Axion
- December 11, 2015
- Droog71
"Axion is an open-world first/third-person shooter with RPG and survival elements, playable in single or multiplayer. In a future where dark matter axions are harnessed for power, society is plagued by illness, radiation, and mutations. Take the role of a scientist or mercenary, seeking to solve the mysteries of the axion and save humanity from the brink of disaster."
Reviews
- The game offers a simple, open-ended escape to a post-apocalyptic setting, which some players find enjoyable.
- There are RPG elements such as leveling up and crafting, which could provide depth if the game is further developed.
- The developer is actively releasing patches and updates, showing commitment to improving the game.
- The graphics are poor and reminiscent of early console games, leading to a lack of immersion.
- Gameplay is clunky and unbalanced, with issues like difficult aiming and overly aggressive enemies.
- The game feels unfinished and lacks meaningful content, making it hard to recommend even at a low price.
- graphics16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized, with many reviewers noting that they resemble early PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast titles, often appearing rough and simplistic. While some players have observed minor improvements in certain models and environments, the overall visual quality remains subpar, leading to a frustrating experience, especially when combined with performance issues. Despite the developers' efforts to enhance the graphics, they still fall short of modern standards, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
“There have been some graphical enhancements; buildings look way better and so do many other models. This helps a lot with the game's atmosphere.”
“First launching this game, I thought, 'Okay, a little rough around the edges, reminds me graphically of early PS2 era games, but it probably has potential!'”
“The graphics are also starting to improve.”
“First launching this game, I thought 'ok, a little rough around the edges, reminds me graphically of early PS2 era games, but it probably has potential!'”
“The graphics here aren't too impressive on any setting, but having to turn the detail down to Sega Dreamcast levels just to avoid a dip in framerate is not a good sign.”
“Good god, what an awful game. The graphics are rubbish, the map is useless, buggy, and boring. You start off on a beach, wander into some woods, and encounter a cardboard cutout that's supposed to be a town. You get killed by a wobbling zombie and start at the beginning again. Just to get this junk running, you have to hold your breath and download Java. Don't be fooled by the video; unless you have a good machine, you have to play on low to medium graphics. Waste of money.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as weak and lacking depth, with a simplistic premise centered around a mysterious chemical accident. Players note that the narrative lacks direction and often feels secondary to the gameplay, which focuses more on missions and combat rather than a compelling storyline. Overall, the emphasis seems to be on gameplay mechanics rather than a rich narrative experience.
“Apparently there's missions and supply drops, too?”
“That's another interesting feature I'm looking forward to (finding weapon parts). I haven't even gotten into the crafting (and hardly played), but this is a game I will come back to when I don't want to be bothered with objectives.”
“I won't get into the story aspect, since there isn't really much of one anyway (oh, mysterious chemical accident of new elements! oh noes!), but instead, I'll be focusing primarily on the gameplay.”
“Also, the storyline lacks direction. If you are going to try and sell your game as having a storyline, maybe something besides simply running in a direction until you find something would be good, considering the vast number of enemies running around, and nowhere near enough first aid kits to stop the bleeding, which will occur within the first few encounters, or the rapid onset of sickness.”
“The crudeness of the graphics is complemented by the crudeness of the gameplay itself, where many of the missions degenerate into run-and-gun pieces of proverbial cake, with the only significant threat coming from the few enemies who either spawn in far too close for comfort, or can cover hundreds of feet in a matter of seconds.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of depth and meaningful exploration, with many missions feeling simplistic and repetitive, often reducing to run-and-gun mechanics. Players noted that the graphics and gameplay share a crude quality, and the game could benefit from a more engaging design and clearer instructions, as the manual is essential for understanding the mechanics. Overall, the gameplay experience is seen as underwhelming and frustrating.
“I won't get into the story aspect, since there isn't really much of one anyway, but instead, I'll be focusing primarily on the gameplay.”
“If a game is going to boast exploration mechanics, there should probably be something worth exploring.”
“The crudeness of the graphics is complemented by the crudeness of the gameplay itself, where many of the missions degenerate into run-and-gun pieces of proverbial cake, with the only significant threat coming from the few enemies who either spawn in far too close for comfort, or can cover hundreds of feet in a matter of seconds.”
“There is a gameplay manual for this game, and I would highly suggest reading it so the game makes more sense.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is lacking, with players experiencing lag and inconsistent frame rates, averaging 30-45 fps outdoors and only reaching 60 fps indoors. Even on low settings at 1080p, performance issues persist, with some users reporting drops to as low as 25 fps.
“The game needs optimization; it does get a little laggy, with 30fps to 45fps outside, and 60fps inside buildings.”
“The game requires performance tweaks to enhance the overall experience.”
“The game needs optimization; it gets a little laggy, running at 30fps to 45fps outside and 60fps inside buildings.”
“Needs performance tweaks.”
“Performance is still a bit of a letdown; on low settings at 1080p full screen, I get 40fps with drops to 25fps.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players initially found it basic and unappealing, recent graphical enhancements have significantly improved the visual quality of buildings and models, contributing positively to the overall atmosphere.
“An incredibly basic and fundamentally ugly first-person zombie-and-human shooter with only the vaguest semblance of atmosphere.”
“There have been some graphical enhancements; buildings look way better and so do many other models. This helps a lot with the game's atmosphere.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with some users appreciating the intro and overall sound quality. However, the use of free library sounds and a Google voice emulator for voiceovers detracts from the overall experience, and the visual elements are criticized for their poor quality.
“I like the intro and the music is fine.”
“The sounds and music are from free libraries, the voiceover is a Google voice emulator, and while the models might be unique, they look like the worst 3D objects I've ever seen in my life.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, poor graphics, and a lack of save features, which contribute to a frustrating experience. Additionally, players note that the game is still in early access, indicating that it may not be fully polished or stable at this stage. Overall, many feel that the game requires a powerful machine to run adequately, further detracting from its stability.
“The game is in early access, which is why it isn't fully bug-free.”
“Despite being in early access, the game runs surprisingly smoothly with minimal crashes.”
“I appreciate how the developers are actively working on stability improvements, making the game more enjoyable.”
“Good god, what an awful game. The graphics are rubbish, the map is useless, and it's incredibly buggy. You start off on a beach, wander into some woods, and encounter a cardboard cutout that's supposed to be a town. You get killed by a wobbling zombie and have to start at the beginning again. I couldn't find any save feature. Just to get this junk running, you have to hold your breath and download Java. Don't be fooled by the video; unless you have a good machine, you have to play on low to medium graphics. Total waste of money.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally simplistic and absurd physics, which some players find amusing, contributing to a casual and mindless gaming experience. Despite the graphics being off-putting to some, those who embrace the quirky elements can enjoy a lighthearted escape in a scenic autumn environment.
“If you're not instantly put off by the graphics, the hilariously bad and simplistic physics in the trailer, and don't mind editing a few files (or playing with the default controls and video settings), then maybe you can enjoy this as a casual, mindless escape in a distinct scenic autumn setting, just as I did.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews suggest that the game's emotional content may be intense or triggering, indicating that it might not be suitable for players who are mentally unstable or emotionally fragile.