Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Away: Shuffle Dungeon offers a unique blend of RPG exploration and puzzle-based dungeon crawling. On the surface, you guide Sword around the 3D village of Webb, interacting with villagers, purchasing weapons and gear, and preparing for the challenges ahead. When you enter a dungeon, the view shifts to a classic 2D overhead perspective, where the game’s puzzle elements and combat really come to life.

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The core gimmick is the “shuffle” mechanic: after a set period of exploration or upon striking a floor tile, the dungeon rearranges itself. Walls, enemies, treasure chests and even rescued villagers can be teleported to new spots, keeping you on your toes and ensuring that no two expeditions feel exactly alike. While the shuffle can add genuine tension and surprise, it can also be punishing if you’re trying to backtrack or locate a hidden key item.

Combat is simple but engaging. Sword can attack with purchased or found weapons, dodge strikes and use consumable items. The game also introduces friendly magical creatures known as Fupongs, each imbued with special powers—fireballs, healing waves or status-inflicting attacks—that you can summon to tip tough battles in your favor. Finding and equipping these Fupongs adds another strategic layer to dungeon delving.

Beyond solo play, Away: Shuffle Dungeon features an online Raid Battle Mode. Here, you team up with friends to tackle powerful boss monsters, armed with exclusive raid-only armor and weapons. These cooperative sessions deliver a nice change of pace from the single-player shuffle puzzles, encouraging coordinated Fupong usage and combined firepower to overcome colossal foes.

Graphics

The visual presentation in Away: Shuffle Dungeon is charmingly retro, recalling the early era of 3D RPGs on handheld systems. Webb village is rendered in crisp, low-poly 3D, complete with bright color palettes and simple but expressive character models. NPCs and environmental props—like market stalls, signposts and decorative shrubs—are easy to distinguish, making town navigation painless.

Inside the dungeons, the game switches to a classic 2D viewpoint with tiled floors and basic wall textures. Though the graphics here aren’t cutting-edge, the varied palettes—from mossy caverns to fiery altars—keep each dungeon feeling distinct. The shuffle animation itself is a slick fade-out and fade-in effect that clearly teleports objects without confusing the eye.

Monster and Fupong designs benefit from the involvement of legendary character designer Naoto Oshima. Creatures have memorable silhouettes—slithering slugs, winged imps and burly golems—while the Fupongs look adorable yet powerful. Animations are modest in frame count but capture key actions like Sword’s sword swings, Fupong magic blasts and enemy roars in a satisfying way.

Story

Sword, a young adventurer seeking a quiet life, arrives in the peaceful Webb village only to discover a dark secret: for over a century, residents have been vanishing without a trace. Locals seem oddly complacent, prompting Sword to don his blade and investigate the mysterious evil force at work. This simple premise quickly hooks players, creating a sense of urgency and curiosity from the first few NPC conversations.

The narrative unfolds organically as you rescue villagers from the shuffle-ridden dungeons. Each rescued person returns home with a snippet of lore—rumors of ancient guardians, tales of a sealed power buried beneath Webb—and these bits of story build an intriguing mosaic. While the overall plot never veers into complex political intrigue, it strikes a solid balance of lighthearted charm and the faint promise of deeper mysteries.

High-profile industry talents add polish to the experience. Hironobu Sakaguchi’s production oversight ensures the pacing remains tight, while Nobuo Uematsu’s music elevates the mood with uplifting town themes and tense dungeon tracks. Although the tale leans toward straightforward heroic fantasy, the interplay of these veteran creators’ work makes the story beats feel more memorable than one might expect from a handheld title.

Overall Experience

Away: Shuffle Dungeon is an inventive spin on traditional dungeon-crawling RPGs. The shuffle mechanic injects unpredictability and replay value into every subterranean trek, and the dual perspectives—3D overland exploration and 2D puzzle combat—offer a refreshing change of pace. If you’re looking for a bite-sized adventure with a clever twist, this title delivers.

There are moments of frustration, however. Random shuffles can scatter key items across sprawling dungeon maps, and backtracking through familiar rooms can feel tedious without a map feature. Yet these annoyances are balanced by a rewarding loot system that encourages exploration: finding treasure chests nets gold for gear upgrades, while rescuing villagers unlocks new shops and items back in Webb.

With online Raid Battles, charming graphics, memorable music and a heartwarming rescue-centric story, Away: Shuffle Dungeon stands out as a creative, family-friendly RPG. It may not boast the depth of a console epic, but its unique mechanics and veteran-backed presentation make it a delightful choice for gamers seeking a portable fantasy quest with a twist.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10