Game Title: Black Dragon Mage
Developer & Publisher: datablob
Release date: December 4, 2024 – Early Access
OS: Windows and Linux (via Proton) – Fully optimized for Steam Deck
Platform: Steam
Price: $5.99 / €5.89
“The Hall of Relics calls out to you, traveler! Unleash elemental magic, slay demon hordes, and absorb their souls to grow in power”
WHAT IS IT
Black Dragon Mage is a top-down action roguelite, created by solo developer datablob, in the vein of Vampire Survivors and Brotato, among other notable titles. While similar in the basic mechanics, BDM (You really don’t expect me to say Black Dragon Mage every other sentence, do you?) has some notable differences, which I will discuss further along in this review. It features 16-bit pixelated graphics and an original soundtrack, composed by Zach Goodfellow. Even though I do not know who Mr. Goodfellow is, the audio is impressive and was an unexpected treat.
Leveling up is done by killing enemies and picking up gems. When enough have been acquired, the player can pick between three cards or can use coins (also gained by killing enemies) to reroll for a new set of cards. Very basic mechanics. I am a proponent of “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” so I was happy with how the game functioned.
THE MOSTLY GOOD
Story -
Ok, just kidding. Roguelites are not known for their deep inspirational stories and Black Dragon Mage is no different. You play this type of game for the fun not for the feels. I am happy to say that the story did not make me cry once. I am counting this as a positive in regards to story.
Controls -
Developer, datablob, stated that BDM is not only fully optimized for the Steam Deck but it was developed with the deck in mind since the beginning. I played the game on both the PC and on a Rog Ally, and I can say that whether using KBM or the Ally, the controls, though basic were intuitive and well thought out.
One nice feature is auto-attack that can be turned on or off. This is great for those of us who want to zone out and let the game shoot for us while we run around avoiding damage, or for those micromanagers that enjoy handling both aspects (Don’t get me started on special abilities). I did test out both auto and manual but still prefer auto for the type of game that it is.
Hall of Relics -
The first notable difference with Black Dragon Mage, from similar games, is the Hall of Relics. This is basically an interactive shop that your little cartoon character can walk around in and buy “relics.” Relics are basically buffs for your character that include rings, hats, wands, and other useful trinkets. The game is still in early development so the amount of relics is limited. However, I found this to be a nice inclusion as it lets the player walk among the objects available for purchase. One thing I want to make note of is when buying the extra heart in the Hall, the characters still only had three hearts instead of four when starting a session. This is also likely due to the title being in early access.
DRAGONS!!!!! -
And here we are, to the most notable feature, dragons! The game has dragons! I do not mean dragons that attack the player character. What I mean is that you can finally live out your dreams of being a dragon rider and maybe getting the attention of Daemon Targaryen…did I say that out loud? Joking aside (I know it wasn’t even a good joke), to summon your dragon, you merely have to acquire four flasks of mana, which requires little effort as they are scattered all over and dropped by fallen enemies. Granted, the ride only lasts for a few seconds but those few seconds might be all that saves you from an early grave. You see, when riding the dragon, you are not completely invulnerable but you are above most foes and can taunt them and burn them to cinders. That is until the mana runs out and you are dropped smack dab back in the middle of the horde. Lucky for you your next fix, I mean ride is only four flasks of mana away.
NOT ALL IS WELL
It’s a Bumpy Ride -
Unfortunately, Black Dragon Mage is not without issues. One of the most notable is that it can stutter somewhat even though frame rates are 60 or above. The required specs are very minimal, with not even a GPU listed, so the stuttering is a bit concerning. However, it is most likely the result of lack of optimization, which is to be expected in early access. Does it sometimes hinder gameplay? Yes, it can and does but it is not a constant nuisance. I honestly do not know why it is fine one play through and not another but it can be somewhat frustrating. Often, closing the application and rebooting remedies this issue.
Another thing that I feel is intentional but I do not like is that in the Hall of Relics, the character has a trail effect behind him. I am not a fan and would like to be able to turn it off. Unfortunately, there is no way to do so that I could find. Because settings are minimal at this time, players are stuck with this effect. Normally the type of visuals that BDM employs would not cause motion sickness (I am a long-time sufferer) but for some reason this shadow trail bothers me quite a bit. Because of this, I spent very little time in the hall. I shopped and dashed as fast as I could to get to the slaughter. And to dragons.
Is That All There Is? -
I feel I have said early access far too many times in this review…and here is one more time, cringe if you want. Because the game is in early access, there are limited items, characters (2), maps (2), and most importantly dragons (2) at this time. There are only two dragons! One is unlocked immediately but the other requires playing and earning resources to unlock. For over ten hours of play through, I have only two dragons to show for it. I need more. I would like there to be more, even at this stage of development, because the game’s price is on par with others of its ilk that offer more bang for the buck (granted they don't have dragons).
Conclusion -
When I first booted up Black Dragon Mage and saw the shadow trails and the stuttering, I felt I was not going to enjoy this review. I felt bad because I do try to give solo developers a bit more leeway than a larger studio. However, once I found my groove, the game grew on me. So much so that I kept (keep) thinking about booting it back up to grab one more achievement or to earn enough for one more relic. While not perfect, the game is fun and does not require a large time commitment to feel that you’ve accomplished something.
YAY OR NAY
Definite Yay. Black Dragon Mage may not have a lot of content yet but it has been lovingly created and I feel that this dev is committed to ensure players love their baby as much as they do. I started out not loving it but the more time I have spent riding that dragon the more I want to.
For me Black Dragon Mage is a solid B nearing a B +. I am not saying that rating could be bumped up with more dragons but I’m not not saying it either.