Caveblazers
Steam version digital art
Developer(s)Rupeck Games
Windows
Deadpan Games
Nintendo Switch
Publisher(s)Yogscast Games
Platform(s)Windows, Nintendo Switch
Release
  • Windows
  • 24 May 2017
  • Nintendo Switch
  • 10 January 2019
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)

Caveblazers is a 2017 video game developed by Rupeck Games and published by Yogscast Games. Described as an "action-focused roguelike platformer",[1] players in Caveblazers defeat enemies across runs of procedurally-generated dungeons to accumulate items, weapons, and potions with random effects. The developers, Rupeck Games, described the design of the game as aiming to "move away from the simplistic combat systems" of other roguelike games to focus on "fast-paced combat".[2] Upon release, the game received generally favorable reviews, with praise directed to the game's roguelike mechanics, customisation and challenging difficulty, and criticism for its lack of variety of environments and enemies. A port of the game for the Nintendo Switch was released the developer under the name Deadpan Games in 2019.

Gameplay

A screenshot of gameplay in Caveblazers.

Caveblazers is a roguelike in which the player completes short runs by defeating enemies across a series of floors in procedurally-generated dungeons with randomized enemies, items, and bosses. The player progresses between runs by accumulating experience points based on their performance, including the number of enemies killed and the number of floors cleared. Experience allows the player to gain levels, providing them with access to new weapons, perks, and apparel when they start a successive run.[3] Throughout levels, the player collects gold, which can be used to purchase items and restore health, and can find blessings, that provide random buffs to the player's stats. Potions discovered throughout the levels are also random and unidentified, providing unexpected effects that can help or harm the player.[4] The game features several additional modes, with a Daily Challenge that challenges the player to complete the game with random items and stats, an arena mode to defeat as many enemies as possible. The game also features a Challenges tab for players to complete that provide additional rewards, and a local co-operative play mode.[3]

Reception

Caveblazers received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic,[5] with several critics praising the game for its roguelike features and comparing it favorably to the 2008 platform game Spelunky.[6][7][8] Destructoid praised the game for its controls, "excitingly difficult" gameplay, and "dramatically different" gameplay loop.[9]Touch Arcade recommended the game for its difficulty, "faster tempo", and increased levels of loot.[7] Rock Paper Shotgun highlighted the "cruel" difficulty of the game as a "wonderful challenge", finding the gameplay's "tug of war between control and chaos" to be adequately balanced, although desired more variety "in the areas and the enemies met" and found the boss battles to be "repetitive".[6] Nintendo Life critiqued the "uninspired" design of the game, citing the "lack of storytelling" and "unremarkable visual style" leading to a "lack of memorable identity", although praising the "unpredictable" and "constantly rewarding" game loop.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Deadpan Games (24 May 2017). "Caveblazers". Steam. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Caveblazers". Rupeck Games. 2016. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Vogel, Mitch (17 January 2019). "Caveblazers Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 Savage, Phil (29 June 2017). "Caveblazers Review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Caveblazers". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 Smith, Adam (31 May 2017). "Wot I Think: Caveblazers". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 Musgrave, Shaun (10 January 2019). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: 'Caveblazers', 'HoPiKo', 'SEGA AGES Out Run', and More New Releases". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Devore, Jordan (7 January 2019). "As a Spelunky and Risk of Rain fan, I feel obligated to try Caveblazers on Switch". Destructoid. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Hancock, Patrick (7 January 2018). "The best games of 2017 you didn't play". Destructoid. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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