Clid The Snail

Weird Beluga attempted to merge two distinct genres of game with Clid the Snail: top-down shooter and narrative. Although they succeeded on the worldbuilding and narrative front, the gunplay feels unforgiving, repetitive, and frustrating. I can't sleight them for trying something new, as I generally enjoyed Clid's grimy world, but I really did want more. I can't wait to see where Weird Beluga go, as Clid is a good start for hopefully something better in the future.

69%Game Brain Score

story, music

gameplay, grinding

69% User Score Based on 59 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Clid the Snail" is a top-down shooter with a focus on narrative and strategic combat. As the outcast snail Clid, you'll explore a dangerous world, form a new family, and uncover the truth behind a devastating slug plague. Utilize precise gunplay and enemy behavior analysis to survive, and unleash your creativity with a variety of unique weapons. This is a story of exile, friendship, and betrayal, wrapped in a world full of challenges and threats.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a unique and visually appealing world with interesting character designs and environments.
The combat, while simple, is enjoyable and the variety of weapons adds some fun to the gameplay.
The music and sound design are well-crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

The game suffers from a slow start with a lengthy tutorial and unskippable dialogue, which can be frustrating for players.
Combat can become repetitive and lacks depth, with many enemies being easily defeated and bosses not providing a real challenge.
There are significant issues with the game's visuals, including overwhelming bloom effects and a lack of graphical options, which detract from the experience.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
58%
13%
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and relatable, while others describe it as lackluster and simplistic. Many appreciate the character design and dialogue, but feel that the plot lacks depth and fails to leave a lasting impression. Overall, while the world and art are praised, the narrative execution seems to fall short for a significant portion of the audience.
- “The story was great, characters and design looked awesome.”
- “The story has been fun and relatable so far.”
- “The world and story, though, is the high point for this game; I can already tell.”
- “The story and characters didn't grab me in almost two hours of playtime.”
- “The plot was rushed; you only spend a limited amount of time in each zone or talking to each being, so you never get to have a lasting impression from anything.”
- “I think the developers wanted to create something story-driven but forgot that gameplay must always come before story, particularly when advertisements for your game showcase the gameplay as an incentive to buy it.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
25%
19%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its uniqueness and emotional depth, while others find it repetitive and tedious over time. Many appreciate the atmospheric quality of the soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience, though some levels feature music that can be annoying. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, its limited variety may detract from long-term enjoyment.
- “The art style is nice, has a realistic look going for it, and the music is something else.”
- “The game is very enjoyable and the art, story, and music are spectacular.”
- “The guns feel weighty and nice, the art style is great and well realized, and the music, the music is so moody and fitting.”
- “But it isn't action; it is a boring mess with a single-shot weapon, underlined with this lullaby of background music.”
- “Some of the music is a bit repetitive, and the game is pretty short and easy.”
- “In some levels, the music is rather annoying.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
13%
20%
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful art style and environments, while others criticize the overwhelming bloom effect and muddled visuals that detract from clarity. Although there are notable aesthetic qualities and a pleasing presentation, issues like lack of resolution options and occasional glitches hinder the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are appealing at first glance, they may not hold up over time due to these inconsistencies.
- “The art style is nice, has a realistic look going for it, and the music is something else.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and environments; although there are some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same and has a really great aesthetic.”
- “Unfortunately, I can't recommend this game because of the purely graphical path that was chosen - the overwhelming bloom effect is tiring; you can't see sharp, everything is blurred.”
- “There's no 1440p resolution setting (which is seriously baffling for a modern game with 3D graphics), but oddly enough, there's one for 4K, so I had to use that.”
- “Mostly due to the randomness of whether set decoration will or will not have collision on it and the aforementioned muddy visuals.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay is primarily a top-down action experience that combines shooting enemies with puzzle-solving elements, though it can sometimes feel repetitive or mediocre. While some players find it enjoyable and solid, others criticize its lack of originality and the imbalance between story and gameplay, suggesting that the narrative detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as fun but not groundbreaking, with hopes for future improvements in potential sequels.
- “Gameplay is basically top-down action, shooting enemies with various weapons and solving occasional puzzles.”
- “The premise itself is nothing original since other games such as 'Mutant Year Zero' already feature anthropomorphic animals fighting in post-human environments, but the world-building is solid and the gameplay cleverly alternates shooting stages with puzzles and narrative sections.”
- “Gameplay is fairly solid too.”
- “Gameplay is far from riveting.”
- “I wasn’t expecting voice acting, but this much reading can really mess with the momentum of the gameplay.”
- “I think the developers wanted to create something story-driven but forgot that gameplay must always come before story, particularly when advertisements for your game showcase the gameplay as an incentive to buy it.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily driven by the well-characterized duo of Cid and Belu, who provide comedic moments, though the limited screen time of other characters diminishes their impact. While the world is filled with amusing details, players may struggle to fully appreciate the humor due to the fast-paced text reading required.
- “Cid and Belu are a funny duo and both well-characterized, adding a delightful touch to the game.”
- “The world and environment are beautifully crafted with humorous details that enhance the experience.”
- “The characters have a humorous charm, though the fast-paced text can make it challenging to fully appreciate their wit.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive music and the monotonous nature of the puzzles, which can lead to a lack of engagement over time.
- “The music can be good, but every part has only one song, and it becomes tedious over time.”
- “Grinding can feel a bit tedious, especially on the puzzle side of things.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization strategy appears to focus heavily on advertising and promotional materials that emphasize gameplay, yet some users feel that the developers may have prioritized story over gameplay, potentially undermining the overall value proposition for players.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
- “It seems like the developers prioritized profit over player experience, as the game is riddled with microtransactions that disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and accessibility of the game.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game features appealing graphics and environments, players have reported occasional glitches that affect stability. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received, but the presence of these issues may detract from the experience.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users consistently rating it a perfect 10/10. This indicates an immersive and captivating environment that significantly enhances the overall gaming experience.
- “The atmosphere is absolutely immersive, drawing you into the world like no other game.”
- “Every sound and visual detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
- “The game's atmosphere is rich and layered, making every moment feel alive and filled with tension.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviewers note that the game's optimization enhances graphics, providing visually distinct and appealing environments across various regions, contributing to a more immersive experience.
- “The game features more optimized graphics, providing stunning visuals that make each region feel unique and immersive.”
- “I love how the optimization enhances the overall performance, allowing for smoother gameplay and better frame rates.”
- “The attention to detail in the optimization process really shines through, making the environments more vibrant and engaging.”
- “The game desperately needs better optimization; the frame rate drops are unbearable in certain areas.”
- “I was really disappointed with the optimization; loading times are way too long and affect the overall experience.”
- “The graphics are stunning, but the optimization is lacking, causing frequent stuttering during gameplay.”