Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld

About

Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld is a cooperative puzzle game where one player controls Carly in real-time, while the other plays as a ghostly character in a VR environment. Players work together to solve puzzles and navigate through the underworld, using each character's unique abilities. The game features a single-player mode with an AI-controlled partner, but is best experienced in multiplayer.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld screenshot

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews

gameplay15 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Carly and the Reaperman offers a unique and engaging asymmetric co-op experience, requiring strong communication and teamwork between players.
The game features charming visuals and intuitive gameplay mechanics, making it accessible for both VR and non-VR players, including those new to gaming.
Puzzles are creatively designed with a good balance of challenge, providing a satisfying experience that evolves as players progress through the levels.

The control scheme for the non-VR player can be frustrating, with issues such as camera control limitations and occasional input delays affecting gameplay.
Some players have reported bugs and glitches that can disrupt progress, including issues with level resets and character movement.
The game can become overly challenging in later levels, which may deter casual players or those unfamiliar with platforming mechanics.

gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The gameplay in "Carly and the Reaperman" is praised for its intuitive controls and engaging mechanics, particularly in its asymmetrical co-op format that allows for unique interactions between VR and PC players. Reviewers highlight the clever use of cooperative puzzles, evolving mechanics that keep the experience fresh, and a charming aesthetic that enhances the overall enjoyment. While some mention minor issues with jump mechanics, the consensus is that the gameplay is smooth, rewarding, and offers a novel experience for both VR and flat-screen players.
- “The gameplay is intuitive and largely consists of stacking blocks (for VR) and basic platforming (for PC).”
- “The controls are excellent and the mechanics evolve throughout the game, keeping things fresh.”
- “The levels are satisfying, gameplay is engaging for both asymmetrical players, and the mechanics make clever use of that VR/console divide.”
- “I think the only gripe I have is the jump mechanics.”
- “Everything looks very good, the story is cute (albeit a bit hollow), and the overall mechanics are solid (even if I personally believe they can be improved just a bit).”
- “Timed levels may take a few or several retries but at least the game mechanics don't repeat too much and new stuff is introduced throughout the game so going forward doesn't get boring.”
story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
48%
14%
The game's story is generally perceived as simple and somewhat lacking in depth, with many players finding it either unimpactful or difficult to understand. While some appreciate the cute and interesting storytelling elements, others feel that the narrative does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the story is seen as a minor aspect of the game, with players more focused on the enjoyable mechanics and level design.
- “Its was a ton of fun, and the story was interesting.”
- “Awesome game, interesting storytelling, and great level design.”
- “It mixes platformer and puzzles with the spooky story and environment seamlessly.”
- “The storyline is a solid 6/10.”
- “I do have a couple of issues, though, mostly around the story: I don't understand it.”
- “Although each of the 'levels' is basically a little vignette of a soul that you're trying to release, the story has no impact on the game, and I still have no idea why I exist or where I am.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming art style and solid visuals, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the cute character designs, beautiful aesthetics, and effective use of object physics, contributing to a visually engaging environment. The graphics are described as simplistic yet sufficient, with customizable settings for both VR and regular gameplay, ensuring a smooth experience across different systems.
- “The visuals are nice and the characters are cute.”
- “With its beautiful art style, increasingly elaborate level design, and a seemingly simple, yet very poignant narrative, Carly delivers one of the most creative VR experiences that I have ever played.”
- “I love the visual aesthetics of this game; the gameplay is equally as fun with both Carly and the Reaperman.”
- “Graphics are sound and simplistic, but more than sufficient to convey the game.”
- “The art style is cartoony but in a charming way.”
- “However, the visuals are solid and consistent, puzzles have a reasonable difficulty progression and don't get stale.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent freezes and glitches that hinder gameplay and cause lost progress. While there are reports of minor bugs, many users feel that the overall experience remains enjoyable despite these issues.
- “Couldn't get the game to start; it just freezes every time. Other games work fine.”
- “Buggy and hard to play; my screen froze on the title screen and I couldn't do anything.”
- “Several glitches in the game resulted in lost progress, forcing us to repeat some of the most difficult levels.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its charming portrayal of bumbling protagonists, leading to amusing moments of confusion and laughter, especially during cooperative puzzles. While some players feel the game could benefit from more ways to annoy opponents, the comedic elements often outweigh any frustration, resulting in genuinely funny interactions. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience.
- “There's a particularly funny mechanic that can lead to arguments and moments of confusion until you grasp what's happening.”
- “At times we were laughing so hard at our inability to assist each other through a puzzle that it was literally too painful to focus on what we were doing.”
- “A big part of the game's charm is in its ability to portray its protagonists as bumblingly innocent, making the inevitable fumbles as you help each other progress seem totally understandable and hilarious in context.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is generally enjoyable and catchy, enhancing the overall experience, especially in a local co-op setting. While some players appreciate the soundtrack, they may not find the tunes compelling enough to listen to outside of the game. Overall, the music is considered decent but not exceptional.
- “The music is kind of catchy.”
- “I played the game local co-op with a friend, and quickly fell in love with the art style and soundtrack.”
- “The music is enjoyable.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting that its simple design allows for smooth performance even on lower-spec machines, enabling seamless gameplay without any noticeable issues. The efficient use of CPU and GPU resources ensures that it can run alongside VR applications without performance degradation, making it a worthwhile investment.
- “Everything just works and is executed so flawlessly in terms of gameplay, performance, and experience that it is more than worth the asking price.”
- “Levels are relatively small in size, so even on a low-spec machine, everything should run smoothly.”
- “The simple nature of everything probably leads to leaving enough CPU/GPU horsepower to run a VR headset and a pancake game at the same time, because I never saw performance issues.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players generally find the game to have good replayability, particularly due to the option to experience it from different character perspectives, such as Carly and the Reaperman. Additionally, the inclusion of Steam achievements is seen as a potential enhancement to replay value.
- “I personally think the game has a great replay value - once as Carly and once as the Reaperman.”
- “Also, Steam achievements would be nice for some more replayability.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The absence of varied endings or side quests really diminishes the replay value.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its charming spookiness and well-designed levels, despite some frustration with the camera controls. Players appreciate the immersive environment that enhances the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is captivating, with well-designed levels that draw you in.”
- “The spooky atmosphere is charming and adds a unique touch to the gameplay.”
- “The spooky atmosphere is charming, but it feels more like a gimmick than an immersive experience.”
- “The environment lacks depth, making it hard to feel truly engaged in the world.”
- “While the visuals are appealing, the overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”