Lateralis Heavy Industries has done it again, [i] Manus Dei [/i] is a shooter from the Developer of [i] OTXO [/i], and draws pretty clear inspiration from arena survival shooters like Devil Daggers & Hyper Demon.
The titular [i] Manus Dei [/i] is a big ole shotgun with very interesting, cultist-type design. Big spikes tipped in blood emerge from the weapon when the "limiter" (ability, left shift) is removed. you're able to fire the gun at much higher fire rate, and is good for clearing the arena when things get too close for comfort.
The Atmosphere that [i] Manus Dei [/i] provides is quite eerie and foreboding when you're in the arena, a dark droning noise is heard throughout the fight while the gun does the talking. It fires loud, crunchy shots, and the enemies splatter into big meaty gibs, blood flies everywhere. Good stuff.
However, this is a Day One (1) Review, and [i] Manus Dei [/i] is not without problems, the game lacks most of the polish that the previous game, [i] OTXO [/i], saw. Here's some stuff i had experienced.
The Main menu, while it does look cool, is lacking in an options screen, its only when you're in the game are you able to access the options, which you will have to do. It feels like there's some kind of input delay or input lag when it comes to moving and looking in the game, the camera tilt when pressing A or D does not help this. The default fov was somewhere on the lower end (why?) and the maximum is 110, which is good, 110 should be the standard. Its just that now in a game like this something higher might be more desirable, you need to be able to be aware of whats around you at all times, (see: [i] Hyper Demon [/i] ). I'm not sure if there's actually a difference between the High and Low Texture Quality Setting (couldn't tell, or not "low" enough), but setting the Shadow Quality to low [i] really [/i] alleviated what felt like performance issues.
Onto more game-y criticisms i have, the desert with giant spikes where you grab the gun looks really interesting! its just that there's invisible walls stopping you from seeing whats out there, even just a little something would be nice. Everything is sort of the same colour when you're in the arena, lots of brown and red, enemies can get in the way of projectiles (which are big and obvious, good) but when you're being chased down by the lesser goobers or the red flying creature with the ram skull, it can feel pretty unfair when a projectile just, [i] phases [/i] through them and hits you without warning. Speaking of death, its "1 hit and you're dead" rules, like Devil Daggers, there's a falling to the ground animation this time, and you have to see it through every time along with the leaderboard eventually appearing, not even pressing R means quick restart because it doesn't do anything. I'm not sure if Bhopping is actually in the game, but you can do it without any speed gain (which is weird), the other movement tech is Shotgun Jumping, basically just Rocket Jumping and you go up, again, doesn't feel like there's any speed to get when air strafing after a rocket jump, but should be in the game if you're going in that direction. Its only useful when you need to dodge those Frog looking goobers with lasers and also to shoot the Eye towers, It feels like jumping and shooting (without looking down) will push you back a bit, feels weird. Oh yeah and the game has no achievements, no points meter (or hud, really), no tutorial and no slow-mo as seen in the trailer, although maybe a slight slow-mo effect would be helpful to get your bearings when you activate the ability.
Overall, while [i] Manus Dei [/i] is cheap, ($2.99 or £2.49), it has potential. I feel like it could've had just a little bit longer in the oven, or had been playtested more (if at all). 7/10. Good sounds, Alright gameplay. Buy if you want to hunt highscores, and not much else.
