Chasm: The Rift

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 187 reviews
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
Chasm: The Rift Game Cover
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"Chasm: The Rift" is a classic first-person shooter game that transports you to a parallel universe filled with otherworldly creatures and advanced technology. As a member of an elite force, you must navigate through various environments, battle against challenging enemies, and uncover the secrets behind this mysterious realm. With its unique blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements, this game offers a thrilling and immersive experience for FPS enthusiasts.

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Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 187 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Chasm: The Rift features impressive sound design and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The game includes a unique dismemberment mechanic, allowing players to shoot off enemy limbs, which adds a fun tactical element to combat.
  • Despite its flaws, the game is a nostalgic trip for fans of retro FPS games, offering a charming experience reminiscent of classics like Quake.
  • The level design is often criticized for being confusing and labyrinthine, making navigation frustrating and leading to frequent player deaths from cheap traps.
  • Many enemies are described as bullet sponges, requiring excessive firepower to defeat, which can lead to tedious gameplay, especially on higher difficulty settings.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players completing it in just a few hours, raising concerns about its value at full price.
  • gameplay29 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of enjoyable mechanics, such as limb dismemberment and smooth controls, but is marred by poor level design that can lead to confusion and frustration. While the nostalgic 90s FPS elements and diverse environments are appreciated, many players find the gameplay loop repetitive and the lack of meaningful mechanics in dismemberment disappointing. Overall, it offers a solid remaster experience, but the level design detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Gameplay is very smooth and I didn't experience any bugs or crashes.”
    • “The gameplay of Chasm: The Rift obviously takes from the classic retro FPS formula of fast movement, somewhat non-linear level design, and lots of enemies to shoot with solid weaponry.”
    • “After having played through the entire thing on 'hard', I can summarize the following: the game runs flawlessly, gameplay is crisp, and environments are diverse enough.”
    • “My only complaint is some terrible level designs (gameplay-wise), because you can easily get lost.”
    • “The gameplay loop is pretty much f6, die, f9, make progress, f6 ... repeat.”
    • “For one, it's very easy to get trapped against a corner by a single enemy, and when the player's firepower can't one-shot very many enemies, if any at all (depending on the difficulty?), these cornerings almost guarantee death, and putting the two together already makes the gameplay really annoying to get around.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The atmosphere in Chasm is widely praised for its immersive sound design and atmospheric soundtrack, which enhance the game's varied levels and contribute to a captivating experience. Reviewers note the effective use of lighting and visual effects, alongside a strong sense of mood that evokes comparisons to classic titles like Quake. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making exploration enjoyable and engaging.

    • “The sound design and the soundtrack are amazing, especially the music which is very atmospheric. The voices for the characters are a little bit rough but forgivable.”
    • “Chasm still has a lot to offer, especially in atmosphere and the mind-boggling magic the developers were able to accomplish using a 2.5 engine--a dismemberment system, visual effects, great character models.”
    • “The atmosphere, both from the visuals and the music, makes them fun to explore and the lighting is particularly gorgeous.”
    • “I wouldn't expect this new port to change that as it would then destroy the atmosphere that Chasm has going on.”
    • “Quite a feat to achieve a moodier atmosphere than Quake.”
    • “The enemies, as well, add to that atmosphere in that they are built like brick houses.”
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their neat art style and impressive quality, especially considering the era it was released in. Many reviewers appreciate the faithful representation of the original game's visuals, enhanced by modern updates that support higher resolutions and improved rendering techniques. While some elements may feel derivative of classic titles like Quake and Doom, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere are well-received, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “The art style is really neat, and I love the way it looks and feels.”
    • “The atmosphere, both from the visuals and the music, makes them fun to explore, and the lighting is particularly gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics are excellent for the time and still hold up artistically, and it's just a solid game all around.”
    • “Much like Duke Nukem 3D, Chasm tries to present a world that actually resembles something out of the real world, but since the game uses polygonal graphics rather than Duke's sprites, compromises have to be made.”
    • “Aesthetically they're definitely going for Quake, some assets almost look plagiarized and while the Egypt and medieval levels do their own thing, Quake also had an Egypt-based expansion with scorpion enemies so even that can't escape the shadow of id Software.”
    • “The game is just fine, they did not really rework anything, they kept the visuals the same and just added support for higher resolutions, widescreen formats, and 3D rendering and shadowing here and there.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the immersive experience across various levels. Reviewers highlight the diverse soundtrack, which ranges from ambient soundscapes to 90s techno influences, creating a fitting backdrop for both tense and action-packed moments. While some voice acting is noted as rough, the overall sound design, including the soundtrack, is considered a strong point that complements the game's tone and atmosphere.

