Dead Beacon

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 65 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • atmosphere
Dead Beacon Game Cover
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Dead Beacon is a first-person survival horror game inspired by 1990s classics, where you must escape an island and its haunted manor filled with zombies and malevolent creatures. Explore the manor, solve puzzles, and manage your resources to survive. The map reveals itself as you explore, allowing you to mark important locations and plan your escape.

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Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 65 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Dead Beacon offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil, with engaging exploration, resource management, and clever puzzles.
  • The interactive map feature allows players to take notes and mark locations, enhancing immersion and navigation throughout the game's expansive mansion.
  • Despite some jankiness, the game provides a fair challenge with varied difficulty settings, enjoyable boss fights, and a good variety of enemies.
  • The combat mechanics can feel clunky and frustrating, with issues related to hit detection, slow movement, and a cumbersome stamina system that hampers gameplay.
  • Navigation can be confusing due to the interconnected design of the mansion, lack of clear landmarks, and an ineffective map system that complicates exploration.
  • Some players found the resource management to be overly punishing, with scarce ammo and health items leading to frustrating encounters, particularly with bosses.
  • gameplay16 mentions

    The gameplay features a mix of zombie and unique enemy encounters, with solid boss mechanics and engaging puzzle elements reminiscent of classic survival horror. However, players have criticized the frustrating "break free" mechanic, hit detection issues, and awkward movement and aiming controls, which detract from the overall experience. While the map-drawing mechanic adds a fun twist, the game struggles with balancing its mechanics, leading to a mixed reception among players.

    • “Enemies are mostly zombies with a nice variety of other enemies, some with their own special mechanics. The bosses work well and have solid mechanics to them.”
    • “If you like classic Resident Evil puzzle box gameplay with some clever puzzles and a spooky atmosphere, you'll be right at home.”
    • “Excellent retro survival horror with some cool mechanics you don't see often.”
    • “After finishing Nightmare of Decay and finding this one, I thought that Dead Beacon would be a perfect unofficial sequel or DLC for it, as the games both look and feel similar from a gameplay standpoint, but for a game so similar to Nightmare of Decay, it really does a lot wrong that that game did right.”
    • “The 'break free' mechanic seems like a decent idea, but it just becomes annoying and punishing for trying to play the game, as like mentioned previously the guns seem to have a stupid inaccuracy mechanic that doesn't seem to work properly.”
    • “All the base mechanics in Dead Beacon actively work against you, hit detection issues, a QTE every time you're grabbed by an enemy, it just felt cheap and annoying.”
  • story8 mentions

    The story is generally regarded as unremarkable and predictable, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. While it pays homage to classic survival horror titles and features enjoyable puzzles and varied enemies, it lacks depth and complexity, with some players noting that it could benefit from a more engaging narrative. Overall, the experience is fun, but the story does not stand out significantly.

    • “The story is about what you expect, but the game is clearly a loving homage to other titles, notably the original Resident Evil (1996) and Alone in the Dark (1992), and I have no complaints about that.”
    • “Really fun survival horror, nice puzzles and story.”
    • “Nightmare of Decay, for comparison, did a great job of introducing you to its silly B-movie type story.”
    • “The game does not really have a story.”
    • “Story-wise, it's nothing special but there are a fair number of decent puzzles and environments to go through with good variety of enemies.”
    • “The story was nothing too crazy; it was pretty close to what I expected from this game.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, featuring effective audio design and varied environments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of classic puzzle gameplay with engaging mysteries, alongside a strong sense of exploration and enemy variety. Overall, the atmosphere is described as fantastic and reminiscent of other successful indie survival horror titles.

    • “If you like classic Resident Evil puzzle box gameplay with some clever puzzles and a spooky atmosphere, you'll be right at home.”
    • “The atmosphere is great; there's a nice amount of enemy variety, and the game has a good amount of space and environmental variety.”
    • “This is also accompanied by surprisingly effective atmosphere with good audio design and appropriate visuals to make it more intense.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the tension and immersion that I expected.”
    • “Despite the potential for a creepy setting, the atmosphere falls short, making it hard to feel engaged.”
    • “The game tries to create a spooky atmosphere, but it often feels more tedious than terrifying.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics of the game evoke a retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles like Resident Evil, which may appeal to fans of the genre but could deter those seeking more modern visuals. While the simplistic graphics and minimal animations may appear less polished, they contribute to an effective atmosphere that enhances the survival horror experience. Overall, players who appreciate retro styles and atmospheric design are likely to find the visuals engaging, despite their limitations.

    • “Loved the visuals!”
    • “This is also accompanied by surprisingly effective atmosphere with good audio design and appropriate visuals to make it more intense.”
    • “Of course, I got it because I love Resident Evil, and the retro aesthetics give it this eerie, ethereal vibe that I can't help but love.”
    • “That being said, if you're put off by simplistic graphics and the lack of 'impact' on combat, then this might not be the game for you.”
    • “Minimal animations on weapons and enemies, as well as other visuals, make the game look less polished than the other elements. But if you stick with it and look past the shortcomings, you'll be pleasantly surprised by what an excellent game it is, especially if you're a survival horror veteran looking for a challenging new mansion to explore.”
    • “Another Resident Evil 1 as an FPS right down to the graphics, much like Nightmare of Decay.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game has received positive feedback, with players appreciating its nostalgic nod to classic titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, particularly highlighting the use of Bach's "Air on the G String" in save rooms. However, some users expressed a desire for a greater variety of soundtracks throughout the game. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “Music was great too!”
    • “The music in the save rooms is 'Air on the G String' (Bach).”
    • “Perfect throwback to old school Silent Hill/Resident Evil era games with a really intricate and well laid out map, tons of enemy variety, great music, and really good puzzles.”
    • “The music in the save rooms is 'Air on the G String' by Bach.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game features a mix of fun surprises and clever enemy placements that can lead to unexpected jumpscares, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. While it has a janky indie aesthetic, it effectively employs a dark sense of humor that resonates well within its genre.

    • “There's a lot of fun surprises and jumpscares; a couple of achievements had me laughing out loud. The enemy 'jumpscares' are just smart placement of enemies for you to bumble into if you aren't paying attention.”
    • “It was a cheap indie game with a bit of a janky appearance, but it has a strong understanding of the genre and a bit of a dark sense of humor.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and punishing, particularly due to slow reloads and scarce ammo, which forces them into frustrating melee combat. This combination leads to a gameplay experience that quickly feels sluggish and repetitive.

    • “For one, the melee combat is tedious and punishing, which is more infuriating given that you are often forced into melee combat as the reloads are extremely slow and ammo is rare.”
    • “Not a cheap carbon copy, but feels both tedious and sluggish really quick.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers a decent level of replayability, encouraging players to revisit it for additional enjoyment.

    • “This game offers incredible replayability with its diverse choices and multiple endings.”
    • “I love how each playthrough feels unique, thanks to the different paths and strategies you can explore.”
    • “The random events and character interactions keep me coming back for more, making every session feel fresh.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its solid design and atmosphere, but some users have noted issues with movement stability, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “This game does a lot well; it's not buggy, and it has a great atmosphere and design.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game runs, making it easy to immerse myself in the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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