Death Skid Marks

About

Death Skid Marks is a single player role playing game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Studio Whisky Tango Inc. and was released on November 20, 2014. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Death Skid Marks" is an ultra-violent top-down car combat game where you battle an array of enemies while traveling along Route 666 to reach a kickass music concert. Upgrade your car and crew, buy weapons, and engage in melee combat, gunfights, and high-speed chases. Unlock various cars and bumper stickers in this punk/metal-inspired game with low-fidelity graphics and a unique soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 458 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Unique and engaging gameplay that combines rogue-like elements with car combat.
Hilarious dark humor and a distinctive art style that enhances the overall experience.
High replayability with various vehicles, characters, and upgrades to unlock.

Unforgiving difficulty spikes, especially with certain bosses that can feel unfair.
RNG elements can lead to frustrating runs where players feel powerless against random encounters.
Some players may find the crude humor off-putting or excessive.

gameplay
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The gameplay of this game is a chaotic blend of top-down arcade action and roguelike mechanics, featuring vehicle combat, resource management, and a variety of enemies. While many players appreciate the fast-paced and addictive nature of the gameplay, some criticize its reliance on RNG and lack of meaningful progression, leading to frustrating experiences. Overall, the unique aesthetic and engaging mechanics keep players coming back, despite the steep learning curve and occasional balance issues.
- “Deceptively captivating little game with very idiosyncratic mechanics, and a unique aesthetic style.”
- “The game emphasizes making informed choices, and is a textbook example of implementing delayed gratification in a gameplay loop.”
- “Great car combat top-down arcade gameplay mixed with RPG mechanics, that has you coming back for more.”
- “Slow upgrading and resource-grinding mechanics with cheap, quick deaths make for the most frustrating experience possible.”
- “The gameplay is a minimal component, and everything is tied together by the heaviest RNG I've ever seen.”
- “To add to the frustration, the only persistent mechanic in place is spending your kills, usually in amounts that take an hour or longer to accrue, on a trivial one-run stat boost.”
graphics
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique, retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic arcade games, though opinions vary on its appeal. While some players appreciate the grungy, cartoonish aesthetic and find it fitting for the game's dark humor and themes, others criticize it as outdated and lacking in sophistication. Overall, the graphics contribute to the game's charm and atmosphere, making it a love-it-or-hate-it aspect for many players.
- “Deceptively captivating little game with very idiosyncratic mechanics, and a unique aesthetic style.”
- “The art style is a great blend of cartoony and gritty, which totally suits the mood of the game; as a fellow artist, I couldn't help but admire it and feel inspired.”
- “Wonderfully chunky cartoon graphics and solid mechanics will keep you coming back for more.”
- “This features really godawful pixel crap 'art' instead of real graphics (although it does at least look authentic... authentically dated and obsolete).”
- “It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to do the job of creating 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
- “The graphical style may be unusual for some players and may not be satisfying for those who expect more advanced graphics.”
music
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
51%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the energetic and fitting rock and metal soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some users noted limitations in variety and repetitiveness, suggesting that while the music is enjoyable, it may not cater to all preferences. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as a highlight, complementing the game's humor and chaotic action.
- “The art, style, and music are a delight, and the game itself is real fun once you've understood a few things.”
- “Great gameplay, amazing original soundtrack, and artistic direction.”
- “The topping to this superb sundae of a game is a soundtrack that really gets blood pumping, and art style/humor that borders on funny yet possibly inappropriate.”
- “The game's sound and music options may be limited in terms of variety and may not fully meet players' preferences.”
- “The music is kinda.. meh, and very repetitive.. on that note, I still like it.”
- “The music package isn't worth spending the extra for, however.”
humor
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by its dark, crude, and irreverent style that appeals to fans of trashy and edgy comedy. While some players find the humor hit-or-miss, many appreciate the witty dialogue, creative character designs, and the overall absurdity that keeps the gameplay entertaining. The combination of a fun premise, engaging art style, and a heavy dose of cultural references contributes to a uniquely humorous experience, though it may not be suitable for everyone due to its mature themes.
- “Honestly speaking, we don't have enough humorous games out there with wicked cool styles like this and how it makes fun of things and people; it's just so damn nice.”
- “The game has a kind of humor that manages to be immature while still being funny instead of obnoxious.”
- “The humor and artwork are just amazing; 9/10.”
- “An overpriced, lazily programmed, painfully unfunny, and boring disappointment.”
replayability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
34%
14%
Overall, the game offers a mix of high replayability and some limitations. While many players appreciate the variety of vehicles and frequent updates that enhance replay value, others note that certain aspects, like limited play areas and the time required to unlock fun vehicles, may hinder the experience. However, for those who enjoy fast-paced rogue-likes, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and endless replay potential.
- “Endless replay value.”
- “Incredible replayability, very amusing and well-done graphics, rewarding and at times sweat-inducing gameplay - all around a blast, and a steal at the price.”
