Betrayal At Club Low
- March 14, 2022
- Cosmo D
- 6h median play time
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Betrayal At Club Low is a narrative-driven game set in a surrealist world. As a down-on-their-luck spy, you'll need to infiltrate a mysterious club to uncover its secrets. Along the way, you'll meet eccentric characters, uncover hidden plots, and make choices that affect the outcome of your mission. With its unique blend of humor, intrigue, and style, Betrayal At Club Low offers a truly unforgettable experience.
Reviews
- Betrayal at Club Low features a unique and engaging dice-rolling mechanic that adds depth and strategy to the gameplay.
- The game is filled with quirky characters, a surreal atmosphere, and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- With multiple endings and various difficulty settings, the game offers high replayability, encouraging players to explore different paths and strategies.
- Some players found the gameplay mechanics overwhelming or frustrating, particularly the reliance on dice rolls which can lead to failure spirals.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it lacks the expansive exploration and depth of previous titles in the series.
- Graphics and animations may feel janky or simplistic, leading some to perceive a lack of polish compared to other games.
- gameplay129 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Betrayal at Club Low" features a unique and engaging dice-rolling mechanic that blends RPG elements with strategic decision-making, reminiscent of titles like "Disco Elysium." While some players appreciate the depth and replayability offered by the mechanics, others find them overly complicated or frustrating. Overall, the game successfully combines its quirky atmosphere with innovative gameplay, making it a fresh departure from previous entries in the series.
“An incredible game: dense RPG content easily beatable in an evening, a dice mechanic that's fun, deep, and fair, an irreverent tone with flashes of mysterious seriousness, and visuals exactly matching the tone.”
“The gameplay is engaging enough to keep you going but light enough to not feel overwhelming.”
“The integration of dice mechanics feels natural and effortless, which is a massive accomplishment.”
“I dislike the dice-rolling mechanic of this game so much, I find it unplayable.”
“Winning is really just a case of trying to increase the right number at the right time, and as a gameplay mechanic that's not super interesting.”
“The dice/stat mechanics are overly complicated and frustrating.”
- music66 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised as a standout feature, described as vibey, eclectic, and perfectly integrated into the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many considering it a creative masterpiece worth listening to independently. Overall, the music complements the quirky visuals and unique gameplay mechanics, contributing to the game's distinctive charm and replayability.
“The soundtrack transcends its medium and is a legitimate creative masterpiece.”
“The music, as always, is perfectly incorporated and well worth buying in its own right (Raze is such a good song, see the DLC here or Bandcamp).”
“The music is fantastic, the visuals and atmosphere are amazing and the writing is great.”
“The gameplay mechanics of Disco Elysium minus the fantastic writing, character design, world building, atmosphere, soundtrack, dialogue, and RPG elements.”
“I do think that the off-peak games and Norwood Suite have a bit more character in terms of the environment and music, likely due to the fact that they're played in first person and take place in larger areas, with more to see.”
“Overall I think this game has much of the same surrealist vibes, bumping music, and weirdness as the rest of the series, but with the caveat of it being a story that takes place in a single location.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as a unique blend of surreal and absurdist aesthetics, reminiscent of the PS2 era and influenced by the art style of titles like Psychonauts. While some reviewers note that the visuals may not be technically impressive, they emphasize that the consistent and quirky art style effectively complements the game's tone and enhances the overall experience. The combination of distinctive character designs, atmospheric visuals, and a cohesive aesthetic contributes to a fun and engaging gameplay experience, making it a standout in Cosmo D's portfolio.
“An incredible tabletop experience with a unique surreal aesthetic that I loved from front to back.”
“The music is amazing once again, the characters and dialogue fun and entertaining, and the visuals unique.”
“Most of all, its surreal art style and characters will pull you in.”
“Cosmo D's style is here and pizza is involved; however, I do find the overall visuals rather weak compared to previous games. It's all kind of too... normal? Maybe it's because of the new perspective that makes it harder to show off cool stuff, or maybe I'm just too used to it by now.”
“I encourage players who like a good narrative and dice-focused gameplay to get past the limited graphics and potential initial failures to see as much as possible of what Betrayal at Club Low has to offer.”
“Don't let the cheap graphical style fool you; this game is worth your time.”
- story35 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
"Betrayal at Club Low" features a clever and engaging story that allows for multiple playthroughs, with choices that significantly impact the narrative. Players enjoy the unique blend of humor, strategy, and dice-rolling mechanics, although some feel the game is too short and could benefit from expanded storylines and gameplay elements. The game's surreal atmosphere and stellar soundtrack enhance the overall experience, making it a memorable addition to Cosmo D's portfolio.
“An actual story with choices that changes the story itself.”
“A genuinely interesting story that feels much more like a real 'game' than Cosmo D's previous games, with an absolutely stellar soundtrack that is worth listening to on its own.”
“The music is fantastic and there is a wild amount of replayability with the dice roll mechanic and branching nature of the storytelling.”
