ArsonVille
- November 24, 2016
- Slavitica
ArsonVille is a casual game where you strategically place fire-spreading items in a procedurally generated village, with the goal of burning down as much as possible within a limited time. You have only one chance to ignite the fire, creating a challenging and exciting experience. Despite its destructive nature, the game offers a calming and relaxing atmosphere, making it a unique and entertaining choice for players seeking a different kind of casual game.
Reviews
- Unique concept that allows players to explore their pyromaniac fantasies in a fun and engaging way.
- Detailed environments and an engaging soundtrack enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- Strategic gameplay with a rewarding progression system keeps players motivated to try and achieve 100% burn.
- Limited content and minimal story depth lead to repetitive gameplay that can become monotonous quickly.
- Technical issues, including bugs and glitches, disrupt the gaming experience.
- The game lacks variety in missions and features, making it feel shallow and unfinished.
- gameplay34 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Arsonville is praised for its daring and original arson-themed mechanics, complemented by well-designed urban environments and immersive music that enhances the experience. However, players note issues with repetitive gameplay, occasional bugs, and a lack of depth in missions and narrative, which can detract from its overall enjoyment and longevity. While the strategic elements are engaging, the game risks becoming forgettable due to its shallow mechanics and technical shortcomings.
“The game’s focus on arson-themed gameplay is both daring and original, making it a refreshing experience compared to typical simulation games.”
“The urban landscapes and various buildings are well-designed, adding depth and realism to the gameplay.”
“The detailed environments and strategic gameplay elements make it a standout title.”
“While the game’s concept is unique, it could benefit from more missions, scenarios, and additional gameplay features to extend its longevity.”
“Bugs and glitches occasionally disrupted the gameplay, which can be frustrating.”
“Arsonville burns out quickly with shallow gameplay, terrible graphics, clunky controls, and a lack of progression.”
- story16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is frequently described as minimal and lacking depth, with many reviewers expressing a desire for more variety in missions and scenarios to enhance engagement. Suggestions for a dedicated "story mode" indicate that players feel the current narrative content is limited and could benefit from additional gameplay features to improve overall enjoyment.
“A 'story mode' of some sort would be fun, going through and unlocking the tools used and trying to burn the entire map as it gets harder and harder to spread fire.”
“While the game’s concept is unique, it could benefit from more missions, scenarios, and additional gameplay features to extend its longevity.”
“I feel like the story is minimal and could use more depth.”
“The content is somewhat limited, and the story could use more depth.”
“Without enough variety in missions and activities, the game can start to feel monotonous after a while.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are polarizing; while some users appreciate the cool visuals in the puzzle elements, others criticize the overall quality as terrible, featuring lazy minimalist designs and untextured low-polygon assets that evoke a poorly executed 1990s aesthetic. This has led to frustration among players who feel that the lack of effort in the graphics undermines the gaming experience.
“Little puzzle game for pyromaniacs, cool graphics.”
“The game features lazy minimalist/untextured low-polygon 'retro' assets and visuals, making this look like a barely functional 3D game from the early 1990s.”
“Arsonville burns out quickly with shallow gameplay, terrible graphics, clunky controls, and a lack of progression.”
“The lack of textures is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to disguise it under the name of 'art' or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the developers has been heavily criticized for relying on unethical practices, such as repackaging and selling premade game templates and assets as original content. Reviewers describe their approach as a cash grab, labeling their products as shovelware and accusing them of exploiting others' work for profit. Overall, the consensus is that the monetization tactics employed are deceptive and lack originality.
“Trying to get paid for someone else's game templates and assets... at best, this is shovelware; at worst, it's a scam/cash grab.”
“Sa Industry/Mikhail Melnikov have shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab, through this account or through closely linked/alt accounts.”
“Arsonville seems to be a case of Sa Industry getting someone's half-finished game and publishing it as a cash grab.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its engaging soundtrack, which effectively enhances the atmosphere and elevates the overall gameplay experience by heightening tension and excitement.
“The engaging soundtrack perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere.”
“The music heightens the tension and excitement, making the gameplay more immersive.”
“Engaging soundtrack.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by an engaging soundtrack that perfectly complements the overall experience, creating an immersive environment for players.
“The engaging soundtrack perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by occasional bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration among players.
“Bugs and glitches occasionally disrupted the gameplay, which can be frustrating.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's replayability is limited, with many players feeling that once the main content is completed, there is little incentive to return. However, some users appreciate the potential for different playstyles or choices that can offer a fresh experience upon replaying. Overall, while there are elements that may encourage multiple playthroughs, the consensus leans towards a lack of substantial replay value.