Phenixx Gaming

I’m not an avid dungeon-crawler fan, so I did a double-take when I saw Zen Studios created one. Did I miss something, because I thought this was the studio behind some of the best pinball games? Well, they are the same developer, and Operencia: The Stolen Sun is a great experience that really shows off the studio’s versatile talent and artistic style.

What is Operencia: The Stolen Sun About?

The gameplay of Operencia: The Stolen Sun might seem strange to younger players, but anyone who has played blobber dungeon-crawlers recognizes the format immediately. In the game, you’ll play multiple characters who all move in one “blob.” Once the combat begins, your squad breaks into three rows and takes on enemies in a similar structure. The turn-based combat in this game is great, and I really enjoyed the way combat progressed in terms of turn-speed and the art style.

One thing I will say is that along with many turn-based games; combat becomes quite tedious in the latter half of the game. Once enemies can return from the dead and respawn in the game, it becomes painful watching your party get pushed to its limits, only to see enemies come back. Luckily, fun elements of the game’s little quirks help keep things interesting.

Fun Elements and Headaches in Operencia: The Stolen Sun

I love a few things about Operencia: The Stolen Sun in particular. For starters, crafting potions is presented through, logic puzzles that make creating new inventory items a total blast. Likewise, the traditional puzzles you find in dungeon-crawler titles are also here. Most traditional puzzles feel more time consuming than challenging, and It’s probably my least favorite part of the game. The dungeon elements of the title feel very scripted and by-the-book. This leaves little innovation actually occurring in Operencia: The Stolen Sun. 

Other letdowns include bugs that drop you through the map, though they are sparse. There are other things that bugged me, like only managing the party at limited campsite stops. While the game doesn’t stick any sort of landing, I think it’s a good experience for those who like these games. You don’t find anything in here that’s genre-defining, but it’s also not boring or bland either.

There are a lot of things to love here. Graphics are wonderful, and the gameplay (despite its flaws) is solid. Plenty of fans will want to try this game for its dungeon elements alone, and some might also be drawn to its visuals. I think if you know what you’re getting into with a dungeon crawler and turn-based game, then this is a safe bet for you. I’m not sure this is a great game for a first-timer wanting to try the genre, however. Better dungeon crawlers exist to be your first. Still, there are much worse experiences than this one, and overall, it really made me appreciate the dungeon-crawler genre more than I did before playing the title.

A review code of Operencia: The Stolen Sun was provided by Zen Studios for this review.

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Operencia: The Stolen Sun

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8.4

Score

8.4/10

Pros

• Great visuals
• Fun turn-based combat
• Enjoyable puzzles from dungeons to crafting items

Cons

• Enemies spawn back to life for no reason later in the game
• A bit buggy at times