    • “The sound design and the soundtrack are amazing, especially the music which is very atmospheric. The voices for the characters are a little bit rough but forgivable.”
    • “The soundtrack by Alex Kot goes from 90s drum and bass techno to reverberated lone metal pipe echoes, perfectly accentuating the fear that this game brings.”
    • “Chasm has an outstanding atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of all the varied levels a lot.”
    • “The soundtrack isn't heart pumping or even fear inducing, but very slow and tension building.”
    • “Some levels are more creepy with an atmosphere like those of Quake while others are more standard action levels with music that would fit into Unreal (one of the greatest FPS games ever).”
    • “The game presents its tone rather well and the music or ambience suits it just as neatly; I found the story, the two characters, the simplistic level design, and voice acting to be fairly serviceable.”
  • story9 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some reviewers appreciating its clear narrative and in-engine cutscenes, especially for a 90s shooter, while others find it simplistic and not particularly engaging. Although it attempts to provide a coherent storyline, many feel it lacks depth and fails to stand out compared to other classic titles. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable but not a highlight of the experience.

    • “The original classics in the best old school games just have it all...great graphics, cool sounds, super scary bosses and a great storyline.”
    • “For one, the game has a surprisingly clear story told through in-engine cutscenes.”
    • “Yes, I found it funny that Steven Spielberg was basically your commanding officer throughout the majority of the game, but it was fresh to see an old school shooter in the 90s have a proper story with a clear goal in mind for the player to complete unlike the Dooms and Wolfensteins of the day.”
    • “Even the story is basically non-existent.”
    • “The game presents its tone rather well and the music or ambience suits it just as neatly, but I found the story, the two characters, the simplistic level design, and voice acting to be fairly serviceable.”
    • “I think there was an attempt at a story.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by clever and amusing dialogue, including a humorous twist with Steven Spielberg as a commanding officer. Players appreciate the blend of comedic elements with a well-structured narrative, setting it apart from typical shooters of the 90s, along with amusing English translations that add to the overall charm.

    • “And some of them have super funny lines... :)”
    • “Yes, I found it funny that Steven Spielberg was basically your commanding officer throughout the majority of the game, but it was fresh to see an old school shooter in the 90s have a proper story with a clear goal in mind for the player to complete, unlike the Dooms and Wolfensteins of the day.”
    • “+ funny English translations”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily through achievements and a level editor exclusive to the DOS version, but many players find the short playtime of around three hours does not justify the price. While there are some challenges to revisit, the overall content does not encourage repeated play.

    • “The game offers a level editor that enhances replayability, allowing players to create and share their own levels.”
    • “There are a few challenge achievements that provide additional replay value for those looking to extend their playtime.”
    • “The game is also extremely short; it took me 3 hours to beat every level on medium difficulty. The only replay value comes from the achievements if you really want to bother getting all of those.”
    • “The game barely has much replay value, aside from a few challenge achievements and a level editor, though that editor is only for the DOS version.”
    • “Even if it is relatively replayable, I think that's still a pretty steep asking price.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly without issues.

    • “As far as this particular port, it runs great.”
    • “And best of all, it runs great on the Steam Deck!”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and potentially boring, particularly for those expecting a fast-paced experience similar to Quake. The need for frequent save scumming adds to the frustration, making the gameplay feel repetitive and laborious.

    • “It's a very niche FPS that many will likely find too tedious or even boring for not being enough like Quake.”
    • “Due to this, it's a tedious save scumming fest.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting flawless performance, no stuttering, improved sound quality, and high framerates. The 2022 re-release includes the main game, an expansion, and both a modern enhanced port and an optimized DOSBox version, ensuring a smooth experience on contemporary PCs.

    • “Works flawlessly, no stuttering, improved sounds, and high framerate.”
    • “2022's version collects everything you want out of a proper re-release: the main game with its 16 levels, the expansion with 3 more, and both a modern, enhanced port for today's PCs as well as an incredibly optimized version running under DOSBox.”
    • “The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “Despite the potential of the game, the poor optimization makes it nearly unplayable on mid-range systems.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on high-end hardware.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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