Don't be fooled by this cutesy action RPG. Under the kid-friendly surface of Spike McFang lies an absolute grindfest.
That doesn't necessarily mean it's difficult or challenging. It literally means that grinding XP seems to be an essential part of the game loop. Especially since the difference between levels often feels like a huge leap in character development. The game even flat-out tells you at several points what level the dungeon bosses are at and you're more or less expected to reach the same or higher, before encountering them. Now, try telling a seven-year-old (which I'm assuming was the intended audience) that they're supposed to re-enter the same screen for half-and-hour, and encounter the same enemies before they can move on and see how that lands.
Given how tedious and simplistic combat is – with a not-to-bright-companion AI and under-cooked card/special-move mechanic along for the ride – means Spike McFang is a mediocre game, at best.
That doesn't necessarily mean it's difficult or challenging. It literally means that grinding XP seems to be an essential part of the game loop. Especially since the difference between levels often feels like a huge leap in character development. The game even flat-out tells you at several points what level the dungeon bosses are at and you're more or less expected to reach the same or higher, before encountering them. Now, try telling a seven-year-old (which I'm assuming was the intended audience) that they're supposed to re-enter the same screen for half-and-hour, and encounter the same enemies before they can move on and see how that lands.
Given how tedious and simplistic combat is – with a not-to-bright-companion AI and under-cooked card/special-move mechanic along for the ride – means Spike McFang is a mediocre game, at best.