Alekhine's Gun

While the premise is interesting and the good intent is apparent, the buggy engine and unimpressive level design makes it a forgettable experience

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"Alekhine's Gun" is a single-player historical shooter game set during the Cold War. As Agent Alekhine, a Russian assassin working with American CIA agents, you must complete a unsanctioned covert operation to unravel a conspiracy that could determine the fate of America and the world. With a good story and an estimated playtime of 13 hours, players must make their moves carefully in this tense and uncertain world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

42%

Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews

story11 positive mentions

gameplay6 negative mentions

Alekhine's Gun offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the Death to Spies series, providing a similar stealth gameplay style.
The game features a decent variety of mission objectives and allows for creative approaches to completing tasks.
The historical setting and storyline, which involves Cold War espionage, adds an interesting layer to the gameplay.

The game suffers from frequent crashes and technical issues, making it frustrating to play.
AI behavior is inconsistent and often unrealistic, leading to a lack of challenge and immersion.
Graphics and animations feel dated and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience.

story
60 mentions
18 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story, set against a backdrop of World War II and the Cold War, attempts to weave a thriller narrative involving espionage and historical events, but it often falls flat due to weak character development and reliance on pre-rendered cutscenes that detract from immersion. While some players appreciate the pacing and mission design, many find the overall plot unengaging and simplistic, leading to a lack of emotional connection with the narrative. Despite its potential, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and technical issues.
- “This time it's not just historical missions, but there is an actual story now compared to before, with the biggest weakness being that it doesn't use in-game cutscenes, instead opting for pre-rendered art stills, but it still delivers a great thriller spy story.”
- “Without giving the plot away, you are a spy doing spy stuff while the greater story unfolds around you.”
- “Awesome game, cool features, nice story, good gameplay; for stealth fans, it's a must play.”
- “The story is weak and you can see that it wasn't put much effort into it, which is a mistake made by many developers of this type of game since, most of the time, it is the story that immerses the player into the role in stealth games.”
- “I couldn't care less about the story; the lazy cutscenes, which consist of voice-overed slideshows, lost my attention as soon as I started and I proceeded to just skip every one of them.”
- “The story sadly never really caught my attention, and there aren't many characters to really get interested in. Once you start your mission, you feel no connection and just run through it.”
gameplay
32 mentions
16 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its dated mechanics, lack of depth, and frequent crashes that disrupt the trial-and-error experience. While some appreciate the stealth and assassination elements, others find the overall execution lacking compared to similar titles, particularly the Hitman series. Despite some positive notes on mission design and fluidity, the gameplay is often described as shallow, clumsy, and frustrating due to missing features and poor AI.
- “I adored the hardcore stealth gameplay, the mission design, and the freedom those games offered you on how to beat your objectives.”
- “Awesome game, cool features, nice story, good gameplay; for stealth fans, it's a must play. Don't mind the negative reviews, after the latest patch, it's a joy to play.”
- “At its core, Alekhine's Gun is basically Death to Spies but with more focused gameplay design instead of overflowing the kitchen sink.”
- “Also, the game crashes a few times, which is annoying in a game where the gameplay comprises of trial and error and the need to reload saves regularly.”
- “I really wanted to like this game, but sadly it executes very poorly in gameplay.”
- “The whole stealth mechanics is just walk past someone fast enough, and whistle in one corner then jog to the other.”
graphics
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reminiscent of older titles like "Hitman: Blood Money," with some users noting minor bugs and glitches. While the visuals may not impress, they contribute to immersion and are deemed acceptable for players who prioritize gameplay over graphical fidelity. Overall, the graphics receive mixed reviews, with some appreciating their nostalgic quality while others criticize them for being bland and lifeless.
- “Graphics quality and frame rate are very good.”
- “Graphics are better than before and help with the immersion and believability despite the level size.”
- “The game itself has decent graphics and a story rich experience.”
- “Graphics are a little dated for a game out of 2015.”
- “The animations are quite terrible (and I'm not even a graphics monger).”
- “The game looks a lot like the old Death to Spies titles; you can basically expect Hitman: Blood Money's graphics but with some kind of odd shadowy/bloomy effects everywhere. It doesn't look bad and graphics definitely don't make the game, but the levels look rather bland and lifeless.”
stability
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is marked by occasional glitches and random crashes, but these issues are generally less severe than those found in other titles like Bioshock 2 or Skyrim. The presence of a competent saving menu mitigates the impact of these bugs, allowing players to avoid game-breaking situations. While the stability is not on par with AAA titles, it does not significantly detract from the overall positive experience.
- “Also glitches, random crashes, etc.”
- “Like others, I got annoyed by a few crashes and a couple of glitches, yet less so than with some favorably noted bug nests such as Bioshock 2 or Skyrim.”
- “While the premise is interesting and the good intent is apparent, the buggy engine and unimpressive level design makes it a forgettable experience.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its unintentional goofiness, leading to moments of genuine laughter despite its serious tone and engaging story. Players appreciate the rough edges that contribute to its comedic charm, distinguishing it from more casual titles in the genre.
- “Honestly, it was so bad that I couldn't stop laughing at just how goofy it was.”
- “It can actually be quite funny at times for how rough around the edges it is.”
music
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a variety of soundtracks tailored to each chapter, providing a fitting backdrop for the gameplay. However, some users noted that the audio quality can be inconsistent, lacking the clarity found in previous titles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered satisfactory but not exceptional.
- “There is a variety of music and soundtracks for every chapter.”
- “The variety of music and soundtracks enhances the experience in every chapter.”
- “The soundtrack is alright, like games before it, though at times the audio doesn't sound as good or as clear.”
replayability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with players noting that it can be completed in a short time (around 6 hours) and offers minimal incentive to revisit due to recycled maps and an unsatisfying conclusion. Many feel it does not justify its price, even when discounted.
- “I took my time and kept reloading saves and still beat the game in 6 hours with no satisfying conclusion, minimum replay value, and not worth the full price. To be honest, not even the discounted price I got it at ($10.99).”
- “The already recycled maps mean that, to someone who has already seen them before, they hold no replayability value.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing severe performance issues that led them to request refunds, while others report a smooth and trouble-free experience. This disparity suggests inconsistent optimization across different systems or setups.
- “Performance is very good.”
- “No performance issue.”
- “But in reality, what made me quit the game and simply request a refund was how horrible the performance of this game is. I can stand a bad game; I really can. I even liked a lot of the 'Army of Men' games. What I can't tolerate is a game that attempts to copy another game (Hitman) and ends up misrepresenting everything that makes those games great, while at the same time having the audacity to work whenever it feels like.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it lacking in the immersive elements that define the hitman series, others appreciate its intoxicating ambiance. Overall, the game's atmosphere may not fully capture the depth of crowd interactions and dynamic reactions that fans expect.
- “If you like games with intoxicating atmospheres, you will like this.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, with gunplay described as clunky and cumbersome, leading to a reliance on convenience over engaging combat. This results in a less enjoyable experience during gunfights, making them feel more like a chore than an exciting challenge.
- “Gunplay is also more tedious than it is fun; you're forever stuck in an aiming stance, which feels largely clunky to use. This makes gunfights avoidable by convenience rather than survivability.”