When comparing Skullduggery! vs Hoplite, the Slant community recommends Hoplite for most people. In the question“What are the best iOS games without in-app purchases?” Hoplite is ranked 12th while Skullduggery! 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 Local PvP multiplayer
There is a local player vs player multiplayer mode included with Skullduggery! that allows players to face off in a head to head match where players race each other to grab as much loot as possible while also finishing first.
Pro Challenging gameplay
The gameplay in Skullduggery! is challenging without being to tough, there is always a bullet time mechanic players can use that can make some of the tougher areas a little more easy. So really it can be up to the player how difficult they want the gameplay to be.
Pro Immersive mode
Skullduggery! features immersive full screen mode on all Android devices with Android 4.4+.
Pro Singular in app purchase to unlock the full title ad free
Skullduggery! is a free to play application that does have a singular in app purchase to unlock the full content of the game as well as remove advertisements.
Pro Physics based touch screen controls work great
Just like in Angry Birds, Skullduggery! uses a physics base pull back slingshot motion to control the main player, something that has worked great in the past and still works great here.
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.
Cons
Con Story is lacking from majority of game
The actual story of the title takes a bit of a back seat and is not really fleshed out while playing. Most of the backstory will only be found in the built in digital manual.
Con Short game
Hoplite does not take that long to complete as it can be finished in an average playthrough in around an hour.