Dead Tomb | Xbox Review
I’m not a point-and-click adventure aficionado by any stretch of the imagination. Like most of us, I grew up dabbling in the Monkey Island games and the occasional offering from LucasArts. I’ve always appreciated games that exercised my brain over my thumbs, and publisher 8-Bit Legit‘s latest offering fits that mold quite well. It also scratches the nostalgia itch. Dead Tomb from developers Mega Cat Studios & Retrotainment Games is another title that has a physical cartridge for the NES. Similar to NEScape!, this title is also available on modern consoles. It might melt your brain on occasion, but it’s a rewarding experience.
Diamonds Are Forever
You are a time traveler from the future. You’re on a mission for your employer when things go awry. The spaceship on which you’re traveling malfunctions, and you wind up crash landing in ancient Egypt. Upon emerging from your ship, the Pharaoh’s soldiers attack you, and you wind up deep inside a pyramid. Your goal is to escape the labyrinth and locate a diamond you need in order to power your ship and get home.
The premise is obviously as retro as the graphics, but it serves as more of a backdrop than anything. There’s no more story surprises along the way. The storytelling comes in the way of the game’s puzzles, which are very reminiscent of classic point-and-click games from the past. You do have direct control of your character, however, so you won’t have to rely on moving around with a cursor. The familiar prompts of “look”, “move”, etc. are at your disposal, but you’ll also have newer ones like “tie”, “throw”, or “taste”. At least these are options I’ve never experienced in this kind of game.
As expected, you’ll have to experiment with different combinations to figure out how to progress. But you’re not confined to one room to solve puzzle. An object you need in one room might be on the other side of the pyramid. It will take a lot of trial and error to figure out just what the game wants you to do. To top it off, mistakes can be lethal, causing you to have to start again and retrace your steps. It’s a good combination of fun and frustration, but I think I prefer games in this genre where you can’t actually fail. Still, it makes the satisfaction that much sweeter when you accomplish your goal.
Pushing the NES’ Limits
Most of the graphics in Dead Tomb are exactly what you’d expect from an NES title. The dungeon design is rather elaborate, however, and there are very few empty spaces. This gives you lots of opportunities to pixel hunt and discover clues to your next objective. One rather nice touch, however, are the transition screens when you move from room to room in the pyramid. The pixels are highly detailed and add an atmospheric element to the game, even though you only see them for a few brief seconds.
In my opinion, the game’s length is perfect. If you knew exactly what you’re supposed to do, you could easily blast through it in half an hour. Without a guide, however, you’ll be scratching your head for quite a while. Some of the solutions force you to think outside the box in ways I never saw coming. Players should be aware that this will take a great deal of patience. There’s nothing holding your hand here, so some players might be frustrated with the longer gaps between successes.
Dead Tomb Final Verdict
Reviewing newer games that literally run on retro hardware is always a tricky business for me. As a collector, I’m obviously a fan of the NES. I love that these games exist. Much like similar titles such as NEScape! or Project Blue, I’m glad that Dead Tomb exists. I recommend them to fans of classic 8-bit titles or those who would like to see what older games look like. Just don’t expect a ton of mileage out of this title. After finishing it, I felt satisfied, but don’t have much of a desire to go back and play it again. I can see the love poured into the game by the developers, and I hope there’s more on the way.
To hear me talk more about Dead Tomb, be sure to listen to our January 24th podcast episode. You can hear me discuss the game around the 1:24:31 time stamp.
This review is based on an Xbox copy of Dead Tomb provided by 8-Bit Legit for coverage purposes. It is also available on Nintendo Switch, NES, and CollectorVision Phoenix.
Dead Tomb
$4.99
Pros
- Interesting Twists to the P&C Format
- Great Use of Pixel Art in Transitions
- Satisfying, Mind-Bending Puzzles
Cons
- Requires a Lot of Patience
- One-and-Done Game
