Clandestine

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

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Clandestine is a 2-player or singleplayer stealth/hacking game set in 1996. Asymmetrical co-op allows one player to take the role of the spy while a friend provides overwatch and assistance as the hacker, and unravel a post-Cold War espionage conspiracy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews

story25 positive mentions

stability31 negative mentions

The asymmetric co-op gameplay is unique and engaging, requiring strong communication between players.
The game offers a fun and challenging experience, especially when played with a friend, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
The attention to detail in the environment and the ability to influence the story based on player actions adds depth to the gameplay.

The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including game-breaking glitches and connection problems.
Graphics and animations are dated and can detract from the overall experience, making it feel unpolished.
The story is not very engaging, and some gameplay mechanics can feel clunky or frustrating.

story
150 mentions
17 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it unengaging or poorly executed, often overshadowed by gameplay issues and technical glitches. While some appreciate the potential for player choices to influence the narrative and the ambition behind certain themes, others criticize the writing, character development, and overall coherence. Despite its shortcomings, the cooperative gameplay experience and mission variety can make the story feel more engaging when played with a friend.
- “This is an amazing game that retains player attention and always keeps you in the loop with pretty storytelling, level design, and core mechanics making you feel like the ultimate hacker pro badass.”
- “The story is better than I expected too, not top-notch but it does touch on some ambitious themes.”
- “The story gives you reason enough to get through the missions.”
- “The story is there for no particular reason, but the gameplay and specifically the co-op element saves this game from being mediocre.”
- “The acting, story, and dialogue are all terribly bad.”
- “The story isn't very well delivered, but I found the gameplay pretty fantastic overall.”
gameplay
124 mentions
33 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique co-op mechanics, where players take on distinct roles as a field agent and a hacker, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. However, many users noted that the gameplay can be clunky and plagued by bugs, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some players found the core mechanics innovative and fun, others criticized the lack of polish and balance, suggesting that the game would benefit from further refinement and development.
- “This is an amazing game that retains player attention and always keeps you in the loop with pretty storytelling, level design, and core mechanics making you feel like the ultimate hacker pro badass.”
- “The gameplay is surprisingly fun.”
- “The gameplay on the infiltrator side handles like an older third-person stealth game would (see Hitman or Splinter Cell) while the hacker is much more about problem solving and gathering as much information about the playing field as possible.”
- “When your core point of the gameplay, what separates it from any other stealth action game, is not very fun to begin with, you are building the rest on a very weak and shaky foundation.”
- “There's a point in which cheapness shows not only in the visual or audio department, but also in the gameplay and balance department, which is where it shows the lack of money or polishing the most, and sadly, that's the case here.”
- “The gameplay feels a bit like one player is a ghost, while the other is a zombie: one can do impressive stuff but more often than not will get killed easily when spotted; and since she's basically blind to the layout, security systems placement, guards routes and precise localization of her objectives, there is a lot of room for fatal mistakes.”
graphics
49 mentions
27 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, often likened to those from the early 2000s or even the PS1 era, with many reviewers noting poor animations and subpar visual quality. While some players find the graphics charming or serviceable, they agree that they detract from the overall experience, especially given the game's release date. Despite these graphical shortcomings, the gameplay, particularly in co-op mode, is praised for its fun and engaging nature, allowing players to overlook the visual flaws.
- “Gameplay is really cool and the graphics, even though they're not the newest on the market, really fit the game.”
- “The graphics are average but the gameplay makes up for it.”
- “While being anywhere near state of the art graphically-wise, it serves the game well enough to not pay it much mind once you have a couple of missions in your pocket.”
- “Maybe if you've never played video games in the past 20 years, this might seem like a good game today; otherwise, it feels like something made in the early 2000s, both graphics and gameplay-wise.”
- “Not to mention very poor optimization for graphics that feel like PS2-era graphics at times. To be fair, it's not that bad, but I ran Wolfenstein: The New Order, a much better-looking game, at a buttery smooth consistent framerate on my machine. Yes, I did lower the settings; it didn't really help.”
- “In my honest opinion, the AI and stealth are mediocre, the guns and gunplay are poor, your gadgets are lacking, controls are subpar, the 'social engineering' is shallow if you give it so much as a second glance, and the graphics are atrocious.”
stability
31 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, including game-breaking issues and connection problems. While some players find charm in the chaos and enjoy the co-op aspect despite the instability, others feel that the lack of polish detracts significantly from the overall experience. Overall, potential players should be prepared for a bumpy ride with frequent technical issues.
- “Gameplay is fun, but frustrating dealing with game-breaking glitches or loss of connection to the server nearly every mission.”
- “The idea is actually interesting, but the game is extremely buggy and unpolished.”
- “This game is awful and buggy and not worth your time at all.”
humor
17 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its janky animations, hilarious character models, and often subpar voice acting, which players find entertaining, especially in multiplayer settings. While the game suffers from a lack of polish and serious moments that can unintentionally become funny, the overall experience is enhanced by the comedic elements, making it a fun choice for playing with friends. Many reviewers highlight that the game's charm lies in its imperfections, leading to genuine laughter during gameplay.
