This is not an easy game.
The Depths Of Tolagal is an old school punishing action (RPG-lite) game that isn’t so much punishing as it is unforgiving. Make the wrong decision and save in the wrong spot and you can be stuck and have to restart the game. There are not multiple save slots here.
While saving may be unforgiving, the action in the game can be just as equally frustrating. The game is turn based, with action points used to either move, attack, or perform other actions such as imbibe a healing potion. Players need to be careful with what is done and in which order.
I say all of this up front because I want there to be no misconception about what is going to follow. While the game is frustrating, The Depths Of Tolagal is also really fun to play. Players take on the role of a butcher, armed with a knife, and seeking the monsters who kidnapped his apprentice. The trail leads to a set of stairs descending into a dungeon and by the time this takes place there has already been a few bodies dropped.
Before the game begins players are given a couple of options. One is to play with permadeath. This means once the character dies the game is over, regardless of where the last save point was. This is a much harder variant of the game and definitely for those who like the challenge. The second is to play in an endless mode where players just go through an endless series of dungeons seeing how far they can get without dying. Challenging? You bet.
Adding to the challenge of the game is the set-up of the combat mechanics. Players have three slots, one for a regeneration ring to boost health, one for a melee weapon (at the beginning a knife) and the third for either a shield or ranged weapon. Using these items as well as moving one square uses up an action point during the player’s turn. Only three action points are ever given to the player and working around those is where much of the challenge comes in.
Don’t look for a lot of treasure either. There are loot drops, but nothing along the lines of something you want to hoard. The mission is to go and save the apprentice, not loot the dungeon. There are weapons as well as health potions and other items to find that will help with the quest. And leveling up is a pretty basic affair, the skill tree is not as extensive as you might expect. Actually, I think I have only leveled up about 5 times each time I played through.
And yes, I have played through several times. This isn’t a 20 hour extensive RPG, but it’s not a quick 30 minute play-through either. The Depths Of Tolagal is an old-school RPG-lite action game that doesn’t care for your delicate sensibilities about what a game should be. It isn’t punishing, though it may feel like it at times. Getting through each rough spot of dungeon, however, offers up a great feeling of accomplishment. The Depths Of Tolagal is a fun game that is definitely worth the price of admission.