And All Would Cry Beware!
- June 24, 2019
- Tales of the Renegade Sector
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"And All Would Cry Beware!" is an old-school FPS/Metroidvania hybrid where you step through a mysterious portal to another world. Pursued by a ruthless gang, you discover a machine that opens a gateway to a lush and dangerous world. Your goal is to seek out the first expedition that Wayfarer Inc. sent through the portal and find out what happened to them, all while battling the dangers of this new world.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Short and sweet gameplay that can be completed in one sitting, making it a great option for casual gamers.
- Fun gunplay and a charming retro aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for classic FPS and Metroidvania titles.
- Engaging exploration with a variety of weapons and interesting enemy designs, providing a satisfying experience despite its brevity.
- The game is very short, often feeling like it lacks content and depth, leading to questions about its value at full price.
- Repetitive enemy encounters and limited enemy variety can make gameplay feel tedious, especially with constant respawns.
- The UI and controls are clunky, with issues like unclear health indicators and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience.
- story36 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and reminiscent of classic sci-fi, conveyed primarily through text logs and diary entries. However, many reviewers criticize it as bland and forgettable, lacking memorable characters and significant plot points. While the retro aesthetic and atmosphere are praised, the storytelling method is often seen as cumbersome, detracting from the overall experience.
“An FPS metroidvania with style and a short but punchy sci-fi story.”
“The story is quite fun, and very much an homage to classic science fiction of the 50s and 60s.”
“The story genuinely left me wanting to know more, and the vibrant aesthetic is absolutely fantastic!”
“The enemies aren't memorable, and the story is totally bland.”
“The story had potential but then nothing really happens; there is not a single plot point in it.”
“It does, however, desperately need a lesson in show not tell; endless, lengthy, front-loaded text logs do not befit an abstract FPS like this whatsoever, and while no one is playing this for the story, the hypnagogic atmosphere screams for something better than what we're given.”
- music18 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy, minimal electro style and seamless transitions that enhance the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and unmemorable. Many players appreciate the distinct themes for different areas and the retro-inspired sound, highlighting it as one of the game's standout features. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's overall experience despite some criticisms.
“The music tracks change seamlessly as you enter new environments and react to enemy encounters.”
“Oozes with stylistic flair, catchy music, and some clever and competent level design.”
“The soundtrack is also very good, with distinct themes for each area.”
“Calling your game a metroidvania and full pricing it just 7 bucks less than Hollow Knight is ballsy when your game is an hour long. The only metroidvania elements are that different doors need different guns to open, there are 3 enemies, the music sucks, and it's just a tiresome, pretentious experience.”
“The music has this artfully-crafted-but-not-by-a-pro vibe that I loved as well.”
“The music and art and plot were (as far as I know?) the work of a single person, and I found the synergy compelling.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a solid mechanical foundation, featuring enjoyable circle strafing and a variety of weapons, though it suffers from a lack of variety in enemy patterns and overall depth. While the game offers a nostalgic blend of 90s first-person shooter mechanics and metroidvania elements, its short length and simplistic gameplay may leave some players wanting more. Despite minor issues with polish and UI, the experience is generally fun and engaging, particularly for those who appreciate exploration and retro aesthetics.
“The story, graphics, and gameplay are all lovingly crafted and presented with retro flourish.”
“Lovely game, really fun circle strafing gameplay combined with many cool weapons, with each feeling like they have a place.”
“Exploration-based FPS and the gameplay and weapons are fun.”
“While having a good atmosphere (not great) and a solid mechanical base of guns, enemies, and metroidvania elements, this title is missing a few things.”
“Very logical mechanics and level design, but this game just needed some sort of idea, something to punch it up.”
“Not very compelling, but I think that's also a symptom of the meaningless gameplay.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic 64-bit aesthetic, blending retro elements with a unique art style that some players find charming, while others feel it lacks depth. The visuals are complemented by a vibrant color palette and interesting designs, particularly in enemy motifs, though opinions vary on the overall execution and coherence of the aesthetic. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's presentation, enhancing its fun and engaging atmosphere.
“The story, graphics, and gameplay are all lovingly crafted and presented with retro flourish.”
“While the bosses are somewhat straightforward and easy bullet sponges, I want to bring special attention to the interesting and unique aesthetics of the regular enemies in this game, which are almost all designed around a very neat geometric rainbow eye motif reminiscent of Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
“The story genuinely left me wanting to know more, and the vibrant aesthetic is absolutely fantastic!”
“Graphics are very much from the 64-bit age.”
“I am not a big fan of the rest of the aesthetics either: the map looks almost like it's from Minecraft. I guess it's trying to look like a 90s shooter or a PS game, but it didn't have that feeling for me.”
“An interesting game that delivers a somewhat retro feel with its aesthetics.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as good, with a unique dreamlike quality that effectively evokes the themes of Coleridge's poem, blending elements of doom and metroidvania. However, while the music enhances the experience, the reliance on lengthy text logs detracts from the immersive quality, suggesting a need for a more subtle storytelling approach. Overall, the atmosphere is appreciated but could benefit from refinement in narrative delivery.
“Really good atmosphere and to be honest I don't think there is anything like this game out there, a unique mix of doom meets metroidvania.”
“The hypnagogic atmosphere screams for something better than what we're given.”
“While having a good atmosphere (not great) and a solid mechanical base of guns, enemies, and metroidvania elements, this title is missing a few things.”
“It does, however, desperately need a lesson in show not tell; endless, lengthy, front-loaded text logs do not befit an abstract FPS like this whatsoever, and while no one is playing this for the story, the hypnagogic atmosphere screams for something better than what we're given.”
“The dreamlike atmosphere is very appropriate, given the references to the poem 'Kubla Khan; or, A Vision in a Dream: A Fragment' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, detracting from the overall experience.
“This is not fun; this is tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, and it's just boring.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional stability, with users reporting no glitches and a smooth experience throughout, allowing them to fully enjoy all its features without any issues.
“I will give this game a gold star for being a 100% complete game with all the features a game should have. I ran into no glitches and was able to complete it and get everything the game had to offer me without too much issue.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, with some players finding it enjoyable during their initial playthrough but lacking incentives to return afterward.
