BRAIN / OUT

About

BRAIN / OUT is a multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by Desertkun and was released on February 24, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

"Brain / Out is a multiplayer shooter set in a post-Soviet environment, where mercenaries and marauders fight for cash. The game features a variety of modern weaponry and promises no 'pay to win' philosophy, with skill being the deciding factor. Customize your loadout with a range of NATO and Warsaw Pact rifles."

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,246 reviews

gameplay95 positive mentions

stability44 negative mentions

The game features a unique post-Soviet atmosphere with great art and sound design.
Gameplay is fast-paced and enjoyable, reminiscent of classic 2D shooters.
The game is free-to-play with no pay-to-win mechanics, allowing players to unlock weapons and upgrades through gameplay.

The player base is very small, making it difficult to find matches, especially in certain regions.
There are numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with hit detection and players becoming invisible.
Matchmaking is unbalanced, often pairing new players with much higher-level opponents.

gameplay
245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The gameplay of "Brain / Out" is characterized by its fast-paced, dynamic mechanics and a unique blend of 2D shooter elements, reminiscent of classic titles. Players appreciate the engaging gunplay, diverse weaponry, and the strategic depth introduced by stealth mechanics, although many express frustration with the learning curve and occasional bugs. While the game offers a fair competitive experience without pay-to-win elements, it suffers from a dwindling player base and repetitive gameplay, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The gameplay is smooth, the combat is exciting, and it was a blast to play with others.”
- “Unique 2D shooter gameplay: the side-scrolling perspective adds a fresh twist to traditional multiplayer shooters.”
- “The combat mechanics are fluid and engaging, requiring players to balance quick actions with strategic decision-making.”
- “Repetitive gameplay: the core mechanics are solid but can become repetitive over time, with limited variation in objectives.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is what I call a beta as there are lots of things that are missing and need improvement, such as a tutorial for free play, as the controls and mechanics from match games are completely different from free play.”
- “The gameplay was beyond my expectation.”
graphics
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
45%
6%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the charming pixel art and nostalgic 2D visuals that contribute to its unique aesthetic. However, some reviewers criticize the outdated graphics, feeling they detract from the overall experience and may alienate potential players. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are often described as functional and fitting for the game's style, with a vibrant color palette and solid design elements.
- “The vibrant color palette and detailed design of the characters and environments create a captivating and immersive visual aesthetic that helps the game stand out in the market.”
- “It has a great aesthetic with beautiful and fairly detailed pixel art, and very satisfying gunplay.”
- “The graphics are superb, and anyone will feel truly immersed in possibly one of the best shooters of the past decade.”
- “Did the developers not know that 3D graphics cards became mainstream in the mid-1990s?”
- “The graphics aren't great... that will understandably be a turn off for a lot of gamers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the game to attract gamers despite having no up-front cost.”
- “Graphical issues made the game practically unplayable.”
story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
76%
7%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a multiplayer experience without a cohesive narrative. While there are various missions and objectives available in free play mode, they often lack clear explanations and do not contribute significantly to a compelling storyline. Overall, players express a desire for a more engaging single-player story mode to enhance the gaming experience.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “An exciting, confusing, stressful, and overall awesome adventure with missions that will provide supplies to help survivors along the way.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the story is spot on, co-op is 100%, and the gameplay is awesome.”
- “The developer gambled that other players would be an acceptable substitute for adding storytelling, level design, etc. to the game.”
- “The game doesn't really have a story besides the odd easter egg here and there.”
- “Missions or the daily missions are not that fun because it will take you days upon end to actually get them accomplished since you are going out of your way to find those required items in a small map which basically forces more combat and less scavenging to accomplish your goal other than to survive and kill everyone due to weapons being inside of storage containers, while most items you find are probably not even what you need other than for cosmetic or a gun attachment.”
stability
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
98%
The game is widely reported to be plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, affecting gameplay stability and control responsiveness. While some players find the game enjoyable and appreciate frequent updates from developers, the persistent issues, including crashes and character movement glitches, significantly detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers suggest that the game has potential but requires substantial improvements in stability to be fully recommended.
- “No glitches, no bugs!”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
- “I appreciate the consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “I am frankly amazed at the sheer variety of crashes, freezes, and forced restarts this game has made me go through.”
- “The worst part of it all is the fact that there are so many glitches; from my experience alone, I have found five in the span of the first five days of my playing this game.”
- “Its a good game and concept, but the lag is so bad it's unplayable at times, but the worst part is the glitches.”
monetization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The game's monetization model features optional microtransactions that do not significantly impact gameplay, allowing players to succeed based on skill rather than purchases. While some users appreciate the lack of pay-to-win mechanics and the focus on cosmetics, others criticize the prevalence of microtransactions and the grind required to unlock content, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a fair free-to-play option, but concerns about intrusive monetization and a lack of updates persist.