- “I think this is the perfect multiplayer game, because if you're on voice with someone else then the two of you can laugh uncontrollably at any jankiness, which, as silly as this might sound, is genuinely entertaining.”
- “The pushy office guy by the metal detectors is hilarious.”
- “Play the game with a friend and vocal chat; it's hilarious, thrilling, and even the glitches will be fun.”
optimization
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
47 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, clunky controls, and graphical issues reminiscent of older consoles. While the core gameplay and co-op experience are praised, the overall execution suffers from bugs and inconsistent frame rates, leading to a frustrating experience for players on various hardware setups. Some users express hope for future updates to improve optimization, indicating potential for the game's concept despite its current shortcomings.
- “Because where the graphics and performance are questionable, the gameplay itself is solid, the writing is great with excellent attention to detail, and the co-op is a good way to spend time with a friend working things out together.”
- “Version 0.7 is on its way, which contains the first story mission and a better tutorial level, as well as some other additions and optimizations.”
- “I'll wait for more optimization and an update or two before going into full detail, but I'm going to say, I see quite a bit of potential in this.”
- “Horribly optimized and runs badly, but the core concept is really good; one being the hacker and the other one being the field agent.”
- “Bad optimization, clunky and unresponsive controls, and an unengaging plot make a great idea fall over itself.”
- “Poor optimization (average 40 fps on a decent rig).”
music
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is often described as repetitive and sometimes drowns out dialogue during cutscenes, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the atmospheric quality of the soundtrack, others feel it lacks variety and could be improved. Overall, the music is a mixed bag, with some praising its fit for the game's tone while others find it underwhelming.
- “Music is a little repetitive, but if you bring your own soundtrack and don't mind patience and stealth, this is a fine experience.”
- “Such elements include stealth and aggressive approaches to objectives; a hub world comprised of the organization's HQ with characters to talk to and discuss your mission progress; a killer soundtrack (find it on Bandcamp); and a deep and believable story that takes the hero to exotic locations around the world, even if this game takes place mostly indoors.”
- “Visuals and overall production values will remind you of the mid-2000s (except for music, which is spot on).”
- “Frequently, though the music is mixed in such a way where it drowns out the vocals during cutscenes, and is always in the foreground throughout the game.”
- “It can get a tad repetitive, as one level had different structured sections but the same music throughout each section.”
- “And also the music could have been better.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its tension and immersive qualities, reminiscent of classic titles like the original Deus Ex, enhanced by a strong soundtrack. However, some critiques highlight inconsistencies in voice acting and dialogue quality, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, the combination of engaging writing and sound design contributes significantly to the game's atmospheric appeal.
- “Has the atmosphere of those golden classics such as the original Deus Ex, but with great co-op fun.”
- “Interesting writing, a tense atmosphere, and the two styles of play meld so well together.”
- “Story was amazing, sound really sets the atmosphere and the combination of the two roles to successfully pass the levels was beautiful.”
- “There's also the lack of any graphical options, shadows, atmosphere, any decent music, and even voice acting.”
emotional
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with criticism directed at the main voice actress's lackluster performance, which detracted from impactful moments. While some players appreciated the game's attempt to provide emotional support during frustrating gameplay, overall, the combination of a boring story, poor character animations, and technical issues undermined the emotional engagement.
- “Providing emotional support when the player playing spy wants to rage quit because of broken hitboxes.”
- “And if this was inspired by Splinter Cell, and it really does feel like it, they seemed to focus on visual and emotional identities vs what they liked or what worked from the source.”
- “The gameplay is fun, but on top of the boring story, the hilarious character models, lacking animations, and outright game-breaking bugs, it's just not worth it.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, especially in single-player mode, where it feels monotonous and unenjoyable. The experience improves significantly in co-op, as it alleviates the burden of managing both roles, making the gameplay more engaging. Overall, the grinding is often compared unfavorably to other games, highlighting a need for more dynamic mechanics.
- “Hacking in this game literally is more boring than grinding in War Thunder or playing pay-to-win games. Even CrimeCraft: GangWars, which I had to look up on the Steam free games menu because I forgot its name, is unimaginably better.”
- “The game should be played in co-op; the single player mode is too tedious.”
- “You have to fill in for both roles, which can be tedious.”
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through its role-switching mechanics and the potential for varied playstyles, though some players feel it could benefit from additional content to enhance this aspect. While the core experience is relatively short, the ability to approach scenarios from different angles provides a degree of replay value, albeit with some limitations.
- “It also has great replay value since you can switch the roles and play the game from a completely different angle.”
- “But if the game expects you to sneak around without touching a hair on anyone and not get spotted by the admin, then I guess that could be considered some replay value.”
- “It is a short story that I hope they expand down the track, although it does have replay value.”
- “I only wish it had more replay value.”
- “But if the game expects you to sneak around without touching a hair on anyone and not get spotted by the admin, with how glitchy it is, then I guess that could be considered some replay value.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight Katya's striking character design, suggesting that her visual appeal significantly contributes to her overall character development. However, there is limited feedback on the depth of her personality or growth throughout the game.
- “Katya has a killer character design.”
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”