When comparing Hoplite vs Ananias, the Slant community recommends Hoplite for most people. In the question“What are the best roguelikes on Android?” Hoplite is ranked 7th while Ananias is ranked 19th. The most important reason people chose Hoplite is:
You must plan your movements and attacks, paying attention to all enemy positions and their attacks. This makes for a game that the player can pore over their options, for as long as they like, which can be pretty enveloping.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Deep gameplay that harkens back to chess or other grid based games, where planning and strategy take a front seat
You must plan your movements and attacks, paying attention to all enemy positions and their attacks. This makes for a game that the player can pore over their options, for as long as they like, which can be pretty enveloping.
Pro Easy to understand the rules as any pertinent info is relayed before a move decision is needed
Someone called it "Chess, the roguelike". You have all the information before you move, every time. Enemies follow a simple ruleset, with no variation. There is almost no randomness. You know that you will die the turn before you do, and you will die because you painted yourself into a corner.
Pro Great replay value thanks to the roguelike random generation
There is a good list of achievements, which creates a high replay value. It encourages the user to play very differently in subsequent replays. Which is great for keeping the game fresh.
Pro Can be played at your own pace thanks to the turn based nature of the title
Hoplite is a turn based game, making for something that people can take their time with, deciding on their strategy for each move.
Pro Extended gameplay when you finish the title, with the fun but difficult game+ gameplay mode
Starting on level 16, the altars get replaced by a portal. The player has the choice to "win" the game by exiting through the portal, or to ignore the portal on that level and venture deeper, aiming for higher scores on progressively more difficult floors. This is great for those that enjoy more challenge and extra content past the regular ending.
Pro Well-balanced
Other, more popular, mobile roguelikes are far too random. A lot of people associate roguelikes with randomness, but a lot of effort goes into making sure that they provide consistently winnable games. When you lose a game it should be because you did something dumb, not because the RNG didn't deign it today. Hoplite nails this.
Pro Large assortment of enemies keeps the gameplay and strategies required fresh
There is a wide array of enemies to encounter and fight, which keeps encounters fresh as well as the strategies needed.
Pro Four classes
There are four available classes Alchemist, Arcane, Paladin, and Hunter, each with their own abilities. This gives a good variety to play with making a different experience when each one is used.
Pro Free version available
There is a free version of Ananias available for user to try before they purchase the full game.
Pro Basically a full game
Although a demo - as the developer calls the game, you can use up to 4 classes to complete the WHOLE game. There's no restriction whatsoever.
Pro Combat based on D&D dice rolling
Player and enemy hits are calculated from random dice rolls just as it would be in a Dungeons and Dragons game. This randomizes battles a bit making it somewhat luck based.
Pro Leverages touch screen nicely
Pro Animal companions
Players can choose an animal companion to accompany them in the game with each one differing in health and strength, giving even more variety to the game over top the player classes to choose from.
Cons
Con Short game
Hoplite does not take that long to complete as it can be finished in an average playthrough in around an hour.
Con Application is updated frequently
Sometimes features are replaced with other features which significantly change the feel of the game. This can be disorienting.
Con Too much focus on animal companion
If or when the players animal companion dies the game becomes too difficult, making for a scenario where it is best to start over. This makes too much focus on the animal during gameplay as it needs to be kept alive the whole time to succeed.