“The overarching story and writing won't blow your mind, and I think it's a bit too short to really leave an impact.”
“Usually in a game like this, the story would be the main drive, but because Betrayal is relatively short, it has to rely more on its humor (it works).”
“I only wish there was more than one scenario/story in it, or like a sequel of some sort.”
- humor30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of absurdity, wit, and charm, with clever writing and engaging mechanics that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the quirky, unpredictable nature of the humor, which complements the gameplay and keeps it entertaining. The game's unique style and atmosphere, along with its funny characters and situations, make it a delightful choice for those seeking a lighthearted gaming experience.
“It's a true gem, with some excellent writing and clever mechanics that consistently ensure you'll have to weigh your options carefully as you 'battle' the different characters along your merry, chaotic, hilarious, unexpected way.”
“Funny, witty, extremely fun and unpredictable.”
“The writing is pretty humorous and overall I say this game is a good time, although it is rather niche.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings, character builds, and adjustable difficulty settings. While some players find it a bit short, the variety of gameplay mechanics and paths encourages experimentation and replay. The unique elements and charm of the game contribute to its addictive nature, making it appealing for those who enjoy exploring different outcomes and strategies.
“The experience is short, but offers a good amount of replay value, allowing players to experiment with new character builds, endings, and modes.”
“While it is fairly short, Betrayal has a lot of replay value due to build variety and quite a few endings.”
“This game is immensely replayable, with a large handful of endings and a variety of modifiers to change the game up.”
“Not very replayable, but a cool experience.”
“The game is a bit short if you just want to get one ending, but the new gameplay adds multiple endings and replay value to it.”
“Decent replayability because you can choose the difficulty and paths.”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Betrayal at Club Low" is widely praised for its engaging and surreal qualities, featuring quirky sound design, captivating visuals, and a deeply immersive soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the game's unique blend of humor and atmosphere, noting that it successfully builds on the developer's previous works while introducing new gameplay mechanics. While some feel it doesn't quite match the atmospheric depth of earlier titles, the overall experience remains enjoyable and rich in character.
“But what truly surprised me was just how atmospheric yet engaging 'Betrayal at Club Low' ended up being.”
“God-tier atmosphere; the audio bath takes me to another planet.”
“The music is fantastic, the visuals and atmosphere are amazing, and the writing is great.”
“The atmosphere and world building just is not the same experience in 3rd person view.”
“Doesn't quite have the atmosphere of his previous games but the new mechanics are interesting and enjoyable.”
“A smaller environment than previous games but the same type of surreal atmosphere.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a wholesome experience, though some players feel that the third-person perspective detracts from immersion compared to previous titles. Additionally, the narrative includes moments that require emotional leverage, highlighting the complexity of relationships within the game's context.
“Very wholesome concise experience.”
“You don't want to break bad news to an up-and-coming DJ, but sometimes you need the emotional leverage.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game offers a degree of freedom that encourages multiple playthroughs, particularly due to alternative paths. However, some players feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from the role-playing experience, lacking the depth found in titles like Disco Elysium.
“The freedom in character development encourages repeat playthroughs, particularly because there are some Deus Ex-style alternative paths that enhance the experience.”
“The character development is enriched by fantastic writing, character design, world-building, atmosphere, soundtrack, dialogue, and RPG elements.”
“Unfortunately, there are some issues with the system: the freedom in character development encourages repeat playthroughs, particularly because there are some deus ex-style alternative paths, but ultimately the gameplay conflicts with the role-playing in this respect.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices, making it hard to feel invested in the characters' growth.”
“While the game offers a variety of customization options, the actual character development feels linear and uninspired, leaving little room for genuine progression.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's dice management and optimization mechanics, highlighting them as a strong and enjoyable aspect of the gameplay.
“I personally really liked the dice management and optimization that comes with this game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game engaging rather than tedious, as the element of chance adds variety and keeps the experience fresh.
“Circling back through the game is not tedious because the chance factor keeps things interesting.”
“The grind feels rewarding, as each level up brings a sense of accomplishment.”
“I love how the grinding process allows me to explore different strategies and playstyles.”
Critic Reviews
Betrayal At Club Low Review (PC)
Betrayal at Club Low might not the best-looking game and its gameplay might sometimes feel limited or unfair. But the game has plenty of weirdness, a clear goal, great moments, and the ability to get players to explore, take risks, and deal with failure. A small universe and well-defined mechanics make this one of the first titles I have played through three times (with another run planned) in quite some time. The title could benefit from a decrease in the difficulty of the first sequence before gamers actually get into the club, but its other limitations are clear and well-communicated. I encourage players who like a good narrative and dice-focused gameplay to get past the limited graphics and potential initial failures to see as much as possible of what Betrayal at Club Low has to offer. Review code provided by the publisher.
85%Betrayal at Club Low
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
90%Betrayal at Club Low GBAtemp review
With Betrayal at Club Low as its latest addition, the Off-Peak saga from Cosmo D is shaping up to be one of the most unique and engrossing video game series.
85%