Brut@l Reviews
Now, this is a game that I can totally get behind. Brut@l is a bad ass, top down, roguelike, dungeon crawling experience all designed in ASCII. For those of you who don’t know what ASCII is, I’ll drop some knowledge on you courtesy of Google. ASCII - (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is the most common format for text files in computers and on the Internet. In an ASCII file, each alphabetic, numeric, or special character is represented with a 7-bit binary number (a string of seven 0s or 1s). 128 possible characters are defined.
Brut@l has a striking aesthetic that tries to brush up on the ASCII dungeon roguelikes of old and modernize the formula some in the process. In the end, Stormcloud Games gets more right than wrong, though a few frustrating quirks turn the title into a niche title that will not appeal to everyone.
Hallways are outlined with hash symbols, doorways are represented with plus signs, crafting items are letters of the alphabet, and the dungeon map is a faithful top-down expression of a traditional rogue-like.
If you're a fan of Diablo's hardcore modes or Gears’ Horde mode, and are a veteran to the climb and fall if a wipe should occur, I would highly recommend you give Brut@l a try.
If you’re looking for something to play and AAA games are not cutting it for you, then definitely buy Brut@l.
Brut@l is a simplistic game and offers nothing new in a really crowded genre.
Though not without faults and a little too easy, Brut@l is still a fairly amusing game. It's fun exploring the dungeon while crushing its many denizens. The gear system is clever and works quite well. Anyone seeking a greater challenge should probably refrain from exploiting the special attacks and vampire curse potions. This rogue-like arguably won't go down as the classic that it's inspired by, but it isn't a bad way to pass the time.
When all is said and done, Brut@l is a decent hack’n’slash game with better-than-average combat and a totally wicked graphic style. While not on par with classic ARPGs like Diablo II or Titan Quest, it’s still a lot of fun and worth the $14.99 (11.99 through the 16th) price tag.
In case it hasn't become clear, Brut@l is a simple experience. That simplicity isn't necessarily bad, as it allows the game to be very focused on the intended experience. I enjoy the game, and for others your enjoyment of the game will hinge entirely on how much you enjoy the core gameplay: kill/break stuff to get materials for more and better stuff, try to conserve resources, repeat until boss or death. The simplistic combat leaves a little to be desired, but it's an entertaining and mostly gratifying way to unplug and spend a few hours causing a little mayhem.
Brut@l is entertaining, but it is not a great game. This Stormcloud Games proyect has been too ambitious and due to that it has not succeeded in any concrete aspect.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
When it comes to gameplay, Brut@l may not be very innovative to the rougelike genre at its core; it’s actually pretty standard as those kind of games go. This game has its artstyle and inspiration to thank for adding tons of charm to what would have been a pretty by-the-numbers entry into the genre. If you love roguelikes, or have fond memories of the old ASCII games, you will absolutely enjoy Brut@l. Even if it lacks the depth of some of its competitors, it makes it up in spades in old-school retro charm, and will hook you for hours.
I wasn’t expecting to have so much fun with the game, but as soon as I stated playing for my Brut@l review I realized that this is a very addictive arcade-style release that can easily keep you going for “one more level” until you realize it’s extremely late at night and you should probably get some sleep.
Brut@l is a decent action game, only for fans of the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Brut@al is a brilliant game. There are 26 random levels which ramp up in difficulty at a steady pace, with the final level pitting you against the Guardian of Dungeon. While the game can be a little repetitive and frustrating due to its nature, you’ll love every minute of it – the game is highly addictive. I had a lot of fun playing it for my Brut@l review as I tried to get all trophies to unlock a new shiny Platinum for my collection.
Its main issues surround a lack of depth and some repetitive design, but while also a little irritating in places, the gameplay is solid and engaging. The aesthetic, sound design and premise are top notch, and I think if you’re interested in a simple dungeon crawler, then Brut@l can provide a great time for you.
I really liked Brut@l. It has vivid graphics, good depth, a strong solo mode with its presentation of dungeons and the enemies, and this was topped off with a really intuitive Dungeon Creator. There is plenty on offer here, and it certainly doesn’t restrict itself to fans of the genre.
Brut@l is a clever homage to old-school ASCII dungeon crawler games, but its stiff difficulty, cheap deaths, and repetitive gameplay limit its appeal.
Brut@l is a modernisation and homage to truly pioneering games that were addictive before graphics were even a thing. It’s a hugely entertaining, visually striking experience, and has instantly become my favourite multiplayer title on the PlayStation 4. It does represent how some corners of the modern gaming industry is pushing visceral action over complexity, and that is disappointing on one level, but at the same time I can’t really complain that the developers have gone with the times, especially when it’s this much fun.
The overall structure of Brut@l is well designed, and procedural generation of the dungeons is good enough to present sufficiently varied floors. Unfortunately a the combat system is soporific and too simplified to entertain.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I can’t recommend this to all but the most diehard of genre fans. Even then, the art style may be lost on people who aren’t old enough to remember MS-DOS or a ZX Spectrum. That seems to be the most unique feature of the game.