Beyond Mankind: The Awakening

[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38888018-United-Critics/] Please follow [b]United Critics[/b] for quality reviews[/url] [h2]Beyond Mankind: The Awakening Review[/h2] [table] [th][h2]Factors[/h2][/th] [th][h2]Rating[/h2][/th] [th][h2]Description[/h2][/th] [tr] [td]🎮Storyline[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]In my opinion, the storyline is pretty generic.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]🎮Gameplay[/td] [td]5.5[/td] [td]A lot of ideas put together but not implemented properly.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]📷Graphics[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]Looks pretty outdated for a game released in 2021.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]🎧Audio[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]Voice acting is decent.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]😮Variety[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]Doesn’t have much in terms of variety, it might get repetitive after a while.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]💲Price[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]Only buy on a sale.[/td] [/tr] [/table] [h1][b] 🎮Storyline:[/b] [/h1] Although the plot is somewhat predictable, there are several entertaining moments in it. Earth now belongs to a new species of hunters that rule the planet in the year 2121. The surviving civilization must now decide whether to trust humanity or to use every resource at their disposal to reclaim their planet. You are now born, thanks to a device known as the Techno-Womb that can alter individuals by using unique DNA. You will go out on an adventure to reclaim Earth as humanity's final hope. The idea is undoubtedly overused, and many people might not find it interesting. After a certain point, everything just becomes a little too convoluted, and you risk losing any sense of the plot. So do read the dialogues carefully if you want to understand the story. [h1][b]🎮Gameplay:[/b][/h1] As the developers describe it, Beyond Mankind is an indie old school type RPG taking place in a post-apocalyptic world. There was no chance that the fallout type gameplay when combined with a rich storyline was not gonna work if it was implemented properly. However, this is where the game lacks. It has everything, from crafting mechanics to rich RPG elements, exploration, and good combat mechanics. But half of the mechanics are pretty much unnecessary or not implemented properly. Let’s break these down into segments! [b]RPG Elements: [/b] When you initially start the game, your first impression will be that the gameplay is complicated. The truth is that none of the complex info you are going to see will actually improve or add to the gameplay. Due to the fact that it is an RPG game, there are several opportunities for exploration, crafting, and upgrading your skills. The game's crafting system is bland and almost pointless. The most you will create is a bandage or a campfire, and I'm confident that many players would skip the crafting part entirely and still succeed in finishing the game. Even terrible is the skills menu, which essentially accomplishes nothing. When it comes to skills, the game should have certain advantages for unlocking a skill, such as faster mobility and greater weapon reloading rates. However, what you'll discover are broader skill enhancements, such as "An upgrade to your strength." There is no doubting that the game contains RPG elements, but they are just not implemented well. [b]Combat Mechanics: [/b] As you might expect, the combat mechanics are "mediocre." So, to start, there are many different weapons to pick from, and you may find them all across the game. You don't even feel like you're using the weapons, though. Although the weaponry feel distinct and the sound effects aren't terrible, it seems wrong to hit an enemy. It's presumably because enemies generally don't take the blow well and behave erratically. None of the weaponry in the game can be customized, but the variety of weapons makes up for it. I do have one more criticism, and I believe 99% of those who have played it would agree. It's quite aggravating because the default rifle and other equipment are just randomly assigned to keys like 9 and 8. Yes, it may be adjusted from the menu, but placing the items in the order they would be used makes total sense. [b]Conversations and choices: [/b] The decisions you make during conversations are a crucial component of the gameplay. In almost all discussions, you choose a line of discourse that will influence how the other person behaves. I have a good feeling that the majority of these decisions won't affect the ending and that just a select few will be significant. It does add to the immersiveness of the gameplay. I was surprised to find out that the voice acting in the game is actually pretty good. Although the dialogues seem a little strange, the quality is actually rather good for an indie studio. I'm glad they at least put some effort into the game's voice acting! [h1][b]📷Graphics:[/b][/h1] The game appears to be rather antiquated, trust me on that. The graphics resemble those of a long-ago game. I did love several aspects of the game's atmosphere overall. The game may still be played even though the textures are old. But the animations are really what bother me. The AI basically appears to be a bunch of illiterate morons roaming about without taking cover or anything because none of the animations are present. The game clearly needs a lot of optimization if this wasn't enough. Although this is a problem that affects the majority of indie games, a lot of work has to be done on this game. I also encountered numerous visual bugs and frequent crashes throughout the game. [h1][b]📝Main Pros and Cons:[/b][/h1] [b]Pros-[/b] [list] [*]Gameplay is a mixture of a lot of ideas put together. [*]Choices that impact the story. [*]Decent voice acting. [*]A lot of exploration opportunities. [/list] [b]Cons-[/b] [list] [*]All the mechanics are not properly implemented, making the gameplay bland. [*]Cliché storyline. (Some people may find it interesting, but this is my personal opinion.) [*]A lot of unnecessary UI and other mechanics. [*]Poor optimization. [/list] [h1][b]😇Honest Rating:[/b][/h1] Beyond Mankind is surely a good concept with a lot of potential. You won't find combat mechanics, a choice-based plot, survival and RPG components in a single indie game. Simply put, the way they are implemented into the game makes the gameplay boring and detracts from its pleasure. I would admit that the developers made an attempt to come up with something unique, but it was a failed attempt. I’d not recommend buying the game unless it’s on a heavy sale. Rating: 4/10

