Deep Realms: Introduction

I tried out Deep Realms by Playdom Games on Facebook the other day. It is a simple RPG game. The player explores dungeons, beat up baddies, gather loot - the usual RPG fare. As with many Facebook games, this one you can play with friends.

I am in a dungeon.

Exploring dungeons is done by clicking on unexplored squares. Each square explored costs one energy. Energy replenishes over time - the usual Facebook game mechanic.

The RPG system is simple. There is no stats to worry about, other than health. The player gathers equipment and skills to equip his/her character with. Each move has a certain hit chance and damage, along with any added buff and/or debuff effects. Equipment modifies the chances and damage. There is not a lot of complicated mathematics involved. Just simple chance of success and damage done.

Look at my equipment!

Combat is simple. Choose a skill. Check if it hits. Do damage and add debuff effects if it does. Then the opposing side gets a turn. However, the combat animation is really slow. I wonder how many other games can play at the same time while waiting for the baddie to perform his move.

Let's fight!

There are boss fights at the end of certain dungeons, baddies with lots more hit points, that the player can fight with his friends. There is an additional, though simple, game mechanic involved with bosses. It is left out here, since it is easier and more fun to learn it through experience rather than reading about it.

(This is the writer's cop-out lazy excuse to escape describing the game mechanic. :p)

Heroic music plays during boss fights.

Yes, really. Heroic music really does play during boss fights.

As with many other Facebook games, friends can give each other gifts. And leave messages. Though, I doubt that leaving messages is the selling point of this game.

Real money can be used to buy in-game gems and gold. However, this is not necessary to enjoy the game. Gold can be easily found in dungeons. Gems are awarded for completing achievements and beating up bosses (rarely). And this is where the fun comes in with friends. More friends mean more bosses to beat up and hence, more gems.

Deep Realms is a simple RPG for the casual player, best played for a few minutes every few hours. It is easy to understand and it is playable even without many friends or spending real-world money.