Treasure Drop review

Don’t you hate it when a developer focuses solely on hollow DLC rather than creating a strong base game? Now, I’m not against additional content. However, it cannot take priority over the core gaming elements. Sadly, Treasure Drop does just this with its soulless cash grab. This was ridiculously disappointing, as the main concept is enjoyable and the 2 levels I could play were fun.

Bolt Goblin has created this fun but shallow experience. It can be played alone, cooperatively, or competitively. I focused on the solo action, but I can imagine this would be amazing fun with another person. Working together to gain the highest score would be addictive while causing arguments. Alternatively, playing against one another would have a classic Tetris vibe.

Treasure Drop is a game with no story.

You play the role of a sea creature who is trying to combine items to gain a high score. You’ll drop coins, goblets, gems, treasure, and other bits as you try to climb the leaderboard. As pairs of identical goods collide, they transform into a new form. Once you maximise the item’s potential, it disappears, and the challenge begins again. Consider Bust a Move, and you have the right idea.

Although Treasure Drop has no story, it doesn’t suffer. Instead, it is the addictive action that keeps you coming back for more. This is a shallow title, but I couldn’t help but keep playing it. This is where my major complaint arises. Sadly, there are only 2 levels when you own the base game. If you want to expand your horizons, you must dip your hand into your pocket to increase the fun.

A disappointing approach.

This horrible business model shouldn’t be used on mainstream consoles. It is a heinous cash grab that screams of desperation. Had the developer included 5 to 6 stages, they could have gotten away with their cash-enhancing ways. Yet, 2 levels leave you wanting and make you extremely angry.

Despite my rage, I enjoyed the combination of simple mechanics, power-ups, and the challenge of removing items to enhance my score. If your pile of goods hits the no-go zone, your run is over, and you count your score. However, if you collect power-ups and keep the goods at bay, you can play this for hours.

The power-ups weren’t entirely original, but they worked well, regardless. I loved using bombs to destroy boulders, pearls to collect valuable goods, and a curse to test your luck and maximise your profit. Either way, there is always an element of luck as you try to survive.

Treasure Drop is ridiculously colourful.

The 2 levels I could play were simple but effective. A small play area is highlighted by a marked-out area or a mysterious dome. This was basic, but it was easy to understand while keeping you on your toes. A simple warning system of red lights shows you when you are about to fail. Moreover, clean animation makes everything great to see. The music is fun and upbeat. Although the sound effects were basic, the audio package worked well.

The controls are refined but work well. Your strategy is to move around the outer perimeter while you drop whatever item is spawned. This adds a layer of surprise, and this undermines any tactical nuance. However, once you get into the swing of things, you can use tactics to manipulate most situations. Unless you own the DLC, this is a relatively short-lived experience. Despite the cooperative and competitive elements, the lack of basic levels prevents Treasure Drop from ever excelling.

Treasure Drop should have been great.

This may be a simple indie title, but it had so much potential! Treasure Drop is so simple that it is great fun. However, I felt shortchanged as there was not enough action to justify the small price tag. Additionally, each DLC costs around £2. As such, you’ll be investing around £15 to maximise this game’s potential. This was unfortunate and a poor business decision. Accordingly, it frustrates me to say that it’s not worth the money, but more information can be found at the Xbox store!