Calcium Contract
- October 17, 2023
- Igor Aleksandrowicz
Get on Steam"Calcium Contract" is a story-driven, first-person shooter game where players take on the role of a mercenary tasked with infiltrating a research facility to steal a powerful new energy source. The game features tactical gunplay, challenging enemies, and a branching narrative that changes based on player choices. With a focus on atmosphere and immersion, "Calcium Contract" offers a unique and engaging sci-fi experience.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and whimsical art style, with charming enemy designs that add to its light-hearted tone.
- The rewind mechanic allows players to quickly recover from mistakes, enhancing the gameplay experience and keeping the pacing tight.
- The combat is engaging with a variety of creative enemies and weapons, providing a fun and chaotic atmosphere reminiscent of classic boomer shooters.
- The weapon variety is limited, with only five weapons available, which can make the gameplay feel repetitive over time.
- Some players found the enemy design and mechanics frustrating, particularly with hitscan enemies that can deal damage from a distance without clear audio cues.
- The game's short length, around 3-4 hours, may leave some players wanting more content and replayability.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Calcium Contract" is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as a time rewind feature that allows players to revisit moments before death, enhancing the overall experience and reducing frustration. While it draws inspiration from classic boomer shooters, it distinguishes itself with quirky design elements and refined mechanics that encourage strategic play, despite some reliance on monster closets and ambushes. Overall, the game offers a humorous and engaging experience that feels fresh and original within the retro FPS genre.
“The game is very forgiving when you die, allowing you to press a button to go back a few seconds before your death, which prevents frustration and keeps you engaged until the end.”
“It’s quirky, the music is unconventionally awesome, and the gameplay and mechanics are unbelievably refined.”
“One of the standout features is the time rewind mechanic that replaces the typical save system found in FPS games, allowing players to approach encounters strategically.”
“You probably wouldn’t use it too much in the beginning unless you’re trying to catch those golden roosters since the gameplay isn’t that hard at the beginning.”
“In my opinion, there is a bit of an over-reliance on monster closets and ambushes; the game mitigates that with a mechanic that I never encountered in any other shooter: pressing Ctrl, you're able to pause the game and go back in time by scrolling on a timeline.”
“Another unusual mechanic is that you will start every level with the basic melee weapon, losing all your previously acquired weapons.”
- music20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as energetic and quirky, with a unique blend of '90s influences that enhances the overall vibe. While many players find the soundtrack enjoyable and catchy, some note that it can become repetitive and lacks variety. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's charm and aesthetic, though opinions vary on its standout quality.
“I really enjoyed the art/style/music/overall vibe of this game.”
“The music and graphics are very '90s inspired, seamlessly blending 2D and 3D with an amazing array of dazzling colors.”
“The soundtrack is an absolute banger and I've found myself humming for a long time after playing.”
“Music is sufficiently detailed and energetic but somehow manages to be weird and annoying.”
“I'm not a huge fan of the soundtracks.”
“Music repeats far too often.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a whimsical and vibrant art style that pays homage to '90s FPS aesthetics, blending 2D and 3D elements with a dazzling color palette. Players appreciate the charming and surreal visuals, which contribute to a cozy and enjoyable atmosphere, making it a delightful experience despite its short length. Overall, the graphics are seen as a standout feature, enhancing the game's fun and nostalgic vibe.
“Style-wise, Calcium Contract captures the '90s FPS aesthetic perfectly, specifically that art style you would see with FPS running on a random jank 2.5D engine, something not from the Doom or Build engine.”
“Overall, Calcium Contract is a great tribute to that 'boom shoot' style of retro FPS games while managing to do its own thing with its visuals, weapons, enemies, etc.”
“The music and graphics are very '90s inspired, seamlessly blending 2D and 3D with an amazing array of dazzling colors.”
“Overall, Calcium Contract is a great tribute to that 'boom shoot' style of retro FPS games while managing to do its own thing with its visuals, weapons, enemies, etc. While it isn't particularly long, I think the experience itself is worth the price, plus there's the added bonus of achievements to push that playtime a bit higher.”
“I found this game charming in visuals and music, and I am a sucker for the surreal; I nominated this game for best visuals.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story of "Calcium Contract" is a quirky and humorous tale centered around a group of assassins, including a rogue chicken, set in a retro FPS environment. While the meme-like humor and absurd plot are initially entertaining, they tend to wear thin over time. The game is noted for its unique gameplay features that complement its offbeat narrative.
“Calcium Contract is a retro FPS game developed by Igor Aleksandrowicz that features a wacky plot and equally wackier design, while also incorporating some incredibly unique gameplay features.”
“I get the type of humor, maybe even 'meme' type of enemies and story, but at the same time, it grows old very, very quickly.”
“Calcium Contract tells the silly story of a group of assassins, one of whom has turned rogue (of course, it's a killer chook).”
“Calcium Contract is a retro FPS game developed by Igor Aleksandrowicz that features a wacky plot and equally wackier design, but at the same time, it has some incredibly unique gameplay features.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a concise experience of 3-4 hours, which many players find to be the ideal length. Replayability is enhanced by opportunities to discover treasures and complete challenges, making it appealing for those who enjoy revisiting the game.
“The game's length is about 3-4 hours depending on difficulty and offers replay value through finding treasure and destroying clocks in levels.”
“It's not a terribly long experience (three hours, give or take), but it feels like just the right length, and if the game hooks you, like it did me, there will absolutely be some replayability there.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a meme-like quality, featuring quirky enemies and a comedic storyline; however, many players feel that this style becomes repetitive and loses its charm quickly.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its beauty, featuring stunning indoor and outdoor levels that create an immersive experience for players.
“Beautiful indoor and outdoor levels with a fantastic atmosphere.”
