Roll Five

Midplayz
Nov 27, 2024
3 min read

I Imagined The MC Attacking The Monsters By Throwing The Dice

Ever wanted to roll dice like a pro and obliterate monsters with sheer luck and strategy? Roll Five delivers just that. This dice-based roguelike deckbuilder mixes medieval fantasy vibes with fast-paced, tactical gameplay. Imagine assembling overpowered dice figures, smashing monsters into oblivion, and freeing a goddess named Fortuna from the depths of Tartarus. Oh, and it’s all wrapped in some truly drool-worthy pixel art. Let’s dive in.

About This Game

Storyline

The premise? Simple but effective. Fortuna, the goddess of luck, is locked away, and it’s up to you to bust her out using your newfound dice-mastering skills. It’s a fantasy tale that doesn’t try to be overly deep but perfectly sets the stage for a roguelike where every roll literally counts. The story mostly takes a backseat to the gameplay, but it’s just enough to keep you motivated as you venture through perilous levels packed with monsters, loot, and escalating challenges.

Gameplay Mechanics

Here’s where Roll Five shines. It’s like someone said, “What if dice games could be as strategic as deck building card games?” You start with one of 22+ decks, each with its own quirks, and roll your dice to deal damage, activate abilities, and conquer enemies. The dice don’t just roll; they transform into figures, and you can upgrade these figures with prisms, runes, and relics.

Every game run is seeded, which means no two playthroughs feel the same, but you can share seeds to challenge friends. With over 165 prisms, 70 relics, and a host of other goodies like potions and omega upgrades, the possibilities feel endless. It’s the kind of game where you start thinking, “Just one more run,” and suddenly, it’s 2 a.m.

The difficulty curve can spike out of nowhere, though. Some runs feel like an unfair dice-flavored gauntlet, but hey, isn’t that the essence of roguelikes?

Visuals & Audio

The pixel art in Roll Five is a feast for the eyes. The medieval fantasy world pops with vibrant, detailed animations, and the VFX when your dice figures hit enemies? Chef’s kiss. It’s flashy in the best way, with glowing numbers, dramatic attacks, and satisfying splashes of color every time you land a combo. The SFX backs it up with meaty thuds, crackling fire, and sparkling magic sounds that make every attack feel impactful.

The music, composed by Andrew Goodwin, is equally stellar. The atmospheric tunes blend perfectly with the dice-clashing chaos, keeping you immersed even during the toughest fights.

Pros

Addictive roguelike deck builder gameplay.
Tons of depth with 165+ prisms, 70+ relics, and more.
Unique, rewarding mechanics for dice rolling.
Gorgeous pixel art and slick VFX.
Atmospheric soundtrack that hits the right notes.
Insane replay value with endless challenges.

Cons

Difficulty can feel punishing, especially at higher levels.
Some minor issues (like localization errors) that need polish.
No achievements yet, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Conclusion

Roll Five is the perfect mix of luck, strategy, and chaos. It’s like someone took the dice mechanic from a board game, turned it into a digital masterpiece, and sprinkled in just enough challenge to keep you coming back for more. Sure, it has its frustrating moments, but the thrill of finding new prisms, crafting absurd combos, and unlocking secret decks makes it all worthwhile.

If you’re into roguelikes or dice games, this one’s a no-brainer. And even if you’re not, Roll Five might just roll you into the genre. Just be ready to lose a lot of sleep over “one more run.”

Rating: 9/10

My “One More Run” streak never ended...