Dinobreak
- October 3, 2023
- Dead Drop Studios LLC
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Dinobreak" is a horror shooter game that offers single-player and local multi-player options for 2 players in a co-op setting. The game authentically recreates the survival horror experience of the 90s, complete with fixed camera, over-the-shoulder, and first-person shooter modes. With multiple difficulty levels, including easy and assisted modes, players of all skill levels can enjoy this gory, action-packed adventure through a metropolitan city overrun by dinosaurs.
Reviews
- The game captures the charm of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil and Dino Crisis, appealing to fans of the genre.
- The music and atmosphere evoke nostalgia for 90s horror games, enhancing the overall experience.
- The developer has included multiple camera perspectives and difficulty options, allowing players to customize their gameplay experience.
- The game suffers from long load times, often lasting from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, which disrupts the flow of gameplay.
- The graphics and animations are criticized for being subpar, with stiff character models and awkward physics.
- Gameplay mechanics are repetitive and janky, with a combat loop that feels unrefined and lacks variety in enemy behavior.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Dinobreak is criticized for its awkward mechanics and repetitive design, which detracts from the overall experience. While it attempts to capture a retro style reminiscent of classic survival horror games, it ultimately falls short due to janky controls and a lack of innovation. Although there are some humorous elements and a detailed tutorial, the game suffers from fundamental flaws that hinder enjoyment.
“Gameplay is a little awkward at first, but I'm looking forward to exploring more and providing a more in-depth review in the future!”
“A detailed tutorial which introduces the various gameplay mechanics such as crafting and a shooting range to get used to the controls a bit more before venturing out.”
“Game mechanics similar to Dino Crisis: find a code, find a tool, find a key, and so on.”
“Dinobreak tries to be a campy version of a Resident Evil-type game, but it misses the mark purely because of the overall mechanics and design.”
“The game is at times kind of funny and deliberately bad, but that's not enough to mask some of the horrible and repetitive game design mechanics that bog the whole thing down into mediocrity.”
“Gameplay is rough; dinosaurs will stay bugged in positions for target practice.”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its rich lore and environmental storytelling, effectively evoking nostalgia for 1990s games. While some find the narrative engaging and unique, particularly with its focus on the third energy and dinosaurs, others feel it lacks excitement and depth. Overall, the blend of survival horror elements with a compelling backstory is highlighted as a standout feature.
“The map design is great and environmental storytelling is superb.”
“The humorously stiff models during dialogue, the story in notes found around the world, and the slower-paced action pay wonderful homage to 1990s games I was too scared to play as a kid (but now I wish I did).”
“The lore of the game is breathtaking; the story is rich from start to finish.”
“The humorously stiff models during dialogue, the story told through notes found around the world, and the slower-paced action pay wonderful homage to 1990s games I was too scared to play as a kid (but now I wish I did).”
“The story is okay, but nothing exciting.”
“The story focuses on the third energy and brings dinosaurs to the island via a rift in space-time.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is a mixed bag, featuring moments of intentional absurdity and amusing character reactions, such as a nonchalant remark about giant spiders. While some players appreciate the nostalgic nods to 1990s games through stiff dialogue and quirky design, others feel that the humor cannot fully compensate for the game's repetitive mechanics and overall mediocrity.
“When they bite into you, it just looks funny since they have these cold, dead eyes and just stare at you.”
“There is one particularly funny part where you open a door and the main character simply remarks with a bored attitude that there are some giant spiders in the alleyway.”
“The humorously stiff models during dialogue, the story in notes found around the world, and the slower-paced action pay wonderful homage to 1990s games I was too scared to play as a kid (but now I wish I did).”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are criticized for being overly clean and lacking realism for a horror title, with poor character models and stiff animations. Additionally, the physics are described as erratic, and the voice acting is subpar, with a noticeable lack of variety among female characters. However, the painted artwork is highlighted as a standout feature.
“Special note goes to how beautiful their painted artwork is!”
“The graphics have this weird purple hue that reminds me of Saint's Row.”
“The graphics look way too clean for a horror game; the character models are terrible, the animations are stiff, and the physics are wacky, with random props vibrating violently until you touch them, then they go flying. The voice acting is also terrible and sounds like a text-to-speech program, with every female character having the same voice actress.”
“The graphics have this weird purple hue that reminds me of Saints Row.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted as a standout feature, reminiscent of early Resident Evil save room themes, though some reviewers find it to be generic overall. While it is appreciated, it seems to be the only aspect that garners positive feedback amidst criticism of the level and character design.
“The only thing that's really good about this game is the music, as it evokes the nostalgic feel of an early Resident Evil save room theme.”
“The level design and character design are not good; the music is generic as hell.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere effectively immerses players, balancing a nostalgic charm with a lighthearted tone; however, it falls short in delivering a truly frightening experience, particularly in horror elements.
“The atmosphere immerses you completely, balancing a nostalgic charm with a lighthearted vibe.”
“The game's atmosphere draws you in, creating a perfect blend of tension and whimsy.”
“The environment is rich and engaging, making every moment feel alive and captivating.”
“Atmosphere for horror is lacking; it's not really scary.”
“So far, the atmosphere works to get you in that zone, but it also has that old-school cheese factor to keep things light.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, with no performance issues encountered, indicating effective optimization for the platform.
“I've been playing on Steam Deck, and so far I haven't run into any issues with performance.”
“The game runs smoothly on various hardware configurations, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with players criticizing the game for being a cash grab that undermines its potential for growth and audience engagement.
“Your games won't ever grow or garner an audience if you continue to put out poor cash grabs like this.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending a fortune.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to limited inventory slots and excessive backtracking, which detracts from the overall experience despite the survival horror context.
“More inventory slots and less backtracking. I know it's survival horror, but it can be tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and often detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the experience feel monotonous.”
