Cut to the Core

About

Cut to the Core is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Plasma Press and was released on July 31, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Cut to the Core" is a fast-paced, physics-based action game where you wield a plasma sword to carve your way through hordes of robotic enemies. With a variety of levels and challenges, players must master precise cutting techniques and strategic movement to survive. The game features a unique art style, intuitive controls, and a pulse-pounding soundtrack to keep you engaged in the heat of battle.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 172 reviews

story60 positive mentions

monetization2 negative mentions

Cut to the Core features a compelling and darkly engaging story that effectively combines horror and body horror elements, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.
The art style is visually striking, reminiscent of classic comic books, and enhances the overall atmosphere of the narrative, drawing players into its grotesque world.
The game is praised for its immersive sound design and music, which complement the visuals and contribute to the unsettling experience.

The writing is often criticized for being inconsistent and repetitive, with some passages feeling uninspired and lacking depth, which detracts from the overall narrative quality.
Many characters are portrayed as unlikable or mentally unstable, making it difficult for players to empathize with them, which can hinder emotional engagement with the story.
The game lacks interactivity, as it is a kinetic visual novel with no choices to be made, which may disappoint players looking for a more traditional gaming experience.

story
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The story is a dark and disturbing visual novel that captivates with its gruesome themes and compelling characters, appealing particularly to fans of horror and splatter genres. While the narrative is gripping and well-written, some reviewers noted inconsistencies in character motivations and a shift towards excessive violence in the latter chapters. Overall, it is described as a memorable experience that combines excellent comic-style illustrations with a haunting storyline, though it may not be suitable for all audiences due to its intense content.
- “A richly dark story is revealed to the player through excellent comic style illustration and kinetic design.”
- “The story was incredible and horrifying.”
- “The story is really compelling and the art is straight up fantastic.”
- “To make matters worse, the emotions shown on characters' faces are often at odds with what's happening in the story; we have a man who's dialing 911, desperately trying to save his life and – oops – missing a leg, and he has that smug look on his face that's incredibly jarring and incongruous, considering the situation.”
- “But I do have a query: the story has its problems, and it feels like in the last 3-4 chapters it turns less story-driven and more violence-driven.”
- “It doesn't always follow pure logic in terms of character motivation, actions, and reactions, and there's an element or two that comes from left-field and doesn't entirely seem realistic. Some of the spelling and grammar is a bit off, which is a no-no to me when you're presenting a story in graphic form (hire a bloody editor!).”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The graphics in "Cut to the Core" are characterized by a striking comic book aesthetic that effectively conveys a visceral and disturbing atmosphere, appealing particularly to horror and splatter fans. While the artwork is praised for its quality and ability to enhance the narrative, some reviewers note that it doesn't fully utilize the potential of the visual novel format, often prioritizing graphic content over character development and storytelling. Overall, the visuals are described as both impressive and unsettling, successfully immersing players in a chilling experience.
- “The visuals are visceral, and the characters are disturbingly human.”
- “Cut to the core is a disturbing visual novel that will appeal to horror and splatter fans through its story and visuals.”
- “The artwork is fantastic and with just comic book panels, some sound effects, and music it manages to set up a fantastic atmosphere of pure dread.”
- “The grisly, bloody visuals seem to take absolute priority while everything else, including the narrative, is but a crutch – and, as if conscious of this, the developers put a bottom-of-the-barrel price tag on their creation.”
- “We've got a comic book aesthetic going on here, and it's great at face value – looks fresh and neat – but it doesn't jibe at all with the typical trait of visual novels where every character has four or five sprites to show different emotions and that's about it.”
- “It feels rather silly and redundant to type that there's intense graphic (both written and visual) content throughout such as animal abuse and abortion; however, I wish to emphasize that the extent on offer may genuinely shock.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The music in "Cut to the Core" is praised for its ability to enhance the immersive horror experience, featuring a chilling and minimalist soundtrack that complements the graphic novel's retro art style. While some reviewers noted that the sound effects and music can be repetitive, they generally agree that the audio elements effectively contribute to the atmosphere of dread and tension throughout the narrative. Overall, the combination of sound and visuals creates a compelling and engaging experience for fans of horror.
- “The artwork is fantastic and with just comic book panels, some sound effects, and music it manages to set up a fantastic atmosphere of pure dread.”
- “Excellent, terrifying story with a lovely art style and effective music and sound.”
- “Great art and presentation, although some of the drawings are reused too often, and the same can be said for the sound and music which sometimes was a little bit repetitive.”
- “Not truly a game - it's a (very) lurid body horror graphic novel, but with a soundtrack and animated frame/page transitions as each scene progresses.”
- “The music and effects to add to the tone and details are precision-level art.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The reviews indicate that the work in question is not a game, as it lacks gameplay mechanics or choices, focusing instead on its story and art style. Users appreciated the overall experience, but noted the absence of traditional gameplay elements.
- “It's not a game, so there are no gameplay mechanics or choices to make.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players as deeply impactful, often evoking strong feelings and connections to the characters and story. Many reviews note that the narrative successfully engages players on a personal level, leading to memorable and poignant experiences. Overall, the emotional depth is a standout feature that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently highlight the game's strong replayability, indicating that it offers engaging content and varied experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs. The mechanics and choices available keep players coming back for more, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its fantastic artwork, which, combined with comic book panels, sound effects, and music, effectively creates a sense of pure dread.
- “The artwork is fantastic, and with just comic book panels, some sound effects, and music, it manages to set up a fantastic atmosphere of pure dread.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy may be perceived as misleading, as the core premise of the game is underrepresented, comprising only about 20% of the overall content. This has led to dissatisfaction among users who expected a more substantial experience based on promotional materials.