i just can't... i love this game, typically up to the 6th or 7th floor. and then it starts to feel like work. i can never soldier on. the combat feels like work. the puzzles feel like work. managing my resources/inventory feels like work. i don't know what it is. too much challenge?

i've started this game probably a dozen times since it was released. and every time i make it roughly halfway through (give or take) and just lose steam. i play through it's ilk of yore, might & magic, eye of the beholder, lands of lore and they never seem to lose their grip on me despite being rather challenging themselves.

idk what im doing wrong dammit

Maybe it´s just bad design in the late game?

I've managed to escape that mountain somehow, but I also remember the last levels as being quite frustrating.
However the overall experience is quite positive. The game has great atmosphere and so strictly follows the pattern of classic dungeon crawler... I really like it and I don't remember the bad parts any more ;)