This game's got a few things going for it, and those things are very well done. But what it's lacking takes too much from the game that it doesn't feel like a whole game at all. At least, it doesn't provide enough depth to be worth the asking price.
As the other review states, it's like a flash game, one you'd find for free online. That's an accurate description; it plays like a flash game: fast paced and very simple. Unfortunately the price tag doesn't match the simplicity it offers. You could describe it as mindless fun, but to me this phrase conveys the notion of a game that isn't too deep/complicated/sophisticated in it's gameplay [i]systems[/i] but yet requires quick, successive tactical decisions based on the immediate situation (as opposed to a thought out strategic approach before facing each conflict/battle in game (do I need to buy more ammo, is my $ better spent on upgrades, is there an alternate approach to the mission). Unfortunately this game doesn't touch on any of that sort of tactical depth that even a simple top down shooter should have.
The store page mentions "If you like stealth gameplay, you can avoid direct enemy contact and try to outsmart them..." But for the most part, gameplay consists of holding down the fire button of the automatic rifle or shotgun and spamming bullets in front of you as you walk through the level, and only mixing things up when you encounter multiple enemies: now you backpedal as you spam bullets at the enemies (or strafe if you're fighting guards). Yes, this is similar to almost every other top down shooter out there, but... You have access to [i]every weapon[/i] on every level and with [i]unlimited ammo[/i] and [i][b]no reload[/b][/i] there's no meaningful decision to make about which weapon to use: just use best one for the situation, or whichever is most fun for you. The only thing close to stealth in this game is the ability to bounce grenades off walls to hit enemies around a corner or to just not shoot the enemies that are facing away from you (but if you have to pass them, you have [u]no choice[/u] but to shoot them (unless you can dodge every bullet and enemy until you reach the end of the level.))
The video with the cool graphics and bumpin' music are what sold me on this game (and the sale). The video looks like a collection of the most tense moments of the game, showing some neat popping out from the corner and shooting and frantic running in circles while shooting at the bugs swarming the player. But the latter is the majority of the gameplay. There's no reason to pop out and take shots when you can accomplish the same thing (dodging bullets) by strafing and spamming your own bullets (because there's no reload or ammo to worry about). In the latter case, if you're not backpedalling then you're forced to run in circles or get mauled by the bugs (though backpedalling is ALWAYS the winning strategy- again, leaving you without a meaningful choice to make about how to approach the situation).
Then there's level design. Every level but 3 are linear. There is a labyrinth level which is hardley a maze, but again, still only one direction to go. One is completely open with no hallways, just single obstacles you walk around. And the other level (that actually contains a loop in it!) is the bonus level. It's the best level in the game, lots of enemies and they come at you from different directions at one point.
There's no story. No text to explain anything, why you're doing what you doing. But hey, the guards are shooting at you so you have to kill them, and the bugs are ugly (and they're bugs), so you have to kill them, too.
So we're lacking meaningful choices of:
- What path to take to the end of the level
- Where/how to move your character in relation to the enemies
- When to shoot (or conserve ammo)
- When to kill enemies or slip past them
- What weapon to use
(- No choices to affect story)
The last one I don't count against the game, because not every game needs, or even [i]should[/i] have a story that the player can alter. (Interactivity is, for the most part, in the gameplay which is the player's way of being involved in the story the developer is telling through the game.) But I mention it because having it could've added a lot seeing as how the game is lacking so many choices elsewhere.
Other few negatives include no rebindable controls and one set resolution (though you have the option to go fullscreen).
I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from buying this game, I just want to let people know what they're in for. I'd say this game is worth a dollar for some mindless fun. I did find it mildly enjoyable spraying lead into those bugs and seeing the bloody mechanical mess they leave. So let me now mention the positives for this game.
[b]+ Particle effects when you're bullets hit things[/b]
But also a negative too. They don't look right. Blood is too bright/pale, and then doesn't match the blood color of the bugs.
[b]+ Scientists look like they're dancing[/b] (gave me a laugh!)
[b]+ Different Difficulty levels (and ample player health)[/b]
Yeah, you're going to get chomped on a few times, so it's good to be able to make like Jesus and be bread for the world and still live. (And also just like Jesus, when you do die, you can always resurrect (and retry the level ;)) Those damn bugs still eatin' you? Try it on an easier difficulty setting.
[b]+ Level editor[/b]
Here you go, make something interesting and invite a friend over to play your level. There's no scripting though.
[b]+ Lighting FX[/b]
Nice [i]real-time[/i] 2D lighting effects. Makes this look more professional.
[b]+ Good SFX[/b]
Player walking sounds are decent and weapon sounds are nice and consistent with the different weapon types. I wish the bugs would make a pinching or chomping noise or something when they attack you (or maybe I just can't hear it?).
[b]+ AWESOME music[/b]
Buy this just for some good music to listen to while you blow the brains out of some bugs.
[b]+ AWESOME character/bug enemy graphics[/b]
Character looks great holding each of the weapons and I love the look of the bugs (and their corpses.) The guards are "bleh", though.
So if you don't mind the negatives I've mentioned (including the price), then I'd say buy this game. It's really just the price that's keeping me from recommending this, as one can still have some fun with it despite all the negatives.
