus night mode (weight 0.09): The game has 24 levels, and some versions include a night mode that adds more levels, totaling around 36 or 50.
- Paid DLC and Ultimate Edition (weight 0.08): The game charges for DLC, and an Ultimate Edition exists that adds extra content compared to the base edition.
- Steam version adds improvements (weight 0.08): The Steam version offers HD graphics, a new desktop UI, achievements, and no in-app purchases compared to the web version.
- Lacks language support (weight 0.07): Several reviewers note the absence of German, Japanese, and Chinese language support, which limits accessibility for non-English speakers.
- Compared to other tower defense games (weight 0.06): The game is compared to other tower defense franchises like GemCraft, Plants vs. Zombies, Defense Grid, and Bloons TD, often favorably.
- Steam version has limited content (weight 0.06): Some reviewers feel the Steam version has less content than the free Flash and HTML5 versions, making it less favorable.
- Sequel to Cursed Treasure (weight 0.06): This game is a sequel to the popular Flash game Cursed Treasure, which was a landmark tower defense title.
- Mobile port (weight 0.06): The game was originally developed for mobile and is essentially a mobile game port.
- Bought to support developer (weight 0.06): Some reviewers purchased the game on Steam to support the developer after playing the free version.
- Developed by IriySoft (weight 0.04): The game was developed by IriySoft and published by Armor Games Studios, continuing the series' origins.
- Colorful cartoon art style (weight 0.04): The game features a colorful, cartoon-inspired art style that appeals to many players.
- Low replay value vs Kingdom Rush (weight 0.04): Some reviewers find the game has less replay value compared to the Kingdom Rush series.
- First game not on Steam (weight 0.03): The first game in the series is not available on Steam, which may disappoint fans.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.26): Players are frustrated by a severe difficulty spike in the final levels, which often requires repetitive grinding for premium currency and items instead of strategy. This is compounded by constant technical issues like crashes, save files being wiped, and an unstable port, causing lost progress and forcing replays.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Disappointment stems from the game feeling like an unpolished, buggy port that is inferior to the original free Flash version. The core issues cited are unbalanced late levels designed for microtransactions, a lack of content compared to expectations, and persistent save-deleting bugs that have gone unfixed.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): Players enjoy the core tower defense gameplay, finding it fun, addictive, and strategically engaging with a good variety of towers, enemies, and mechanics. The nostalgia of playing a familiar game with charming graphics and solid mechanics contributes to a positive experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Satisfaction comes from mastering the game's mechanics, with a balanced challenge that feels fair and rewarding. The persistent upgrades and skill tree provide a sense of progression and accomplishment, making the game feel worth the investment.
- Addiction (weight 0.03): The game is highly addictive due to its engaging 'one more level' gameplay loop and constant sense of progression through the skill and experience systems. The core tower defense mechanics are simple yet compelling enough to make players lose track of time.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the developers' effort, the game's polished presentation, and the ability to support the creators directly. The charming art style, catchy music, and solid tower defense design without heavy micromanagement are highlighted as positive aspects.
- Fun (weight 0.03): The game is considered fun primarily because it flips the traditional script, allowing players to take on the role of the villain defending treasure. The core tower defense gameplay, combined with the addictive skill point system, provides a highly enjoyable and replayable experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia is a powerful emotion for this game, as many players remember playing the original Flash version on websites like Armor Games during their childhood. Revisiting the game on Steam brings back pleasant memories and offers a chance to repay that childhood enjoyment.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance is caused by minor but persistent technical and design issues, such as save games disappearing due to cloud sync glitches, long loading times, and the need to repetitively replay levels for stars. Restricted tower placement and having to repurchase upgrades also contribute.
- Love (weight 0.02): This emotion is expressed for the game's smart design, balanced gameplay, and humor, which have made it one of the reviewer's favorites. The fun missions, great skill tree, and enemy variety in this classic tower defense title are deeply cherished.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is directed at the developers for what is perceived as pay-to-win mechanics in the final levels and horrific balance that forces reliance on RNG and premium currency. The failure to fix critical save-file issues and the lack of support further enrage players.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is sparked by the game's strategic depth, which comes from fixed tower slots and resource exchange, creating meaningful decisions. The fantastic content and solid classic tower defense formula with unique mechanics make it a great find.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom sets in due to the mind-numbingly grindy progression, which forces players to farm for skulls or other randomized currency for hours. This lack of impact and variety in tower attacks and actions makes long play sessions feel tiring and unmotivating.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is derived from the opportunity to support the developers of a game the player loves by purchasing it on Steam. The game being available on the platform and finding it challenging and fun brings joy.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Excitement is generated by the unique premise of playing as the bad guys and the strategic possibilities offered by multiple tower combinations. The fun of being sucked into a game similar to Kingdom Rush with improvements and mechanics like spell scrolls adds to the thrill.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is felt for the game's quality as the best and hardest tower defense game the reviewer has played. The tricky missions, great skill tree, beautiful graphics, and smooth controls are highly commendable.
- Entertainment (weight 0.01): The game provides entertainment through the strategic application of tower defense mechanics, suitable for short sessions. The variety of units and strategic options keeps the activity engaging and enjoyable.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is caused by design choices like the comic look, the forced fixed strategy due to restrictions, and having to replay the same level many times. The addition of quick time events to a tower defense game is also considered a negative.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from enjoying a tower defense game despite usually not caring for the genre. Finding the sequel on Steam and discovering that the Steam version has added features and improvements over previous versions is also a pleasant surprise.
- Tension (weight 0): Tension is a core part of the experience, created by the constant threat of enemies stealing gems and dragging them off-screen. End-game levels are designed to punish careless play, keeping players on edge.}