Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts brings classic dungeon-crawling action into the modern era with a satisfying blend of hack-and-slash combat, spellcasting and in-depth customization. From the moment you step into the dark corridors of Westoria’s sealed labyrinths, you’re tasked with carving a path through hordes of monsters, solving simple environmental puzzles and uncovering hidden rooms rich with loot. The pacing remains brisk, ensuring that every dive into a new dungeon feels fresh and rewarding.

The character-creation suite is impressively robust. You choose from three distinct races—the human-like Izark, the elf-like Ist and the reptilian Olff—and six job classes (fighter, hunter, monk, thief, shaman and bishop). Beyond race and class, you can fine-tune gender, facial features, color schemes and attribute distributions, yielding over 70 unique hero variations. This level of personalization not only affects your playstyle but also deepens your emotional investment in the quest to seal the Great Labyrinth.

Central to combat are the three tiers of “Arts.” Weapon Arts grow stronger the more you wield a given weapon type, rewarding specialization. Job Arts evolve as you level your class, unlocking new techniques that complement your build. Finally, Big Bang Arts are spectacular multi-character combo moves—area-of-effect attacks fueled by the combined power of your party. Mastering these systems feels immensely gratifying, especially when you unleash a perfectly timed Big Bang to clear a room of foes.

Cooperative multiplayer over Ad-Hoc connection elevates the experience even further. Up to three players can team up to tackle dungeons together, combining Arts for devastating chain attacks and sharing loot in real time. Whether you’re grinding side quests in town or making a final push to close the labyrinth’s deepest seal, playing with friends transforms every run into a dynamic and social adventure.

Graphics

Visually, this update of the beloved TurboGrafx-16 title (originally detailed on Mobygames) shines with meticulously redrawn pixel art and polished animations. Character sprites are sharper and more expressive, with fluid idle and combat motions that bring each class’s unique style to life. Environments—from mossy ruins to torchlit caverns—are layered with parallax backgrounds, subtle lighting effects and atmospheric flourishes that heighten immersion.

The development team has also modernized spell and weapon effects without losing the retro charm. Fireballs swirl with particle trails, lightning arcs crackle realistically, and shimmering portals hint at deeper mysteries of Westoria. Even on smaller screens, details like flickering torches, dripping water and enemy idle animations stand out, making exploration both a visual and tactical treat.

Performance is rock-solid, with a consistent frame rate that keeps the action responsive. Load times between rooms are brisk, and the UI strikes a good balance between nostalgia and usability—menus are crisp, inventory icons are legible and tooltips provide all the information you need without obscuring the map. For fans of modern pixel artistry, Dungeon Explorer sets a high bar.

Story

The narrative draws you into the mysterious realm of Westoria, a once-prosperous kingdom now sealed off to contain the monstrous horde bursting from the Great Labyrinth. As one of the fated explorers, your mission is twofold: discover the fate of Westoria’s inhabitants and eradicate the source of its corruption. Though the premise is straightforward, environmental storytelling—found journals, NPC anecdotes and cryptic murals—adds layers of intrigue.

Each race and class brings its own cultural perspective on the labyrinth’s secrets. The noble Izark lament the loss of ancient allies, the Ist elves interpret the labyrinth’s magic in terms of elemental harmony, and the Olff orcs view the Great Labyrinth as a test of strength. Small in-game dialogues and side quests help flesh out these viewpoints, making repeat playthroughs with different characters feel narratively distinct.

Pacing-wise, the story unfolds steadily. Town hubs provide a safe haven to rest, trade and gather new quests, while cutscenes and scripted events mark key narrative beats without overstaying their welcome. Whether you’re rescuing villagers, deciphering arcane glyphs or sealing a massive dungeon gate, the sense of purpose remains clear, driving you onward until the final confrontation with the labyrinth’s guardian.

Overall Experience

Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts strikes a satisfying balance between nostalgic homage and modern design sensibilities. The core loop of explore, loot, level up and customize never grows stale, thanks to the depth of the Arts system and the breadth of character builds. Even veterans of the original TurboGrafx-16 version will discover fresh surprises in every branching path.

The game’s challenge curve is well tuned: early levels ease you into combat mechanics, while later labyrinths demand thoughtful party composition and strategic use of Arts. Multiplayer ramps up both the fun and the difficulty—teams that coordinate Big Bang Arts and share roles (tank, DPS, support) feel immensely accomplished when they clear a dungeon with seconds to spare.

For anyone seeking a polished action-RPG with high replay value, Dungeon Explorer delivers. It honors its retro roots while offering enough modern enhancements—in graphics, UI and gameplay—to stand proudly alongside contemporary dungeon crawlers. Whether you’re a solo adventurer or a co-op strategist, the mysteries of Westoria await your blade, bow and magic.

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10