[quote][b]Note: Dead PvP game[/b]
This game contains no meaningful single player content. There are no formal online matchmaking servers, the only multiplayer on offer is local co-op or Steam Remote Play Together.[/quote]
"Subscribe & Punch!" is one of the reasons Kickstarter is such a joke, and indeed this was intended as a joke game... I think... it's either making fun of famous Youtubers from last decade, or simping for them... both is kind of weird and creepy. And people backed this kickstarter!
What do you do in the game? It's seriously a 1v1 arcade fighter versus game with only two characters... parodies (I think) of two Youtubers from last decade. Only two characters.
It's not even a good arcade fighter... combat isn't about technique, but hard button mashing is what decides who wins. People might not be aware but there's actually a rather deep gaming subculture who compete extremely hard at fighter versus games, studying techniques, blocks and throws against different characters and so on... and you'll get none of that here. It's at best a tech demo tier mess.
This game relies on multiple players to work properly, but the developer couldn't work out how to do any netcode or proper online matchmaking. Steam's "Remote Play Together" tries to make up for this glaring shortfall, but PC gamers just don't crowd around a single PC in the living room anymore. This glaring shortfall may be caused by shortsightedness or just lack of competence from the developer, but whatever the reason, the lack of proper online features for a multiplayer only game disqualifies this.
This looks a lot like it was designed for consoles, but released on Steam instead by mistake. While this is on PC, it has all the hallmarks and deficiencies of a console game, from the clunkier than needed control scheme to the less than cutting edge graphics. There's 10's of thousands of PC games on Steam, and PC gamers deserve only the best. This might not appeal to many gamers due to the lack of PC-centric design. It's unclear why this never made it to the video game console appliances it seems to have been designed for.
Visually, this features mediocre hand drawn style "Baby's First Wacom Tablet" art instead of contemporary graphics. This obviously looks better than pixelcrap, but that's a really low bar to barely stumble over. It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to do the job of creating 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter. What matters is that this looks worse than a professionally made game would look, and that's a major deterrent.
This game is fairly dated at 8 years old... and even back then it looked old and busted compared to contemporary, professionally made 3D games of the same period. It looked bad then, it looks worse now.
Let's talk about pricing and the actual value this has for gamers.
This is "free" enough (not every "free" game in the "free" section is truly free, there's usually some hidden price tag), at least you won't be expected to spend any more money after you download this, but just because something is free doesn't mean it's good, and the cost of a game is more than just financial, your time is valuable too.
Even as a free game, this couldn't find an audience. With a peak of [b]only 5 players[/b], it's clear the Steam community took one look and walked away. They literally couldn't pay people to spend time playing this.
All other issues aside (any of which would disqualify this from being worth your time), this is a game that relies on other players for it to be viable, and because there's not enough players, it's not viable. I can't recommend anyone downloads this, it's basically dead.
Remember what I often say... if you don't agree with what I've said about this game, by all means add it to your library and play it. My review is just here to inform your decision, and if you think I was wrong and you downloaded the game, then I've done what I really wanted to do... inform your decision.
