COVEN
- October 24, 2024
- gatorShins
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Coven" is a single-player Horror Shooter game with excellent gameplay, featuring a young girl accused of witchcraft who seeks revenge in an alternate 1600s. Armed with weaponry and magic, players can dash, slide, and slow down time, while consuming the flesh of the dead to regain health. With a haunting soundtrack by John S. Weekley, explore different places in time across two additional episodes, each set in a unique historical setting.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Coven offers a unique blend of magic and gunplay, providing a satisfying and engaging combat experience with a variety of weapons and spells.
- The game features excellent level design, with atmospheric environments that encourage exploration and strategic gameplay, especially with its resource management mechanics.
- The retro aesthetic combined with a dark, humorous narrative creates a captivating atmosphere that stands out in the boomer shooter genre.
- The game suffers from some clunky mechanics and bugs, particularly in later levels, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay and immersion.
- Some players have noted that the combat lacks impact and punch, making it feel less satisfying compared to other titles in the genre.
- The level design can lead to confusing backtracking and a lack of clear direction, which may frustrate players trying to progress through the game.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this FPS is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as bullet time and a corpse-eating feature, which contribute to a satisfying and chaotic experience. While the fast-paced action is balanced with moments of exploration, some players find the level design repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to backtracking. Overall, the game offers a blend of fun mechanics and a distinct aesthetic, appealing to both FPS fans and horror enthusiasts, despite some criticisms regarding certain mechanics and level execution.
“Very solid game with fun mechanics, a nice visual style and fluid gameplay.”
“The gameplay is just plain fun.”
“Super satisfying gameplay with some very crunchy gore (love that you can eat your enemies after dispatching them)!”
“This is hugely jarring to the flow of gameplay and frankly is tedious as hell.”
“Great game mechanics but horrendous level design and execution.”
“75% of the gameplay is backtracking the same nearly identical levels (and sublevels).”
- music15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting that it fits the game's theme and intensifies combat situations. While some players desire more variety in the soundtrack across levels, the existing music is described as engaging and well-composed, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, complementing the satisfying gameplay and vibrant visuals.
“The level design is great though, and the environments and atmosphere are all top notch with some banging music to go on top.”
“Satisfying weaponry, loads of gore, vibrant visuals, nice music - easy recommendation!”
“I would appreciate some variety in the soundtrack per level, but with additional episodes coming and not being charged again if you've already purchased, I think this solo dev has earned and will continue to earn every penny and the hearts of an audience that AAA studios have abandoned long ago.”
“The music fits tremendously with the theme of the game and ramps up when enemies are a'comin, which adds to the intensity of some situations.”
“The soundtrack isn't just boring, djenty metal; the combat has some cool weapons and gimmicks so far.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its unique and immersive qualities, blending dark fantasy elements with retro-inspired graphics to create a captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the excellent level design and engaging soundtracks that enhance the overall ambiance, making it a standout feature that appeals to both FPS fans and horror enthusiasts alike. The combination of nostalgia and modern mechanics contributes to a rich, atmospheric power trip that resonates with players.
“The atmosphere alone is worthy of a recommendation, but the gunplay and general premise of the game is wonderful too.”
“A truly unique, atmospheric and satisfying experience.”
“Ticks all the right boxes, an atmospheric power trip with healthy doses of black humor, pretty much what it says on the tin.”
“Coven is well-designed and allows for much freedom in tackling combat, and its pixelated look pairs rather well with its gloomy atmosphere.”
“An absolute power fantasy FPS, drenched in an atmosphere of medieval occult horror, in which you play a woman who was burnt alive by a bunch of people who accused her of being a witch because she could spell her name or count to ten.”
“Oozes a spooky Halloween atmosphere and the retro-inspired graphics are done beautifully.”
- story10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and features a unique premise, with a mix of grim humor and revenge themes, highlighted by a badass female protagonist. Players appreciate the environmental storytelling and character motivations, although some encountered bugs that affected gameplay. Overall, the narrative is well-received, adding depth to the action-packed experience.
“The story is cool with you being burned alive in the first cutscene.”
“Grim, silly, and fun revenge story.”
“The story and character motivation are fun as well.”
“However, in mission 6 of episode 1, I started encountering bugs like not being able to consume enemies after I beat them, not being able to target enemies with the gallows spell, and enemies not aggroing to me even when I'm standing next to them.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are heavily stylized, featuring a unique horror aesthetic characterized by darkness, blood, and gore, which some players find both captivating and nauseating. The vibrant visuals and retro-inspired design contribute to a satisfying gameplay experience, creating a spooky Halloween atmosphere that many users recommend. Overall, the art direction is praised for its ability to engage players despite its intense themes.
“I have played the demo a countless amount of times because of just how purely satisfying the gameplay is, coupled with an awesome aesthetic overall.”
“Oozes a spooky Halloween atmosphere and the retro-inspired graphics are done beautifully.”
“Graphics are heavily stylized, sort of a grim Valheim, and the art direction is pure horror with an abundance of darkness, blood, and gore.”
“Not normally a fan of these games but was hooked by the unique aesthetic and vibe, but ended up getting nauseous very quickly.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of dark humor and entertaining voice acting, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the action and music, contributing to a humorous atmosphere throughout.
“The action, maps, and music combined with dark humor really rocks.”
“The voice acting is genuinely hilarious.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect to be disruptive to the gameplay experience, often describing it as tedious and frustrating.
“This is hugely jarring to the flow of gameplay and frankly is tedious as hell.”
“The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I find myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, which makes the game feel like a chore.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth gunplay and solid weapon variety, alongside great performance and effective environmental storytelling, contributing to an engaging experience.
“The gunplay is smooth, the weapon variety is solid, and the performance is great.”
“The environmental storytelling is well done, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The optimization allows for a seamless gameplay experience, making every moment enjoyable.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often feeling moved to tears and expressing gratitude for the experience, highlighting its powerful impact on their sentiments and sense of patriotism.
