Deathstate

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Deathstate is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game that offers a bizarre and atmospheric experience in a roguelike, bullet hell setting. By projecting your consciousness into alternate dimensions, you'll discover spectacular graphics, fabulous soundtracks, and unique characters, all while seeking the fate of Professor Elinberg. Deathstate combines 16-bit visuals with advanced Unity shader effects for a unique and hostile journey through the realms of demi-existence.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 472 reviews

gameplay38 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Unique blend of bullet hell and roguelike mechanics, providing a fresh gameplay experience.
Vibrant pixel art and a strong Lovecraftian theme enhance the atmosphere and immersion.
High replayability with numerous unlockable characters, items, and secrets to discover.

Auto-targeting can lead to frustrating moments where the character shoots at less threatening enemies.
Some players may find the visual effects overwhelming or distracting, potentially causing headaches.
Difficulty can feel inconsistent, with some runs being too easy and others being overly punishing.

gameplay
141 mentions
27 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Deathstate is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, primarily focusing on automatic shooting while players navigate through bullet hell scenarios. The game offers a variety of unlockable characters and items that significantly alter playstyles, providing a fresh experience with each run. While some players appreciate the straightforward controls and brisk pace, others feel the simplicity may lead to repetitiveness, with a desire for more complex mechanics to enhance the challenge.
- “Deathstate's relative simplicity works for it rather than against it - it makes it easy to keep playing without exhausting the player's attention or mechanical dexterity.”
- “The gameplay is simple but still interesting, as there is a surprising amount of player choice involved with each individual run.”
- “Great roguelike game with good art style, smooth gameplay, nice music, and great level design.”
- “It's too simple both in terms of mechanics and actual challenge.”
- “The beautiful pixel artwork keeps your eyes fixated on the screen while the monotonous gameplay lulls you into a trance-like state of dreamy lucidity.”
- “Visual design choices also get in the way of the gameplay.”
music
98 mentions
63 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers praising its chiptune and heavy metal influences that complement the Lovecraftian themes. While some noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive, it generally fits well with the gameplay and visuals, creating a unique and immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as awesome, addictive, and a significant highlight of the game.
- “The clean pixel art is perfectly fitting and the chiptune soundtrack is superb, drawing on inspiration like old Doom MIDI classics to provide an ominous, understated backdrop to the chaos.”
- “Honestly, I liked the music so much I bought the soundtrack DLC, and I never do that.”
- “The visuals, the smooth gameplay, the music (dear god the music sounds like it was ripped straight from a Sega Genesis game, i.e. awesome), everything about this game was clearly made with so much love.”
- “The music in the game ranges anywhere from tolerable to aural punishment.”
- “My only complaint is the lackluster music and sound effects.”
- “The retro color scheme and CRT overlay make it a real treat to slap your sweaty meat orbs upon, along with a dreamy electronic soundtrack to ride along to.”
graphics
97 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant pixel art and unique psychedelic-horror aesthetic, effectively capturing a Lovecraftian theme. While the visuals are generally smooth and appealing, some players noted issues with character animations appearing lazy and overwhelming visual clutter at times. Overall, the art style and graphical effects contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, making it a standout in the indie roguelike genre.
- “The game is Lovecraftian-horror themed with cool graphics and awesome music.”
- “The beautiful pixel artwork keeps your eyes fixated on the screen while the monotonous gameplay lulls you into a trance-like state of dreamy lucidity.”
- “The visuals, the smooth gameplay, the music (dear god the music sounds like it was ripped straight from a Sega Genesis game, i.e. awesome), everything about this game was clearly made with so much love.”
- “The player character's animations, on the other hand, are downright lazy; your character 'floats,' which is purely graphical and has no bearing on gameplay. This would be fine if it didn't look like a gliding still image most of the time.”
- “The only real problem I had with this game had to be the choice of visuals.”
- “The clutter and aesthetic bits strewn about the levels make it hard to tell what can be walked over and what can't.”
replayability
24 mentions
58 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game is generally praised for its high replayability, featuring alternate endings, unlockable characters, and numerous items and upgrades that enhance the experience. However, some reviews note that it lacks the depth and incentive for repeated play compared to its competitors, with a few players wishing for additional content like extra floors. Overall, while many find it enjoyable and replayable, opinions vary on its long-term engagement potential.
- “I enjoyed it and it's pretty replayable with alternate endings and new characters to unlock.”
- “A lot of replay value, innovative gameplay, amazing music, difficult as it can get, the Lovecraftian atmosphere and the very nice developers behind it make this game a great choice.”
- “Doesn't beg for tons of runs despite being a rogue-like, which kills what small amount of replayability the game has.”
- “Lacks some replayability; I would like unlockable extra floors.”
- “Endless replayability.”
atmosphere
22 mentions
73 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its surreal and alien qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and impressive sound design. Reviewers highlight the unique aesthetic, humor, and a Lovecraftian vibe that contribute to an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the game is described as oozing with atmosphere, making it a standout choice for players.
- “Plus the game has some excellent atmosphere - the levels feel quite surreal and alien, especially when combined with the soundtrack.”
- “It's an absolute blast to play, oozing with atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is a little repetitive, but overall fits the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The music and sound design are also wonderful and add to the slightly cheesy yet foreboding atmosphere.”
story
18 mentions
44 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as "lovecraftian" and well-presented, creating an immersive setting that invites players to uncover a larger narrative. While the plot is somewhat vague, revolving around a professor and a monster-filled dimension, it effectively complements the gameplay without being overly central. Overall, the story enhances the experience, particularly for fans of the genre, but may not appeal to those seeking a more defined narrative.
- “I like the setting and story, very 'lovecraftian' and well presented.”
- “Deathstate does an amazing job of fusing a wonderful, thrilling 8-bit dangerfest with rich lovecraftian story and flavor.”
- “It makes you feel like there is a huge story, waiting to be uncovered.”
- “If you hate one of those styles or are waiting for a Lovecraft-like story, do not buy this game; it is not made for you.”
- “The story is, admittedly, vague: you have followed a professor into a dimension filled with monsters, and now you have to defeat him and/or escape.”
- “The point I'm trying to make is that the story and writing don't have a big role—nor do they need to—but they're good for what they are.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be present primarily in the ending, which some players find amusing, especially when limited to a single character. However, comparisons to other roguelikes, like Dungeons of Dredmor, suggest that the overall humor may not be as strong or prevalent throughout the gameplay.
- “The ending is kind of funny when you only have the one character unlocked.”
- “Reminds me of a bullet hell rendition of Dungeons of Dredmor (one of my favorite actual roguelikes), minus the humor.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a lack of stability that detracts from the overall experience. Many users recommend waiting for fixes before playing, despite the game's potential.
- “I would recommend this game, but not until it gets fixed. There are so many bugs and glitches, and it's been out for a decent amount of time.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, often feeling that deaths do not result from their mistakes, which diminishes the overall experience.
- “It's not fun; it's tedious and never feels like I died for a mistake when they kill me.”
- “It's not fun; it's tedious and never feels like I died for a mistake when they kill me.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly on basic laptops with integrated graphics and showing no signs of stuttering.
- “Easy on a fairly basic laptop with integrated graphics, I've noticed no stuttering at all.”