KARNAL

Short first-person shooter with cool aesthetics and simple gameplay, but it almost deserves "not recommended" because of an awful last level that ruins all the fun. The game isn’t very big because there are only four stages. Although each contains a few maps, the whole package is very straightforward. There are no locked doors, keys, or switches to press. Each stage is simply a linear collection of more or less empty areas with paths linking them. There are no checkpoints, and you can only continue by selecting a stage from the main menu. This means you must complete an entire stage to save. The gameplay is rapid and does not have any unnecessary mechanics. Weapons have an endless supply of ammunition, but they must be reloaded. You can't see the bullet count, therefore the only way to know is when a weapon stops firing. Enemies will either shoot from a distance or charge directly at you, dying in a satisfying puddle of blood. If you keep moving and strafing, you can avoid most bullet. Health is not displayed, but there will be a crack across the screen when you are about to die. If this occurs, you can use drugs to regain health. There are one or two packs of tablets in each stage, but they do not carry over. Visuals are the key element. The screen is locked to 4:3 ratio, and the world is made up of pixelated graphics that resemble something from before the introduction of graphic cards. But this is only an illusion, as the game looks quite good. Overall darkness and poorly lit areas may be a difficulty for some because enemies are difficult to spot, however there is a weak flashlight to make things a little easier. Three collectible tapes unlock three short mini-stages, and there’s a bonus arena mode when you beat the game. Arena is the worst part of the game because you need to go through it as the final stage in the main game. The location is very small and enemies spawn faster than you can kill them. It’s an awful finish to an otherwise fun game. Also, you need to replay a short walking section before the arena each time you die. One major problem that shows up in the arena involves melee enemies. If you kill them before they finish their attack animation, you will still take damage.