AdventureQuest 8-Bit: Dungeons and Doom Knights (Switch) Review

A new NES game now ported to Switch (also available on Steam), AdventureQuest 8-Bit: Dungeons and Doom Knights is an indie retro love letter to 8-bit greats like the original Zelda games, Castlevania, and even hints of old school Metal Gear. Loaded with humor and charm, this is a new original Nintendo game done right.

Playing as an ax wielding knight, players venture through a Zelda-ish world filled with typical RPG landscaped troupes like graveyards, caves, and dungeons. Uniquely, the presentation switches between top-down gameplay and side-scrolling action with platforming. The transition between the two is seamless and took me a while to even realize that two different perspectives were implemented.

While still playable, my biggest complaint mostly comes from the top-down controls as it is easy to get stuck on parts of the environment which can lead to frustration and accidental hits/deaths. Since combat is little more than whacking things with the upgradeable ax, it can be annoying when movement isn’t as fluid as you’d expect. And just like most NES games, enemies respawn when you re-enter a screen which can get tedious in time.

The quest itself is lengthy and keeps throwing new upgrades at the player, granting passage to new areas Metroid-style. Along the way, keys must be collected, switches must be flipped, and bosses must be destroyed. It is all the typical action RPG mechanics you expect but it is all done in a charming and humorous approach. In fact, most dialog boxes are references to other video game series so players who cut their teeth with 8-bit consoles will appreciate this quest the most.

While it takes several hours to complete, the lack of an in-game map with quest indicator will definitely cause some “where do I need to go next” issues. At the same time, this is a new NES game after all and such modern features weren’t a thing back then. Point being, expect to aimlessly wander from time to time because that is just part of the experience. On the upside, since the player will traverse a large map, the game hides plenty of secrets. Extra fights, upgrades, and even jokes are the reward for those willing to venture and backtrack a bit.

Death is an easy pill to swallow as it just transports you back a few screens while retaining all progress. Sure, you might respawn with less than full health but it is an easy price to pay for having to redo all the things you just did when you accidentally die because you got stuck on that one bush fighting those skeletons.

AdventureQuest is a new NES game made with quality, care, and passion. It is easy to see the love that went into this final product as it oozes charm with every screen. Honestly, it is nothing you have not played before, but it takes the best parts of the classic games you love and combines them into one special package. Let’s hope an Xbox and Playstation port are in the works too.

Also Play: Infernax

Better Than: Full Quiet

Wait For It: a Shovel Knight sequel

By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com

Twitter: @ZackGaz

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