Overview
Early impressions of Angry Drunken Dwarves reveal a puzzling disconnect between its boisterous title and actual gameplay. What promises rowdy dwarven antics delivers instead as a methodical puzzle experience that prioritizes strategic organization over drunken chaos. The core mechanics show promise with their Tetris-inspired design, though the execution leaves players questioning the thematic choices while acknowledging some solid puzzling foundations beneath the identity crisis.
Gameplay Versus Expectations
The most immediate point of contention emerges from the jarring mismatch between the game's fantasy tavern aesthetic and its actual puzzle mechanics. Instead of chaotic bar brawls or alcohol-fueled adventures, players encounter a strategic color-matching challenge that rewards careful planning and quick reflexes. The screen divides into three distinct sections - player-controlled diamonds on the left, an opponent's area on the right, and a conspicuously underutilized central space that feels like wasted real estate.
Core gameplay revolves around organizing colored diamond clusters on your side of the screen, then timing your movements to catch falling orbs of matching colors for point-scoring combos. Successfully clearing sections provides the tactical advantage of cluttering your opponent's playfield. Special diamond-shaped pieces occasionally drop to offer satisfying screen-clearing moments. As matches progress, additional strategic layers emerge through move-specific blocks that temporarily lock sections of the board.
This isn't what I think of when I think 'Angry Drunken Dwarves'. Nevertheless, the game does feature some sharp elements.
Gohst
While mechanically competent, this puzzle framework feels completely divorced from the drunken dwarves premise. The title and aesthetic set expectations for raucous, physics-based chaos or tavern brawls that never materialize. Instead, players engage in what's essentially an abstract strategy game wearing dwarven cosmetic armor. This dissonance between promise and delivery creates an ongoing sense of cognitive whiplash throughout the experience, undermining what might otherwise be a serviceable puzzle foundation.
Verdict
Solid puzzle game with misplaced dwarven theme