ADACA
- July 25, 2022
- Siris Pendrake
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"ADACA is a single-player Horror Open World game with an intriguing story and awesome game mechanics. As Jessy Thorn, manipulate your environment with a gravity-manipulating robotic arm to fight enemies and solve puzzles in this sandbox FPS. Patrol the Exclusion Zone as Sgt. Lexi Abrams in an alternate campaign. Experience wonderful visuals, good music, and a haunting atmosphere in this episodic adventure."
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay that combines elements from Half-Life 2, STALKER, and Halo, providing a unique experience.
- The gravity arm mechanic allows for creative combat and puzzle-solving, enhancing the overall gameplay.
- Zone Patrol mode offers a rich open-world experience filled with secrets, lore, and exploration opportunities.
- The campaign is relatively short, currently consisting of only two episodes, which may leave players wanting more.
- Enemy AI can be inconsistent, sometimes failing to react appropriately during combat encounters.
- Some players may find the lack of a minimap and clear direction in Zone Patrol mode frustrating, leading to aimless wandering.
- story242 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it engaging and well-paced, while others feel it lacks coherence and depth, particularly in the final act. The linear campaign is often compared to Half-Life 2, offering a familiar yet enjoyable narrative experience, but many players highlight that the real strength lies in the open-world "zone patrol" mode, which provides a richer exploration of the game's lore and world-building. Overall, while the story has its flaws, it is generally seen as a compelling backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience.
“The story is engaging, and I just thoroughly enjoyed my time playing it.”
“The story is a mystery that unfolds at your own pace and willingness, and the end result is worth it.”
“The campaign is great, a strong FPS story experience, but the zone patrol is the true meat of the pie and something I hope is iterated on more in future games from this developer.”
“The story is a little messy if you don't take the time to trawl through and find all the logs, which can lead to feelings of not really knowing why you're going somewhere or when the end goal is in sight.”
“The linear campaign is fun, but lacks any of the big setpiece moments of its predecessors, and the story is basically nonexistent.”
“Kudos to the developer for actually finishing the game and story, but it is a very lackluster climax that we've waited over a year for.”
- gameplay151 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this indie title is widely praised for its fun mechanics, smooth movement, and engaging combat, drawing strong inspiration from Half-Life 2 and Halo. Players appreciate the blend of linear campaign and open-world exploration, with innovative features like a gravity gun mechanic and a diverse arsenal of weapons, although some note issues with enemy AI and repetitive combat. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience that balances nostalgia with fresh gameplay elements, making it a recommended choice for fans of the genre.
“Either way, the shooting is fun - the movement is fantastic - and the core gameplay loop is a joy.”
“The gameplay shines with its thoughtful use of abilities, creating an experience that's both systematic and deeply engaging.”
“Adaca may have heavy inspirations but by the end of it, while I could reference what inspired it, it just felt like Adaca by the end, just a brilliantly smooth, short, wild ride that just for me vibed in a way that just felt like it was getting everything right.”
“I found the gravity gun arm mechanic to lack weight and a sense of power.”
“The constant string of combat arenas gave me a bit of combat fatigue, and I generally wish there were several times after so many combat encounters across the game's three episodes for a breather where the player could catch up with the story, solve a few puzzles using the game's physics systems to highlight interesting new ways to use your character's powers, tutorialize upcoming mechanics, or just explore with less pressure.”
“Overall the gameplay is very stop-and-go, lacking proper gameplay cycles - you just continue forward, encounter the next group of enemies, and either they stand still and you play peek-a-shoot with them, or they run towards you to get killed.”
- graphics105 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a low-poly art style that, while simplistic, is often described as charming and effective in creating a unique atmosphere. Many players appreciate the aesthetic appeal and the way it complements the gameplay, despite some technical issues like lag and glitches. Overall, the visuals are seen as a successful blend of minimalist design and engaging environments, making the game enjoyable even for those who typically prefer higher fidelity graphics.
“The graphics are really nice - the game goes for a bright, beautiful animated look and feel, that is very aesthetically pleasing.”
“The low-poly graphics add to the charm and create a smooth and visually satisfying art style that feels uniquely its own.”
“Great graphics & atmosphere, a good story, really good combat/shooting, I can't believe this is made by a single dev.”
“How do you make something this graphically low and still get blistering lag?”
“The graphics are low-res, low-poly, Nintendo Switch-like, and most of the levels look the same, taking place mostly in outdoor construction-like areas or dark underground mines.”
“I'm sorry to say, but the lighting cannot save these graphics.”
- atmosphere52 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, drawing strong comparisons to classics like Half-Life 2 and Stalker. Reviewers highlight the intricate map design, effective soundscapes, and a blend of eerie and beautiful visuals that create a compelling sense of tension and mystery. Despite its low-budget origins, the game successfully delivers a rich atmospheric experience that enhances both exploration and combat.
“Though it has a completely different story and setting to Half-Life 2, it nails the atmosphere and improves on the mechanics despite its obviously low budget and one-person dev team.”
“The world is alien, atmospheric, deadly, creepy, and weirdly beautiful.”
“Impressive environments that are a blend of being on an alien planet but it's also a backwater under an oppressive regime hunting for rebels, so expect worn down derelicts and outdated looking tech and crumbling infrastructure with a military presence that only cares for keeping control and not building up the place. It's a wonderful aesthetic done well here, with an impressively rich soundscape in environments that feels fittingly atmospheric with a complementary haunting soundtrack.”
“The lack of music and ambient effects weigh heavy after a while and takes away any atmosphere the game could have.”
“Gameplay felt great, and it maintained a much more tense atmosphere in some areas than expected.”
