Distrust
- August 23, 2017
- Cheerdealers
- 8h median play time
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
"Distrust" is a horror action game that offers both single-player and multiplayer/co-op modes for 2 players. The game features good mechanics, delightful visuals, and good music, but can be very grinding and buggy. Players must guide a group of explorers stranded in the Arctic, fighting off exhaustion, nightmares, and a terrifying force that threatens their lives. The game's atmosphere is phenomenal, with random anomalies and a creepy abandoned research station adding to the suspense.
Reviews
- The game has a strong presentation and excellent setting, creating an immersive atmosphere.
- Gameplay mechanics are engaging, requiring players to manage multiple characters and their needs effectively.
- The game offers a unique blend of survival and resource management, with random generation adding replayability.
- The survival mechanics can feel overly punishing, with rapidly depleting meters leading to frustration.
- Co-op mode is plagued with bugs and connectivity issues, making it difficult to enjoy with friends.
- The game lacks a compelling narrative, focusing more on resource management than storytelling.
- gameplay119 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and tedious, primarily revolving around scavenging for resources and managing survival mechanics. While some appreciate the atmosphere and certain mechanics, others criticize the lack of depth and engaging narrative, leading to a sense of boredom after a few hours of play. Overall, the game offers interesting concepts but struggles with execution, resulting in a gameplay experience that feels unbalanced and lacking in variety.
“The main gameplay loop is moving from location to location, solving puzzles to get to the 'end' and resolve the existential issue.”
“Brilliant little game that you can instantly jump into with easy to understand mechanics and can be a whole lot of fun while playing with friends.”
“The well-refined gameplay mechanics aren't just fun, they promote the thematic trappings of a suspenseful horror movie.”
“Gameplay is just not there.”
“Boring, repetitive gameplay.”
“There really isn't much gameplay other than scavenging, scavenging, scavenging and keeping your survivors warm, fed, and rested.”
- graphics51 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique art style and atmospheric design, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. While many reviewers appreciate the beautiful visuals and attention to detail, some note issues with optimization and performance, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's ambiance, though opinions vary on their standout quality compared to other titles.
“You appreciate a game with a unique art style and atmosphere that sets it apart from other survival games.”
“The art style and the atmosphere is gorgeous, it captures the frozen hellscape feeling.”
“It does a great job creating atmosphere, with pretty graphics, good music (although a bit repetitive), nice animations and characters that feel different from each other.”
“It would crash on the menu screen, mess up the graphics, even crashed my Mac a few times.”
“Even with low graphics and frame rate settings, the animation skips everywhere.”
“- boring graphics”
- story42 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally viewed as underwhelming, with many players expressing a desire for a more compelling narrative and richer lore. While some appreciate the survival elements and the atmosphere, they criticize the repetitive gameplay and lack of engaging storytelling, often feeling that the plot is sparse and fails to capture the intended themes of paranoia and survival. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with potential that is not fully realized due to its execution and presentation.
“It's an excellent choice for those who enjoy survival gaming with some narrative-driven experience/story.”
“Fun survival type game with a storyline that's actually interesting and not super easy.”
“Lead your party through 6 levels (30-45 mins each once you get the hang of it), learn the story of the base, and resolve the situation as best you can.”
“There is nothing that keeps me playing, no lore, no story, nothing that keeps my attention.”
“There's virtually no story to be interesting, and it feels like it's supposed to be a part of something much bigger.”
“The amount of character interaction with the story and scripting for things like cut scenes or exposition just aren't there.”
- atmosphere42 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique art style, immersive sound design, and ability to evoke a sense of tension and desperation, reminiscent of classic survival horror themes. Players appreciate the beautifully crafted environments and the game's ability to create a compelling, atmospheric experience, although some feel that gameplay mechanics can detract from fully enjoying this atmosphere. Overall, it is recommended for fans of atmospheric survival games, particularly those who appreciate a blend of visual aesthetics and thematic depth.
“You appreciate a game with a unique art style and atmosphere that sets it apart from other survival games.”
“The art style and the atmosphere are gorgeous; it captures the frozen hellscape feeling.”
“It's one of those games where the atmosphere is perfect and the gameplay is unique.”
“Terrible realization (multiplayer laggy, bad management of inventory, more into rushing than heavy atmosphere, poor balance)”
“This is totally not the atmosphere I was hoping for.”
“Except for the atmosphere, this is nothing like 'The Thing' game.”
- stability26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting various bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking issues, such as freezing during loading screens and problems with multiplayer functionality. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, many recommend caution before purchasing, as the stability problems detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is described as having potential but is currently hindered by its unstable performance.
“I wouldn't recommend it if it cost 20 € or even more, but it's really polished and surprisingly bug-free, so since it's just 12 €, I say get it if you like atmospheric survival games.”
“Looks great, runs great, and has a great atmosphere.”
“Incredibly buggy game.”