This. Game. Is. Trash. The studio shouldn't be allowed to use the name Brytenwalda, in case it tarnishes that fantastic Mount & Blade overhaul by proximity. Nonsense cutscenes entirely lacking context, story depth as deep as a spit puddle on a hot day, with all the narrative coherence of a tweaker trying to explain the Fast & Furious saga. You crash cut from one random situation to the next, the frenetic pace only slowed by minute+ long sequences of doing nothing and waiting for the game to push ahead to the next frantic crash cut. The gameplay is rough and outdated, and the graphics make it look like a bad custom map on Half Life. In the starting area, there's even blatant clipping - assets that probably shouldn't even be there, much less so blatantly poorly assembled. A game is supposed to try and hook you in the first few minutes; this game did the exact opposite. I have never been so repelled in my life. The rest of the game may be the greatest storyline since Half Life 2 and the best gameplay since the first Modern Warfare, but no one will ever make it past the introduction to find out.

Очень странная игра. Можно было бы сказать, что это скучный деревянный шутан, который на рекомендуемой сложности, вкупе с обшаривавшем локаций, проходится за 3-4 часа. Но это не обычный деревянный шутан — к нему ещё максимально криво прикрутили скотчем и изолентой бесполезные механики, чтобы сделать игру "ролевой" и "иммерсивной" Тут есть механики голода, жажды и сна, требующие периодически питаться и отдыхать, и... зачем тут это? 99% игры буквально коридорный и прямой как шпала шутан, где подобные элементы выживача смотрятся крайне странно и инородно. Вдобавок, еды и питья будет разбросано так много, что голодать вообще не придется (опять же, речь идет о рекомендуемой сложности, может на хардкоре нужно будет каждые пять минут обжираться). Даже имеется простенькая система готовки и крафта, полностью бесполезная и их применить её пришлось лишь единожды во время побочки с обучением. И происходит весь этот крафт в "иммерсивном" трёхмерное инвентаре — более неудобного и не интуитивного инвента я давно не встречал. Когда герой устаёт, то понижается выносливость и нужно поспать в спальном мешке — будет написано что вы продрыхли 8 часов (что тоже роли не играет — в игре нет смены суток и таймера у задач) и теперь снова бодры. Имеется ещё индикатор температуры, но он пригодится лишь на одном уровне — просто подбегай к кострам и грейся, чтобы не замерзнуть. Есть система диалогов, где в зависимости от ответа будет меняться восприятие собеседника к вам, можно даже флиртовать и заводить романтически отношение, чтобы... для чего? В сюжете, "побочках" и тд это никакой роли не играет, как и на разветвленность диалогов. Вот я развил романтические отношения с "напарницей", она сказала что надо будет вместе выпить, когда вернемся на МКС и... всё. Дальше по сюжету вы с напарницей не встретитесь, а на МКС вас ожидает лишь финальная перестрелка. История абсолютна линейна, как бы она не хотела казаться "разветвлённой" — главный сюжетный выбор с крайне очевидным последствиями предстоит сделать буквально в финале игры. Сам сюжет игры просто нормальный, не шедевр, но и не тухлая многостраничная графомания, правда иногда встречаются весьма странные диалоги, усугубляющиеся актёрской игрой а-ля "озвучено профессиональными программистами" [spoiler]хотя после VLADiK Brutal такое слушается и читается спокойно[/spoiler] Побочек тут несколько штук и они очень "оригинальные" — "помоги мне узнать код от шкафчика", "принеси мне морфий из соседней комнаты", "я умираю, отомсти за меня и убей 10 противников" и т.д. За их выполнение (как и за убийство врагов) отсыпают опыт, который можно потратить на прокачку с повышением уровня. И опять же — тут прям как в полноценной RPG имеется выбор пола и различных характеристик с обширными описаниями при создание персонажа, да и "древо прокачки" тут весьма комплексное и немаленькое. Но опять же — игра настолько крошечная, что все эти характеристики и прокачки бесполезны, тут даже толком прокачаться не дадут и пустят финальные титры. А вот основа игры — примитивный и тупой шутерок от первого лица. Есть ужасно кривая милишка, плюс стандартный арсенал из пистолета, дробавика и пары винтовок, при помощи которых придется нашпиговывать врагов-губок. Помимо людей, вам предстоит противостоять мутировавшим обитателям пост-апокалиптичной земли: это крысы-мутанты, жуки-мутанты, собаки-мутанты и даже кошки(!)-мутанты. И вся эта живность представляет основную угрозу, так как бегает шутро и кусается больно, а вот врагов-солдат всерьез воспринимать не проходится из-за напрочь отсутствующего интеллекта — они могут долго стоять и тупить, даже когда вы стоите у них буквально перед лицом, а потом вообще побежать в другую сторону (видимо от испуга), а когда доходит до пальбы, то стреляют он косо и не особо болезнено. Есть ещё один уникальный враг — БЛЕДНЫЙ КУЛЬ (Pale Sack в оригинале), что-то типа мини-босса, этакого супермутанта, которым до этого активно пугали и даже дают возможность избежать боя, прокрашивавший мимо. Но если вы решите вступить с ним в схватку, то окажется что это самый легкий враг — пока он будет замахиваться атакой, можно спокойно нанести ему пару атак в ближнем бою обежать на другой конец комнаты, про огнестрел вообще молчу. Ах да — для разнообразия один дадут полетать один раз в космосе. От точки А в точку Б две минуты. Видимо, этот сегмент был сделан чисто для того, чтобы вставить в трейлеры и повесить на скрины. По поводу багов ничего критичного не встретил — периодически баговали всплывающие надписи при действиях и тупила загрузка ручных сохранений, иногда показывая тупо черный экран, но это лечилось повторной загрузкой нужного сейвы. А вот с оптимизацией что-то странное — игра, в случайные моменты, дропала фпс буквально до слайд-шоу, причем это было не во время загрузок локаций и прочего, а просто происходило совершенно внезапно. По итогу, Beyond Mankind: The Awakening больше напоминает какой-то прототип для демонстрации/обкатки механик или пролог для раннего доступа, просто в какой-то момент разработчики потянили, что подобный проект им полноценно не вытянуть и выкатили в релиз вот такое (об этом и говорит и подзаголовок The Awakening, намекающее что это лишь начало, и который в самой игре по итогу отсутствует). Какая-то совершенно бессвязная геймплейная каша, не способная вызвать хоть какое-то удовольствие от игрового процесса. До этого Brytenwalda отметились одноименным модом для Mount & Blade Warband, переросшим в официальное DLC, и, судя по отзывам, там всё нормально; но вот создать полностью самостоятельный проект без адекватного и рабочего "фундамента" они оказались не в состоянии.