“What is completely wild is there is a whole other mode with arguably more content than the campaign, the zone patrol mode is a stalker style open world of interconnected zones that has a very different atmosphere and vibe to the more linear action movie set-pieces of the campaign.”
- music34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its minimalist and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience, reminiscent of titles like Half-Life. While some players found the soundtrack to be engaging and fitting for the game's tone, others noted a lack of variety and presence, leading to moments of forgetfulness. Overall, the music effectively contributes to the game's ambiance, though some players wished for a more substantial soundtrack.
“The levels are awesome, guns feel great, movement is responsive, and has awesome music.”
“Then there is the music - it's minimalist, again, like Half-Life, but when Brett Janzen's score kicks in, damn it feels good!”
“The soundtrack creates the perfect atmosphere of paranormal mystery for you to poke around every corner of every map.”
“The lack of any dedicated soundtrack makes this game extremely forgettable and boring.”
“The lack of music and ambient effects weigh heavy after a while and takes away any atmosphere the game could have.”
“Finally, the music is unremarkable, and the sound design varies from nonexistent to meh.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including poor balancing and FPS drops, particularly in later levels. However, others report solid performance on their systems, praising the game's engaging combat and visuals despite some noted heating and minor stuttering. Overall, while the game shows promise, it requires further optimization and polish to enhance the experience for all players.
“A solo dev made a game that is combat engaging, filled with surprises, stylistically gorgeous looking without sacrificing performance, pays homage to the classics while cementing its own identity, features that keep it continuously fresh, and of course...it's fun!”
“The game misses some polish and optimization (probably because it's made by one person), but again, I absolutely love this game and I will keep playing and replaying it for a long time.”
“Performance seems solid, playing on a laptop with an i5-11400H 6-core/12-thread processor and a 3050 RTX graphics card. I'm getting 60 FPS with some minor dips in one location but nothing under 50.”
“Game is very poorly balanced, optimized, and polished.”
“Also, this game needs optimization since it heats up my system.”
“Good game, terrible performance on later levels.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game offers a solid replayability factor with its linear campaign lasting 5-6 hours, complemented by a separate open-world zone exploration mode that can add an additional 5-6 hours of gameplay. While some players find the campaign predictable and less replayable compared to previous episodes, the inclusion of different game modes, modifiers, and hidden secrets enhances the overall replay value, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate exploration and varied gameplay experiences.
“There are two different game modes and extra game control options to give this a lot of replayability options.”
“The zone mode and modifiers also add so much replayability and wacky fun.”
“I've played through the entire campaign mode and appreciate that the game has an entirely separate open world portion which makes the game great for replayability.”
“This makes episode 3, in my opinion, the least replayable out of the 3 total because of how predictable it is.”
“And it has two different modes, a neat little game to be sure, though I am not sure it has much replay value; not sure it needs any though, and it isn't quite done yet, at least in story.”
“I downloaded the free demo, and that alone had more content and replayability than most of the AAA games I've played in the past 5 years.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be a standout feature, with moments like disarming foes and using their weapons against them leading to hilarious gameplay. The game's physics system adds to the comedic experience, while the playful teasing of future content also elicits laughter. Overall, the humor is described as a significant enhancement to the game's enjoyment.
“A staggered foe can be disarmed by picking up his gun, even instantly using it against its former user, which made for some very hilarious gameplay moments.”
“Many games from indie/single developer studios leave games feeling clunky and unfinished, yet in this game not only did I find an astonishing lack of bugs, but it was very crisp and clean, along with a genuinely intriguing story, plus a hilarious physics system that makes the game way better.”
“I'm not sure if it's on purpose, but the fact that episode 3 is 'coming soon' just made me laugh (I know that the dev already confirmed that it would come as DLC in the future).”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game primarily involves advertisements and limited additional options, with some features offering improved versions of weapons at a cost, though these upgrades often come with trade-offs, such as the removal of certain functionalities.
“Some have secondary functions, most just being ads or scopes with a few other options mixed in.”
“Alongside this early shotgun, there is an improved version that can aim down sights and fire faster, but the secondary double-shot mode is removed.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of frustration and nostalgia in the emotional aspect of the game. While repeated mission restarts can lead to annoyance, the use of hints evokes a sense of fondness reminiscent of past gaming experiences, particularly recalling the excitement of playing "ODST" for the first time.
“Using the hints on the terminals to figure out where to find the next objective made me feel like I was playing ODST for the first time again.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with smooth performance and minimal stuttering. However, some users have reported occasional graphical glitches, such as light leaks and brief white surfaces, which may be attributed to the Unreal Engine rather than the game's overall stability.
“The game runs great, and I have yet to notice any stuttering on my machine.”
“The performance is incredibly smooth, with no crashes or glitches.”
“I've played for hours without any issues; the stability is impressive.”
“I have experienced some glitches with graphics, such as light leaking inside buildings and surfaces appearing stark white for a frame after I turn a corner. This is likely related to the engine (specifically, Unreal Engine), as I don't believe the developer is capable of writing a proper lighting system.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times. Stability is a major issue that needs to be addressed.”
“I've encountered numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, including freezing and unexpected crashes. The overall stability of the game is quite poor.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a strong art style and distinctive character designs that enhance its diverse cast, making it easy for players to identify different factions.
“The strong art style and interesting character design, with solid colors and easily distinguishable factions, create a wonderful cast.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's unique story.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of tedious grinding in the game, highlighting that it avoids empty open-world exploration and unnecessary resource gathering, which enhances the overall experience.
“The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, which really kills the enjoyment.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and feels like a chore.”
