I haven't played a first-person, grid-based dungeon crawler since Legend of Grimrock, and nothing else has come close to this modern classic. That changed with Underkeep, a love letter to '90s hits like Eye of the Beholder and Lands of Lore. The retro vibe is here, but can it measure up to those legends? I say yes!
What is Underkeep About?
Underkeep is a first-person, grid-based, 90-degree-turn dungeon crawler with a classic RPG story about heroes facing evil hidden in some tower. It's clear that it's not revolutionizing this niche RPG subgenre, but there's really no need for it. This game is all about that old-school cozy feeling you got playing EoB, Wiradry, and LoL titles. Expect puzzles and classic enemies like skeletons, plus some new, never-before-seen ones.
Visuals & UX
Many RPGs fail at this first step, as devs often miss that retro vibe and focus on game mechanics. But Underkeep developers understood the assignment and made this world beautiful and immersive. With a perfect retro look, I was ready to give it a chance, especially as the visuals reminded me of Lands of Lore (my favorite RPG of all time).
But being pretty isn't enough if it doesn't play as the RPG veterans expect. Fortunately, all my worries were washed away the moment I played the first couple of minutes. If you're an RPG fan, everything will feel familiar, and you'll have no problem understanding how to play. That said, I often felt confused about what to do with certain quests, as explanations are often vague. Some quests can't be completed until you finish other quests that open new areas. So if you're desperate and feel stuck, keep moving and come back later.
Also, keep in mind there are secret areas, so whenever you see something that looks undiscovered on the map, try walking through walls or bushes in that area. Sometimes, the answer is on a completely different map! For example, I'm still not sure how to complete one quest without using force, as the explanation isn't really helping.
Character Creation & Combat
Underkeep character creation works exactly as you would expect, though it's more simplified than I'd like. I would like more skills and spells available, since each class has up to eight active and up to four passive skills. Also, I would really love more customization options in character creation. In Underkeep, you can select a race, class, name, and image - you can't allocate skill points or select traits.
As for combat, it's a turn-based version of the standard RPG combat. It works like real-time combat, but instead of rushing through buttons, you have time to think about what to do. A turn ends when all your characters complete their actions. I guess they could've gone with real time, but then they'd have to calculate weapon speeds, how to cast spells fast... This way, combat flows better, with a focus on strategy, not clicking.
The best way to dominate combat is to be prepared. For example, equip items that give you a bonus against undead, switch between items mid-combat if they give you bonus skills (fireball, shield, etc.). Because each class has a limited number of skills and spells, you don't really have many builds to experiment with. It's a shame that you can't switch characters in a tavern, as I would love to play with other classes that I didn't choose for my party. It's not like I'm going to play again from scratch with another team.
Story and Puzzles
While I love worldbuilding and the stories behind characters in RPGs, I'm not a big fan of the stories in these games, since they're pretty generic. It's the same case here, but it's even more nostalgic, as you'll get exactly what you expect - some evil is lurking in some sinister tower. Unlike the main story, quests are interesting and well written, helping to create a sense of a large world you need to explore. You'll meet NPCs with stories to tell, but if you're not interested, you can simply skim the text.
Underkeep has found a nice balance with puzzles - they're logical and hard enough to give you the satisfaction of solving them. I won't spoil anything, but keep in mind that some puzzles require you to explore other locations to find a solution. On the other hand, I was confused by a couple of puzzles where I did everything asked (from my perspective), but nothing happened. Some tips would help, since those puzzles are important to the story's progression.
Should I Play Underkeep?
If you're a fan of classic fantasy role-playing games, you should definitely play Underkeep. It is charming, beautiful, easy to jump into, immersive, and has just-about-the-right difficulty. Even if you're not nostalgic, you should still try it as a fan of fantasy worlds. Oh, and a small tip at the end: go with a Paladin/Blood Mage/Ranger/Voidcaller party. It's fun and has a great synergy potential.
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