Crudelis
- January 20, 2016
- Whiskey Jack Games
Get on Steam"Crudelis" is a single-player Role Playing game set in 1896, where you play as Henry Shackelton with just 60 minutes left to live. The game features a non-linear plot, 12 possible endings, and a steampunk atmosphere based on historical events during The Industrial Revolution. With an emotional soundtrack by Richard Wurth and handmade graphics, every decision you make has irreversible consequences.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and interesting setting with a steampunk atmosphere, providing a captivating backdrop for the story.
- High replayability with multiple endings and choices that significantly affect the outcome, encouraging players to explore different paths.
- The music and atmosphere are well-received, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The game suffers from poor visual quality and inconsistent art styles, detracting from the overall presentation.
- Lack of a save function leads to frustration, as players must rely solely on autosaves, which can result in losing progress after making wrong choices.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and underbaked, with limited options for exploration and a tendency to get stuck without clear guidance.
- story17 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its captivating nature and non-linear structure, offering multiple outcomes that encourage replayability. However, this complexity can lead to confusion depending on the chosen route, and players may find themselves stuck or wasting time before reaching an ending. Overall, the narrative is engaging but requires players to navigate it without much guidance.
“Last but not least, a very good and captivating story.”
“Gameplay mainly consists of various investigations, and the pacing of the storyline as you decide to follow it.”
“The one-hour deadline doesn't matter; you will get an ending or get stuck and waste time trying to push the plot well before you reach it.”
“Because it’s non-linear, the plot can be a bit confusing depending on what route you’re on.”
“Well, before describing anything concerning the plot or gameplay, I must say that the game doesn't hold your hand at all.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely criticized for their low quality, with many elements appearing amateurish and lacking the polish expected from modern titles. The RPG Maker engine limits visual performance, lacking full HD support and customization options, which detracts from the overall experience. While some unique artwork and a strong soundtrack are noted, the overall visual presentation fails to meet the standards of dedicated gamers.
“The labor put into display, both for the handmade artwork, original sprites, and the exceedingly good soundtrack of the game made sure that I wasn't bored at all.”
“Not all of the artwork in the game, however, is copy-pasted from Kadokawa's stock tilesets and cookie-cutter character generator.”
“It's got steampunk elements which are nice, but the visuals and other aspects could use some polish in my opinion.”
“As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
“The artwork here is terrible, amateurish 'my first Wacom tablet' style drawings used instead of professional-looking game assets.”
“It's unclear if this is due to a lack of budget to arrange someone who can create graphical assets properly, or lack of talent; regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low, enough on its own to deter gamers.”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and appropriateness, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the effort put into the soundtrack, noting its handmade artistry and original compositions, although some feel it follows a familiar RPG Maker style. Overall, the music enhances the gaming experience and keeps players engaged.
“The labor put into display, both for the handmade artwork, original sprites, and the exceedingly good soundtrack of the game made sure that I wasn't bored at all.”
“Nice music, very appropriate.”
“The soundtracks are piano-based like other RPG Maker games, nothing special.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game features a one-hour deadline that enhances its replayability, offering high replay value for some players. However, there are mixed opinions, with some users feeling that the game lacks sufficient elements to warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, while the concept suggests replayability, individual experiences vary significantly.
“The concept of a one-hour deadline adds a unique layer of replayability.”
“This game has high replay value, keeping players engaged for multiple sessions.”
“The replayability factor is impressive, encouraging players to return for different experiences.”
“I think the game is not replayable.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for its low quality, resembling typical RPG Maker asset flips with poor 2D retro pixel art. Players note that the game lacks guidance, focusing primarily on investigations and allowing players to control the pacing of the storyline. Overall, the gameplay experience is deemed unsatisfactory.
“The gameplay mainly consists of various investigations, and the pacing of the storyline is determined by your choices.”
“The game doesn't hold your hand at all, allowing for a more immersive and challenging experience.”
“Like most RPG Maker shovelware and asset flips, the game features extremely low quality copy-pasted 2D retro pixel art, looks awful, and has even worse gameplay.”
“Well, before describing anything concerning the plot or gameplay, I must say that the game doesn't hold your hand at all.”
“Gameplay mainly consists of various investigations, and the pacing of the storyline as you decide to follow it.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, featuring a captivating steampunk aesthetic complemented by excellent music. Players appreciate the immersive open-town map, which enhances the overall experience without any performance issues.
“The music and atmosphere are great, and there are no issues with performance.”
“The open-town map features a captivating steampunk atmosphere.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent music and atmosphere, with no reported performance issues, indicating strong optimization.
“Music and atmosphere are great, and there are no issues with performance.”