- “No pay-to-win mechanics: success in the game depends on skill rather than microtransactions, making for a fairer competitive experience.”
- “Very fun, very free; in-game purchases are not intrusive.”
- “The progression system is very well done, using microtransactions as merely a means to speed things up and get more skins/outfits for your guns and character.”
- “On pricing and value for gamers, this isn't really free as the game is infested with mobile app store-like microtransactions.”
- “I used to love this game, but as time went on it became more about crates and microtransactions than gameplay.”
- “But it also gets boring rather quickly and it's too much of a grind to unlock new weapons, forcing you into the microtransactions and loot boxes.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
6%
87%
The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which can be both enjoyable and tedious for players. While some appreciate the challenge and the gradual unlocking of weapons, others find the grind excessive, especially for certain items and progression systems. Overall, the grinding aspect is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the process while others feel it detracts from the overall experience.
- “Not too grindy either, you can earn weapons pretty easily, giving you 1 or 2 new guns every several matches.”
- “Leveling up is simple and not too grindy either; you'll level up at a good pace and unlock a good few weapons that way.”
- “Before you even start playing, understand that this game is very grindy.”
- “This joke of a game has you grinding beyond the levels of acceptable to even be able to access the more viable weapons.”
- “Combining the loot box system with pretty high prices and very low drop rates seems to be a good way to scare off more impatient players and trap others into a tedious grind.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players highlighting its funny moments and enjoyable interactions, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews note that the game's simplicity and quirky elements contribute to its comedic appeal, although some mention that the community can be toxic at times. Overall, the game is described as hilariously fun, particularly in multiplayer settings, despite some technical issues.
- “Great fun game! Me and my brother enjoy it so much; we have lots of funny moments, and I hope you guys can enjoy it as I do.”
- “It's free and hilariously fun.”
- “It's really simple, easy to learn, and funny to play with friends.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its energizing and engaging qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. While some enjoy the soundtrack and find it fitting for the game's action, others note a lack of background music during gameplay, which can detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is highlighted as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's appeal despite some technical issues.
- “Brain/out’s soundtrack is energizing and perfectly complements the game’s intense action.”
- “The music is carefully selected to maintain the pace of the game and increase the tension during battles.”
- “The visuals are simple but lots of fun, and the soundtrack is perfect for getting in the thick of the action.”
- “When I clicked run, it never opened the window, but the music infinitely runs in the background where I can't close it.”
- “I can't get the background music to turn off and there's no way to delete the game.”
- “On the starting menu, there is some music which does the job fine, but once you enter the game, there is no background music at all, only the sounds of guns and footsteps, which will lead you to put up your favorite podcast quite quickly.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its gritty, authentic representation of post-soviet, post-apocalyptic settings, enhanced by nostalgic elements and effective sound design. While the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they contribute significantly to the immersive ambiance, making it particularly resonant for players familiar with the cultural context. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, earning high marks from reviewers.
- “- the post-Soviet post-apocalyptic environments look authentic and provide the player with a unique atmosphere for action.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is truly stunning.”
- “The graphics may not be cutting-edge, but they serve their purpose well, contributing to the game's gritty atmosphere.”
- “This is a very good game if you are from post-Soviet countries because you would understand deeply the atmosphere.”
- “>maps/atmosphere=6”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance even on lower-end devices, others express frustration with issues like a capped frame rate at 60 and declining performance with updates. Additionally, concerns about weapon mechanics and server availability have contributed to a perception of subpar optimization, leading to an overall rating of around 6 to 8.9 out of 10.
- “Being honest, the version for Macs is optimized enough to work, so you can even fight with your Apple device.”
- “It is fun to play; it has good performance on my old computer, so that's good.”
- “Although the game has just begun its development, it already boasts a number of players, good optimization, a variety of weapons, and multiple modes and maps.”
- “With every update, the game performance worsens; it is not worth it anymore. The hit registration and the extremely toxic community are major issues.”
- “The performance makes me want to kill myself; the whole game just feels so broken.”
- “You are lucky they used to have an Asian server, but now for some weird reason they removed it, and their response was 'performance problems.'”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability due to its diverse maps, weapons, and challenging mechanics, which create unique experiences in each match. The inclusion of a freeplay mode further enhances replay value, making the game enjoyable and engaging over time. Overall, users find the game to have excellent longevity and replay potential.
- “Brain/out’s challenging nature provides excellent replayability.”
- “Each match feels unique, thanks to a variety of maps and weapons that ensure replayability.”
- “This variety ensures that players face new challenges and situations, increasing the game’s longevity and replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes strong emotional responses, ranging from pleasure derived from masochism and erotic humiliation to a sense of satisfaction in pleasing a dominant partner. Its unique ability to elicit these feelings, despite its simplicity and lack of popularity, sets it apart in the emotional gaming landscape.
- “This was the only game that made me feel like that, for how simple and unpopular it was.”