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.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and whimsical art style, with creative enemy designs that keep gameplay engaging.
- The rewind mechanic adds a fresh twist to the gameplay, allowing players to recover from mistakes without the frustration of traditional save systems.
- The combat is fast-paced and chaotic, with a variety of weapons and enemies that provide a fun and entertaining experience.
- The weapon variety is limited, with only five weapons available, which can make combat 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 is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in about 3-4 hours, leading some to feel it lacks sufficient content for its price.
- 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 retry encounters without frustration, and starting each level with only a melee weapon, encouraging strategic resource management. While it draws inspiration from classic boomer shooters, it distinguishes itself with quirky design elements and refined mechanics that create a compelling and humorous experience. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay, despite some reliance on familiar tropes like monster closets and ambushes.
“Thankfully, the game is very forgiving when you die, and you just press a button to go back a few seconds before you died, so it never got too frustrating. Without that mechanic, I may have bailed on the game before seeing the end play out.”
“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 stands in for the typical save system FPS games have.”
“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 '90s-inspired vibe that complements its art style. 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 atmosphere, though opinions vary on its overall impact.
“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 widely praised for their whimsical and nostalgic 90s-inspired art style, seamlessly blending 2D and 3D elements with vibrant colors. Reviewers appreciate the charming and surreal visuals, which contribute to a cozy and fun atmosphere, making it a standout tribute to retro FPS aesthetics. Overall, the game's unique and delightful graphics enhance the overall experience, despite its short length.
“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.”
“The art style grows on you if you have a sense of whimsy.”
“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.”
- 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 wacky plot and unique gameplay features are initially engaging, some players feel that the humor and novelty wear thin quickly.
“Calcium Contract is a retro FPS game developed by Igor Aleksandrowicz that features a wacky plot and equally wackier design that at the same time has 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 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 it lacks depth in storytelling.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a concise experience of about 3-4 hours, which many players find to be the ideal length. Replayability is enhanced by opportunities to discover treasures and complete additional challenges, making it appealing for those who enjoyed the initial playthrough.
“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 story elements; 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 game features stunning indoor and outdoor environments that create a captivating atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience for players.
“Beautiful indoor and outdoor levels with a fantastic atmosphere.”
