Death by Game Show
- January 21, 2016
- Oointah Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Death by Game Show" is a frantic, couch co-op game where players compete in wacky challenges on a game show set in space. Work together to survive dangerous obstacles, solve puzzles, and defeat rival teams in a race to escape the deadly game show. With a variety of levels and challenges, it's a chaotic and fun party game for up to four players.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of strategy and tower defense mechanics, providing a quirky and engaging experience.
- The art style and humor are well-executed, reminiscent of classic cartoons and adding charm to the gameplay.
- There is a high replayability factor due to the challenging levels and the ability to create custom challenges through the level editor.
- The user interface is confusing and poorly designed, making it difficult for players to understand the mechanics and controls.
- The game has a steep learning curve and can feel overwhelming, especially for new players who may struggle to progress.
- There are significant issues with difficulty spikes and grinding, which can lead to frustration and a sense of unfairness in gameplay.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a two-tracked lane-defense experience that combines action, strategy, and puzzle-solving elements, offering a rewarding challenge for players willing to invest time in mastering its mechanics. While the game features engaging power-ups and unlocks, many users find the user interface and tutorial support lacking, leading to initial frustration. Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive and satisfying, though it could benefit from improved usability and clearer explanations of its mechanics.
“The gameplay is like a two-tracked lane-defense game, with a lot of power-ups, upgrades, and unlocks.”
“The gameplay is quick and action-packed, but still incorporates a degree of strategy and puzzle-solving so that you're rewarded for that 'just one more go' way of approaching this.”
“It mixes a few genres to create a really addictive gameplay with fantastic style.”
“However, the UI and the game mechanics are so obscure and unexplained that it kills the game.”
“This game desperately needs a) proper in-game help with game mechanics well explained b) usability testing and UI improvements c) less infuriating item progression system.”
“Time limits are again a mechanic which is usually rather annoying than fun, and it's true also in this case, at least in their current ultra-strict configuration.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming cartoon style reminiscent of classic comic annuals, complemented by a humorous tone akin to Monty Python and Futurama. Players appreciate the polished artwork and vibrant visuals, which enhance the overall experience without compromising gameplay.
“Wonderful action strategy game with cartoon graphics and a Monty Python/Futurama sense of humor.”
“I hope to see more games like this in the future: polished, lovely artwork, sound, and humorous, but not sacrificing gameplay in any way.”
“I played on Ubuntu 18.10 & 19.10 with Radeon Mesa graphic drivers.”
“The graphics in particular evoke memories of the Beano-style comic annuals I used to read as a kid.”
“Before the game went on sale, I spotted it in the listings and was attracted to the art style.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; some find it appealing and unique, drawing inspiration from films like "Idiocracy," while others consider it simplistic and unhelpful. Overall, players who enjoy comedic 2D games are likely to appreciate its style, despite criticisms of its intelligence and utility.
“I love the presentation, the art, the style (heavily inspired by Idiocracy movie), the humor.”
“If you like funny 2D games, you will love this, very unique to say the least!”
“The in-game help is probably the least helpful help I've ever seen (it's funny, yes, but that doesn't help).”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unfun, although some appreciate the developers' responsiveness in making adjustments to reduce the grinding. However, concerns remain about a significant difficulty spike that exacerbates the grinding experience.
“Grinding is not fun.”
“However, I find the difficulty spike to be pretty ridiculous and the grinding aspect of the game is really tedious.”
“The developers were extremely responsive to my feedback, and while there haven't been big UI updates (which I understand budget-wise, since this wasn't probably a selling breakthrough), they changed at least a few things (made the game less grindy and probably a bit easier).”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story is complex and requires players to engage deeply with the narrative, as it unfolds through environmental cues and background details. Themes of fake media, robot overlords, and mass mind control are central to the setting, adding layers of intrigue and commentary.
“I had to learn to play and even decipher the story and setting.”
“The signs in the background tell a story of fake media, robot overlords behind the scenes, and mass mind control.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a decent selection of tracks and voiceovers, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The musical tracks are decent and the voiceovers add a great touch to the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack is engaging and complements the gameplay perfectly.”
“I love the variety of music; it keeps the atmosphere lively and immersive.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous.”
“The soundtrack doesn't fit the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The voiceovers are poorly executed and often feel out of place.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is enhanced by the ability to repeatedly tackle levels for better scores, and its quirky gameplay elements keep the experience fresh and engaging, preventing it from becoming monotonous.
“The replayability of the game comes in the form of trying the same levels over and over to finish them or achieve a high score. While this may sound dull, the game manages to be quirky enough with the right mixture of different gameplay elements that it never gets stale.”
“The replayability of the game comes in the form of trying the same levels over and over to finish them or get a high score. While this may sound dull, the game manages to be quirky enough with the right mixture of different gameplay elements that it never gets stale.”
“After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices or different outcomes makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“While the game offers multiple modes, they don't significantly change the core experience. Once you've played through the main story, there's not much left to draw you back in.”
