Grotesque Tactics 2: Dungeons & Donuts

"Naughty, naughty humor."

Developer: Headup Games / Silent Dreams
Publisher: Meridian4
Release Date: TBA 2011
Platform(s): PC
Genre: Strategy, RPG

 

 

Grotesque Tactics isn’t your mom’s strategy games. While my mom does spend ample time playing and replaying Final Fantasy and a hundred other titles, she wasn’t a big fan of more tactical approaches like Disgaea. But enough about my game addicted mother of 51 years, the point was that that this game is a bit different when it comes to making a hybrid of turn-based grid combat and RPG elements. Sure, it’s all still there, with levels and skills and all that; but it also hacks at one particular thing: the fourth wall. Grotesque Tactics II: Dungeons & Donuts is, just like its predecessor, a constant parody and reference show of anything they can jab at.

 

The new mature look of Grotesque Tactics 2 sure is mature in one way.

 

It starts not long in the game, when they poke a little fun at their new, more mature look. The gothic protagonist Drake the cake encounters an old friend and notices: “You used to have bigger eyes and less detail.” No one is safe from the whimsy in this title. No ogre is too slimy and no maiden is too round-chested not to partake in a little slap and tickle. As such, the game always offered a nice colorful environment, high in contrasts; this hasn’t changed. The textures aren’t anything special, but the amount of added effects that can be applied does create a nice fantasy setting in which to piss about with the posse of unlikely heroes. From our Goth’s point of view we are joined by a man called Holy Avatar, with more ego than the entirety of France;  but also his following of fair maidens, each more naked than the other. They always have nice empty-headed things to say, because humor is what it’s all about in this game; naughty, naughty humor.

But there is also a time for fighting and surprisingly the series always brought a ‘tactics’ game that is up to par. Upon exploration, the party can stumble into some foes that are aching for some boob and maybe a fight ensues? All characters are roughly set into the place they were spotted and a grid appears on the floor in a real time dynamic, after which combat commences. This unfolds rather traditionally, but not badly, with all elements solidly in place. Players and enemies act in turn upon an initiative bar viewable on the right and can move and attack accordingly. Position can play a sizeable role in combat, as attacks from behind score a lot more damage, but also waiting out some opponents can be advisable at times. In addition, players can use specially acquired skills, upgradeable like other traits by leveling. Each character has their set of specialties, but be sure to expect humorous quirks in some, because it’s all about the funnies.

 

Fighting a giant skeleton alone? No problem! Well, maybe a little problem.

 

The good thing about Grotesque Tactics is also that the humor isn’t always forced upon players, like some bad slapstick games. Also, it doesn’t rely solely on the use of humor, but presents a full game behind it. In conversation options, it’s possible to sometimes try and deviate from fancy talk and just get straight to business, but that won’t always work either. This brings us to another trait that the game tries to make its own: diplomacy. Whereas in normal games, people will just blindly follow you to their deaths, the leader in Grotesque Tactics is but a man and no hero. Time and again, Drake will be forced to convince surrounding heroes to join the brawl or be forced to take on the fight alone. The other adventurers will still fend for themselves, but at their own expense and without reward for the player. This proving your worth mechanic really enhances the inner interaction and will also be applied when conflicts arise, even in the party itself. One chesty maiden can’t just rub up against her crush without another barely clad lady taking offense. If only the game had a mud fight option; right, guys?

The game also promises to further this interaction in a grand way by introducing Factions, where one can truly get a banner of honor going. By becoming a Guild Master, Drake will be able to assemble a squad of elite or not-so-able heroes to defend the land, protect them of a killer fog or whatever it is that they’re doing. The important thing is, people will be saved and playing house is always fun, but also adds additional depth to the series. Unfortunately, the build we played was so broken that we never got to that particular point, but it is explained early on. An added respect meter will monitor Drake’s standing with that particular Faction, so it also pays off playing nice. Furthermore, the game also promises to introduce cooking as an entire mechanic and currency option. And lastly, the whole will be completed in the end by adding voice to the whimsical. Frankly, Meridian4 should pay for the skills of John DiMaggio, the voice of Marcus Fenix. But that’s not quite the role this adventurer should portray in this game this time. There’s definitely a reference in that last sentence.

 

Nothing funny about this one, sorry. It doesn't always have to be funny, ok?

 

If one thing from this build can be denoted though, it is that the text was really small. Even with glasses on, it was hard to view all mouse-over stats or conversations. In addition, any text that simultaneously gets shown often overlapped, making matters worse. Voice acting will take care of most of that, but really, sizing up the font one or two pixels won’t hurt.

While not all was seen from Grotesque Tactics II: Dungeons & Donuts, the game already displayed its trademark solid gameplay. With its colorful outlook and a heavy parody of its peers like Final Fantasy, Oblivion or Lord of the Rings, it promises to also build several layers of actual game elements. By providing a good character interaction and adding a few new mechanics, this title should definitely appeal to the ‘tactics’ type of gamer in the end; all for a budget price. Disgaea might be funny and have a penguin, but this game referenced “Who’s The Boss,” so I think we have a winner.

Gallery

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed. (@Daavpuke)