Review pixelcrypt 3/5 · Jun 28, 2024
Really well made zelda-like, but for me... needs QoL love
Master Key is a very competent, polished, and well-designed Zelda-like. It has a striking black and white art style, a large interconnected overworld, and 5 main dungeons (plus some optional ones).
I think it would be a 10/10 game for me with a few tweaks. It has many secrets that are quite tricky, similar to Tunic or Fez. It can …
Master Key is a very competent, polished, and well-designed Zelda-like. It has a striking black and white art style, a large interconnected overworld, and 5 main dungeons (plus some optional ones).
I think it would be a 10/10 game for me with a few tweaks. It has many secrets that are quite tricky, similar to Tunic or Fez. It can lead to many moment of "a-ha!" discovery, but at the same time often can stump you. Let alone if you are someone that tends to 100% games (me).
So... if there was some kind of end-game assistance, I would LOVE this game. But as I got further in, I just slowly lost all motivation. A good example of this done well is Kharon's Crypt. It has a secret path near the end, filled with really tough challenges and bosses. But if you complete it, you are awarded with a compass type item that reveals the location of every secret in the game.
Not to be stuck too much on that tangent though... The world is really well designed, dungeons are great, abilities are top notch. I have zero other complaints, it's just that one issue that's a huge deal for my enjoyment.
Check this one out, especially if you love cryptic discovery and don't have a similar pet peeve.