Dungeon Hunter: Alliance

UPC: 008888317142

Platform: PlayStation Vita

Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment

Developer: Gameloft S.A.

Category: Role-Playing

Style(s): Isometric Action RPG

Synopsis: Slay vile creatures alone or with up to three fellow adventurers in the first action role-playing game for PlayStation Vita. Dungeon Hunter: Alliance has you exploring the world of Gothicus from an overhead perspective as you team up with allies to battle zombies, skeletons, and other vile creatures. Follow the main storyline or complete multiple side quests while earning experience points and leveling up your hero. Acquire new, more powerful equipment and weapons to help repel the hordes of enemies standing between you and your objectives. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

One of the selling points for traditional handheld platforms, at least according to Sony and Nintendo, is that they offer full-fledged gaming experiences that can't compare to the offerings on other mobile devices. Well, players should <i>hope</i> so, given the significant price disparity between games on each format. This sense of value is put to the test with Dungeon Hunter, which was originally conceived as a budget iOS title. Dungeon Hunter is a simple hack-and-slash title in the mold of Diablo. You choose a pre-selected hero, venture into dungeons, and attack all manner of critters to score precious, wondrous loot. Then you do it all over again in the name of improving your character's level and abilities in combat. The best action RPGs are addictive, with the allure not unlike playing a casino slot machine. Instead of a cash payout on a random pull, you might randomly earn a powerful new weapon. Dungeon Hunter does a few things wrong, however. There are only three characters to choose from, and all are standard fantasy archetypes. You'll cast spells as a mage, get up close and personal with the warrior, or use high-speed attacks with the rogue. The environments are bland, characters have limited detail and animations, and despite the simplistic visuals, the game has a tendency to slow down when multiple enemies are encountered. There is no real story to speak of, and quests offer no personality. Combat, the most important part of this style of game, feels too loose and monotonous. The majority of enemies are taken down by rapidly tapping a single button, and only the powerful boss creatures require any semblance of tactics. Some of the motion-specific controls also seem forced. If your character is stunned, for example, you have to vigorously shake your Vita like an Etch-a-Sketch. In addition to solo play, the game offers both Ad-hoc and online support, and joining an online game is a painless process. There are also multiple difficulty settings, encouraging multiple play-throughs, and leveling up lets you place points in different skills and talents. Yet it's unlikely you'll want to play the game again after beating it once. Dungeon Hunter's unimaginative design and tedious combat are bad enough, but knowing that the PS Vita version is being sold as a premium title compared to its far cheaper mobile sibling is even worse. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.