Is Overlooting too RNG dependent? Our review covers player feedback on balance, the best strategies to counter luck, and a developer’s response to criticism.
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Overlooting Review – Is It Too RNG Based? Dev Responds to Balance Feedback
Overlooting has quickly captured the attention of deckbuilding roguelike fans, but its launch has sparked a heated debate within the community: is the game brilliantly designed or hopelessly dependent on random number generation (RNG)? This article breaks down the community consensus, the strongest strategies to mitigate luck, and even a response from the developer on current balance issues.
The Great Debate: Strategic Masterpiece or RNG Hell?
The community is divided into two clear camps regarding Overlooting’s core design.
The Critical Perspective:
A vocal portion of players feels the game is overly reliant on RNG, which can lead to frustrating, unwinnable runs.
- “Pure RNG”: Critics argue that success is 90% dependent on getting the right item drops and skill rolls, with little room for skill to overcome bad luck.
- Useless Sets: Some sets, particularly Undead and Metal/Knight, are criticized for being underpowered and not worth building around compared to meta options.
- Poison Mechanic: A common complaint is that poison feels overtuned with no reliable counter besides Dodge, making some encounters feel unfairly punishing.
The Positive Perspective:
Many players adore the game’s core loop and argue that its RNG is part of the genre’s charm and challenge.
- “A Breath of Fresh Air”: Fans praise the game as a flawlessly executed, simple concept that is incredibly fun to replay.
- Pivoting is Key: Defenders state that skilled play involves pivoting your strategy based on the items you receive, not forcing one specific build every time.
- RNG Mitigation: Features like the thief character “Liz” (who can recycle unwanted items) and the inventory system (to store items for later) are specifically designed to give players more control over their build consistency.
How to Beat the RNG: Pro Strategies
If you’re struggling with consistency, the community recommends these strategies:
- Play Liz the Thief: Her ability to recycle trash items for new ones in the same category is the best tool in the game for mitigating bad RNG and achieving a consistent build.
- Pivot Your Build: Don’t lock yourself into one set from the start. Use a strong early-game combo like Adventurer/Heroic/Sylvan to clear Act 1, then transition into a more powerful late-game set based on what you find.
- Two Viable Archetypes: There are two primary ways to build for success:
- The Dodge Build: Go all-in on Dodge to avoid damage entirely. Pair with Counter to turn defense into offense.
- The Offense Build: Stack enough damage to kill enemies quickly, with just enough armor to survive one round of attacks.
- Use the Cat Companion: Several players noted that the cat is far better than the dog for mitigating RNG, though specifics on its mechanics were not detailed.
Developer Response & Future Balance
The developer, PosingPossums, actively joined the discussion, asking for specific feedback on recently buffed sets:
- “Those sets were buffed recently, do you find them too weak still? (The question goes for everyone)”
This indicates a commitment to balancing the game based on community input. The Knight set, in particular, was discussed; it relies on generating Block charges but often consumes them too quickly against multi-hit or poison attacks.
Verdict: Is Overlooting Worth It?
For its price, the consensus is that Overlooting is a fun, replayable game that delivers a solid deckbuilding roguelike experience. However, potential buyers should be aware:
- If you heavily dislike RNG, you may find the randomness frustrating.
- If you enjoy adapting to challenges and building around what the game gives you, you’ll likely love it.
The game is not without its balance issues, but the developer’s engagement suggests a promising future for patches and updates.
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