“The only problem is, there are some game-breaking glitches that need to be resolved.”
“My biggest complaint is the number of glitches; some are small like not being able to click inventory/map or having a character stuck running into a wall trying to reach a location.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it features random level generation, unlockable characters, and multiple endings that encourage repeated playthroughs, many players feel that the limited variety in puzzles and challenges can diminish long-term engagement. Some users appreciate the fun elements and cooperative play, which enhance replay value, but others express frustration with the game's difficulty and predictability over time. Ultimately, while there are enjoyable aspects that promote replayability, several reviews indicate that it may not sustain interest for extended periods.
“Definitely replayable due to random level generation and a mix of playable characters and unlockables.”
“It was challenging enough, had enough going on to keep us interested, and there's more than a few hours worth of replay value through the use of unlocking different characters in each playthrough, as well as the randomization of item placements, zone layouts, and what you'll get in each zone.”
“15 unlockable characters, 1 unlockable party slot, 4 endings, and each zone has the possibility of one out of several different exit quests, means the replayability is there.”
“I can't really find any cons to this game other than it doesn't have much replayability, and I wish it had a sequel or something.”
“Taken together, this severely limits the replayability of a game which is meant to be played several times.”
“There's just no play value, let alone replay value.”
- music23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and synth-heavy soundtrack that evokes an 80s vibe reminiscent of John Carpenter's work. However, some players criticize the repetitiveness of the tracks and suggest that the developers may have relied too heavily on familiar influences, leading to a lack of originality. Overall, while the music enhances the game's ambiance, it can become monotonous over time.
“The look of the game is great, the sound effects are perfect, and the soundtrack... wow, the soundtrack is excellent.”
“The game is atmospheric to boot, with a downbeat electronic soundtrack that carries the urgency you are driven forward with.”
“Very good soundtrack, fits and emphasizes the mood perfectly.”
“This game has game-breaking bugs, and some of the music is stolen from Silent Hill.”
“The devs obviously didn't spend money on a music guy, as it's the same goddamn song/notes over and over again that gets old quick.”
“Music gets boring after a while - tip: listen to synthwave/darkwave (e.g. Dance with the Dead, Perturbator...) while playing this game!”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration due to unbalanced survival mechanics and excessive idle time. While some players are willing to endure the grind for multiple playthroughs and endings, many express disappointment, particularly when compared to the developers' previous titles. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback that may deter potential players.
“Survival mechanics were unbalanced and quickly became tedious.”
“However, while I would not recommend this to anyone, that's more because I found the gameplay style to be too tedious to play through to the end.”
“The time that it takes for your Arctic exploration team to rifle through crates, lockers, boxes, lockpick doors, shovel away debris, and break down items for fuel and wood is excruciatingly tedious.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from the absurdity of survival challenges, such as the struggle against starvation and fatigue, which can lead to comically dire situations like falling into a coma. Players find amusement in the quirky mechanics, such as the effects of alcohol on characters, which can result in humorous visual changes and clumsy behavior. Overall, the blend of dark themes with lighthearted moments creates a unique comedic experience amidst the game's challenges.
“Possibly add bottles of liquor for characters to drink; it can make them warmer and influence their mood, but make them stumble around, walk slower, give them a funny drunk face on their portrait, and they can sleep off all the effects.”
“First coop run was a painful yet funny experience since I fell into a coma multiple times from a bloody cut and there were no clean bandages around.”
“Ok, so this game has an issue where if you don't sleep or are very tired, you get the darkest dungeon status effects, and when you do sleep, purplish balls of light (that hate light, funny enough) will slowly come after you.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is criticized for poor inventory management and significant frame rate drops, with reports of performance plummeting from 70 fps to 1. However, some users note that the game runs smoothly overall and features impressive visuals and music.
“It runs smoothly, has great visuals and music.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate without sacrificing quality.”
“Terrible inventory management and optimization.”
“Bad optimization and FPS drops from 70 to 1 with no reason.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy relies heavily on advertising that draws inspiration from the cult classic "The Thing," which some users find misleading.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should to enjoy the game.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to fully experience the game without spending extra money.”
“The constant barrage of ads and in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be intense and impactful, with challenging mechanics like sleep debuffs contributing to a sense of frustration and madness. The unique experience of feeling overwhelmed by the game's design is noted as a standout feature, making it memorable for fans of emotionally charged tactical games.
“I recommend this game to all fans of tactical and emotional experiences, especially those who enjoy a challenging level.”
“The debuffs from not sleeping create a unique emotional experience; the manic laughter debuff is beautifully crafted, making me feel genuinely unsettled in a way no other game has.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is enhanced by well-designed characters whose portraits dynamically reflect their condition and mental state, adding depth to their personalities and experiences.
“I really appreciated the character designs and how the portraits change based on the character's condition and mental state.”
“The depth of character development is impressive, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
“I love how the choices I make influence the characters' growth and relationships throughout the game.”