Crome: Before Purgatory
- November 5, 2018
- Stumphead Games LLC
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreInspired by the heyday of 8-bit arcade gaming, Crome: Before Purgatory is an intense space shoot em' up experience. Play as the Galactic Consul's best star pilot, Crome, and fend off endless the hoards of invaders while competing for the top score on the global leaderboard.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features addictive gameplay with a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic arcade shooters.
- It offers a challenging experience with varied enemy attacks and a competitive global leaderboard for high scores.
- The game is free to play, making it an accessible option for fans of the genre.
- The controls can feel slippery and unresponsive at times, detracting from the overall experience.
- There is a lack of variety in music and backgrounds, which can make the gameplay feel repetitive.
- Some players have reported bugs, particularly with controller support, which may hinder the experience.
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a divisive aspect, with many reviewers criticizing the retro pixel art style as outdated and poorly executed, reminiscent of Game Boy graphics. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and its homage to classic gaming, others feel that the lack of resolution options and variety in backgrounds detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the game's appeal on modern platforms.
“Crome: Before Purgatory brings back the old school endless waves, with a competitive global leaderboard as well as that arcade feel of difficulty and those old school Game Boy Advance graphics with the green tint.”
“I do feel like there could've been more variety in the backgrounds, maybe after 5 or so waves you would shoot off to a different area or something, but apart from that, these graphics pay great respects to the old gaming days.”
“It's a 2D retro pixel shmup that looks completely terrible, possibly because the developers thought they were developing for Game Boy and not the PC, or perhaps because they are not good at doing video game graphics. In which case, it would be a bad idea to try making video games (let alone dumping them on Steam).”
“A choice was made to use obsolete retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“The short of it: really brought me back to the original Game Boy days of green, back-lit screens and simple graphics.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, particularly for fans of chiptune and old-school gaming aesthetics, enhancing the nostalgic gameplay experience. However, some players feel that the soundtrack lacks variety, suggesting that more diverse tracks would improve the overall experience.
“The aesthetic, music, and gameplay are all pretty solid.”
“Along with the classic look of the graphics, the music for this game is also old school gaming inspired and really suits the gameplay.”
“Only thing I would've liked is more variety in the music.”
“Needs more variety in music.”
“The soundtrack is pretty decent if you're into chiptune music.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a modern and responsive design, complemented by classic graphics and nostalgic music that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the arcade-style, high-score focus, noting the great controls and addictive nature of the gameplay. Overall, it has received positive feedback for its engaging mechanics and development quality.
“The gameplay is much more modern and responsive.”
“Along with the classic look of the graphics, the music for this game is also old school gaming inspired and really suits the gameplay.”
“Great controls, addictive gameplay, amazing job dev.”
“The gameplay is much more modern and responsive though.”
“Gameplay/video review:”
“• arcade, high score styled gameplay”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is criticized for being misleading, as it serves primarily as an advertisement for another title from the same developer, rather than offering a genuinely free experience. Reviewers express dissatisfaction with the quality of the graphics and the overall value, leading to a general reluctance to recommend it.
“It's not even exactly free, as this was intended as an advertisement for another game from the same developer, but with slightly better (but still unacceptably poor) graphics.”
“I have a general policy of not recommending advertisements to gamers, especially not poor quality ones.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a humorous take on the shooting genre, reminiscent of old-school 8-bit titles like Galaxian, but some players find its color palette overly dominated by green.
“This game is a hilarious throwback to old-school shooters, with its charming 8-bit style reminiscent of classics like Galaxian.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, blending witty dialogue with absurd situations that keep you laughing.”
“I love how the game uses quirky characters and funny scenarios to create a lighthearted atmosphere while you play.”
