Every now and then I feel like playing a puzzle game to see if I’m as astute as I (sometimes) think I am. I don’t usually spend too many hours on them because my brain can only handle so much. However, my experiences with Dungeons of Dreadrock 2: Secret of the Dead King was the complete opposite, as I constantly lost track of time during many of the puzzles. I even had to force myself to put this book down, thinking, “Just one more puzzles” stuck in my mind.
DoD2 is a continuation of the original narrative, maintained in the same retro-inspired graphic style. I’m modern to this series, but it wasn’t too complex to understand the plot. This is a classic adventure in which the heroine, a sorceress, sets off to a treacherous place to find the Crown of Wisdom.
Creator: Christoph Minnameier
Publisher: Christoph Minnameier
Released: November 28, 2024 (Switch) / December 5, 2024 (Steam)
Suggested retail price: $14.99
While it is possible to play without the original, I recommend spending time on the first one. Both stories are closely interconnected, and their main characters are: Dreadrock Dungeons appearing frequently. In fact, there are several split-screen moments where characters clash with each other in an attempt to thwart the Dead King’s evil plans. It’s a frigid concept, built for some pretty unique gameplay. But, of course, the real attraction Dead King Secret there are puzzles. There are approximately 100 levels to complete, each with a intricate challenge to decipher and several enemies to keep you on the edge of your seat.
What I admire most about this game is how different each puzzle is from the last. It’s not your typical rinse and repeat process where the puzzle starts to come together. Each challenge feels carefully crafted, making it stand out individually. In one level you will have to remember specific enemy movements, and in the second you will be able to reconstruct a skeleton.
The puzzles are also unlike anything I’ve experienced before. They all have a unique charm that goes beyond conventional puzzle games. The best example of this is the way levels can connect. The trapdoor you passed earlier may prove crucial in the future and require you to drop a weapon that will aid you get to the next floor. Even enemies need to be lured to the next stage to aid you fight other enemies. I like this concept, it forces you to rethink what you were doing before and triggers certain mechanisms in your brain that I didn’t know existed.
The further you go down the levels DoD2, the more challenging it becomes. Fortunately, you can exploit cheats to skip steps or unlock hints that explain in detail what you need to do. You’ll be given one hint to aid guide you in the right direction, and if you need additional hints, you can continue unlocking the rest to complete the level. I tried my best not to exploit it just for the sake of pride. However, I admit that I had to rely on him in the later stages.
Completing some levels without hints seemed almost impossible. Perhaps this is just user error on my part, or maybe you actually need to exploit them from time to time. I would be curious if anyone in the world would be able to do this without them. I know it’s a elevated order, but it would be quite a challenge if you want to make a difference.
In addition to puzzles, there are many battles waiting for you in each stage. I will say that it is not the most complicated system, because it is mainly a sorceress who delivers a single blow directly in front of herself. On the other hand, the game mixes things up a bit with the different tools you acquire along your journey. For example, you gain a flute that can scare away enemies, and then the ability to transform into a bat. It helps make combat less monotonous by giving you more options to defeat your enemies.
Boss fights also feel like a puzzle in themselves, where you have to plan your moves and time your attacks. In particular, the final stage was the ultimate test of puzzle-solving, forcing you to memorize patterns and not providing many hints. Like many levels, in this one you will have to do things over and over again until you get it right. It can be frustrating at times, but once you get over it, you feel quite accomplished. The music makes you feel even more victorious with an epic soundtrack reminiscent of the Middle Ages. I started dancing along with him, celebrating the feat with each passing level.
Ending to Secret of the Dead King is well worth the time it takes to complete 100 levels, which is about 10 hours. It would be a shame to go through it all only to come to indigent conclusions, but luckily that wasn’t the case DoD2. One of the main reasons it was so unusual is that there are two endings. I never expected to see this feature in a puzzle game. All in all, I had to go back and see what other choices I could have made.
Dungeons of Dreadrock 2: Secret of the Dead King is a must-have for puzzle lovers. The challenges are never the same and will make you think outside the box when trying to solve them. The feeling of victory after completing the puzzles can be addictive and it can be tough to break away from it, like I did.
Moreover, if you liked this game, you can look forward to the next installment as it is already confirmed to be a trilogy. I will no doubt be there for the next one and I have plans to tackle the original to catch up.