- “There's a real solid feel to all of the action and upgrading you can do and the unlockable cars add a really fun sense of replayability with each one requiring different tactics to use well.”
- “Replayability may be limited for some players.”
- “However, the limited play areas, graphical style, and replayability issues may be a drawback for some players.”
- “The game is updated regularly as well, and constantly adding new mechanics, so the replay value goes beyond just the shock of your computer cursing at you violently.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game's story is centered around a humorous and straightforward premise of driving to a concert while battling enemies, which some players find entertaining despite its shallow depth. While the narrative isn't the main focus, it offers enough flavor text for those interested, and the overall experience is enhanced by a fun storyline and engaging action. However, the difficulty can be quite challenging, impacting the enjoyment of the story-driven elements.
- “This game combines a fun story, great soundtrack and very enjoyable action.”
- “Death Skid Marks is an ultra-violent top-down car combat game where you will kill countless numbers of foes in the most noble quest of all: getting to a kickass music concert.”
- “The game is basically a roguelike-style pixel road warrior; the storyline doesn't matter (drive to concert, kill enemies trying to stop that noble goal), but they made sure that for people who want more flavor text, they got you covered.”
- “The game isn't about the story, though.”
- “The game is basically a roguelike style pixel road warrior; the storyline doesn't matter (drive to concert, kill assholes trying to stop that noble goal), but they made sure that for people that want more flavor text, they got you covered.”
- “To-the-point story (get to concert).”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the extensive content and find enjoyment in the grind, others criticize it for being tedious and frustrating, particularly due to slow upgrades and resource collection. Completionists may face significant grinding challenges, such as unlocking every car or defeating a large number of enemies, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Slow upgrading and resource-grinding mechanics with cheap, quick deaths make for the most frustrating experience possible.”
- “The most grindy aspect of the game is if you're a completionist and want to unlock every car.”
- “The second most grindy task is killing 25,000 total enemies for an unlock.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its imaginative retro style, effectively blending elements reminiscent of Mad Max and Alice in Wonderland. The art and music contribute significantly to the overall experience, with some tracks standing out while others are less memorable. Reviewers consider it one of the best indie games in terms of capturing an apocalyptic vibe, likening it to classics like Hotline Miami.
- “The retro style and, shall we say—imaginative—atmosphere are very well realized, and the arcade play masks some deep mechanics in this Mad Max meets Alice in Wonderland roguelike game.”
- “The art, music, and overall atmosphere surrounding it are all fantastic.”
- “This is truly the best indie game since Hotline Miami, and it captures the apocalyptic atmosphere perfectly!”
- “Some tracks are catchy and enhance the atmosphere, while others fade into the background.”
- “But I feel it is essential for the developers to know that this is truly the best indie game since Hotline Miami! It captures the apocalyptic atmosphere well.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in the game is noted for its humorous designs, though some players feel that the novelty wears off quickly due to repetitive gameplay. However, others appreciate the depth of character development, comparing it favorably to classic titles like Spyhunter, highlighting a more engaging narrative experience.
- “Love this game; it harkens back to Spyhunter but features more violent and better character development.”
- “Love this game; it harkens back to Spyhunter but has better character development.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Overall, users have mixed feelings about stability; while some report a smooth experience on devices like the Surface Pro, others express concerns about potential bugs in the game.
- “Runs great on my Surface Pro, so I can play it anywhere.”
- “The game has been incredibly stable, with no crashes or bugs during my sessions.”
- “I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it never lags or stutters.”
- “I don't even want to know how buggy the actual game is.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's monetization strategy features a unique aesthetic that may not be fully conveyed in its advertising, potentially leading to buyer's remorse. While it lacks a massive advertising budget, the addictive gameplay compensates for this, suggesting a focus on player engagement over aggressive monetization tactics.
- “It has a 'rock and roll means you offend everyone' aesthetic, which kind of works, although the game page and advertising doesn't really show as much of it as the game does, which could lead to some buyer's remorse.”
- “No millions spent on ads, but addictive gameplay.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the opportunity for players to bond with friends during a fun and heartwarming road trip experience, fostering connections and shared memories.
- “Do you want to share a car with three good friends and experience a heartwarming bonding journey on a fun road trip?”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization requires extensive upgrades across various elements, including car condition, performance, character health, stats, and weapon choices, suggesting a complex system that may demand significant player investment.
- “The optimization in this game allows for a deep customization experience, enhancing both performance and strategy.”
- “I love how every aspect of the game can be fine-tuned, making each playthrough feel unique and tailored to my style.”
- “Everything has to be upgraded, from the car's condition and performance to the characters' health, stats, and choice of weapons.”
- “The optimization feels overwhelming, as there are too many elements to manage and upgrade.”
- “Balancing all the upgrades is tedious and takes away from the overall gameplay experience.”