[h1] A personal project money grab[/h1] Awful, an obvious cheap money grab, the worst mini story game i've ever played. if the developer ever cared they could of turned it into a full fledged game, they didn't. Save your money and get something worth it.

The game has potential to be a very good game but at this point in time it is only worth the $4.99 it is on sale. Sure glad I didnt pay full price for it. The game has to much bla bla bla conversations and dialogues to be any fun atm. It is not at all what I expected after playing the DEMO game. Will keep checking back on the game to see if it gets any better.

As of this date, there is no support for Y axis mouse inversion immediately available to the player. Apparently there are rumblings of this option being hidden within the "controller" settings, but the Devs. can't be bothered to offer it upfront, so I can't be bothered to check. Broken before start. Y axis mouse inversion is a deal breaker, Devs. Refund is in the works.

I'm really on the fence with this game and wished there was a neutral option. I had a decent time with it, however I really did not understand the need for the survival gameplay elements in such a linear type game. If it were open world, maybe, but in a linear storytelling context, it only served to be an annoyance, drinking and eating constantly for no particular reason. Also, your body temperature only matters in a single mission, so why even bother with that?? The inventory weight limit made all of this even more of a pain - hated it. It would've been a better experience without these elements. The story is also pretty short and is clearly intended to be a prologue to a larger game, which may never happen, so that's a bit of a bummer. In any case, I would only recommend this game if on sale, and if you can tolerate the previously mentioned elements and some jankiness.

I heard of this game when it got Linux supported and that made me buy this. I really wanted to like this, but I just can't deal with the overall jank. The graphics are almost good, the survival and inventory management is kind of bad. Very annoying that the currently equipped weapon / flashlight gets unequipped when going to the inventory and back. The inventory screen is a nice concept but really terrible for actually seeing what you have. The last nail in the coffin was the first (or second?) cave level where I reached the end boss with absolutely no ammo, and fighting with a melee weapon in the dark is impossible as you can't see anything. Also I picked things for my character to specialize in ranged combat, but apparently that is a beginner trap as there's not enough ammo in the game. So getting stuck there with enemies on all dark paths and no ammo was the last straw. Also seems like the developers have abandoned this game that is so close to being playable with just a little bit of focused effort from a fresh set of eyes who could see everything wrong with the game.

Weak...did they make this game around 2009...?...but just realeased it? game is garbage, very confusing, not sure if I was playing one, 2 or three different character, that'd just ridiculous, absurd. I paid $4.99 and I'm upset about it.

TW: racism, misogynist I loved the idea, the aesthetic even if a bit old school, but it's intended and well made (from what I've seen) so I don't really care. I was really looking forward to play the game, but I couldn't bring myself to finish the character creations. For a game released in 2021, there is a lot of problems from what the game state. - european "race" is "graceful and tall" and the most "evolved" of the 3. - other "races" are depicted as more basic and less evolved than european, maybe it's a poor choice of word, but it's still a problem - female characters get a bonus on intell and social when male get a bonus on strengh and constitution :/ etc etc Too bad :/