D'LIRIUM
- October 25, 2023
- B52 Development Team
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamD'lirium is a single-player action game with horror elements, featuring an amazing story, exceptional mechanics, and masterful graphics. Set during New Year's Eve, the game follows a protege invited to a mansion with an unusual gift that should never be opened. The experimental 2D-shooter brings classic mechanics, random events, and non-traditional controls, creating a dense and immersive atmosphere.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of horror and cute pony aesthetics, creating an unsettling yet engaging atmosphere.
- Gameplay mechanics are interesting, with a focus on managing health, sanity, and toxicity, adding depth to the combat experience.
- The pixel art style and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience and nostalgia for classic horror games.
- The story is poorly translated and lacks coherence, making it difficult to follow and connect with the characters.
- The game can feel repetitive and short, with limited levels and a lack of variety in gameplay mechanics.
- Controls can be confusing, especially for new players, and the lack of clear instructions can lead to frustration.
- story102 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its intriguing and unique elements, while others criticize it for being vague, poorly translated, or lacking depth. Many appreciate the horror atmosphere and character development, but feel that the narrative could benefit from further expansion and refinement. Overall, while the story has potential, it often takes a backseat to gameplay and action, leaving players wanting more substance and clarity.
“D'lirium is honestly one of the best MLP fan-made games I've played in a long time; the story is short and sweet and has got me in this chokehold I can't wiggle myself out of.”
“The storyline of D'lirium is intriguing, set during a New Year's Eve gathering at a mansion on the outskirts of a town.”
“Overall, this was a pretty interesting game with a twisted storyline.”
“The storytelling in this game is bare bones.”
“I give this game's story/narrative a 1/5 for being a very cliché, niche, generic sort of edgy, horror theme.”
“The story which I really think the developer should expand upon cut scenes and more maps, is very vague and ominous to the player.”
- gameplay85 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its smooth mechanics, innovative features, and nostalgic feel reminiscent of 90s titles. However, some players found the controls confusing and the overall experience lacking depth, particularly in terms of story and level variety. Despite these criticisms, the game offers a unique blend of horror elements and engaging gameplay that keeps players invested, especially those who appreciate challenging mechanics and atmospheric design.
“The gameplay elements certainly reflect a 90s-esque game - and while they turned down the overall difficulty of the game upon release - the hardest difficulty is truly a fun little challenge if you enjoyed the old top-down shooters from earlier times.”
“Not just updates, the amount of different special screens, enemy variety, sounds, themes, environment details, and etc all culminate alongside an excellent unique health system and battle tools to provide a truly delightful gameplay loop.”
“The gameplay is fun and fluid, with some very interesting and innovative mechanics.”
“I had to play 2 hours before becoming completely infuriated with the gameplay mechanics.”
“The controls are convoluted and poorly explained; you'll frequently get stuck on walls when attempting to go through doors or around corners, or have your character commonly backtrack by itself for no discernible reason, and there are both mechanical and grammatical errors throughout that make it even more difficult to understand what is going on.”
“D'lirium's gameplay is similar to that of a typical top-down shooter indie game like Nuclear Throne or Enter the Gungeon, only without the fancy bells and whistles of dodging, different abilities and weapons, or much variety in your means to fight off enemies.”
- graphics45 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art and detailed sprite work, which many players find appealing despite some inconsistencies between promotional materials and in-game designs. While the visuals effectively convey a horror atmosphere with a nostalgic nod to retro gaming, opinions vary on their overall quality, with some describing them as average or reminiscent of 1990s shareware titles. Overall, the art style, heavily influenced by themes like "My Little Pony," adds a unique twist to the horror genre, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“The sprite work in this is most certainly a sight to behold, amazingly detailed, despite the game's pixel art style.”
“However, this game makes up for it all with its charming art style, the rest of its soundtrack fits the mood pretty well, and the control scheme is very smooth.”
“While not very technologically advanced, this game has very charming pixel art graphics, highly customizable controls, funny jokes, and a truly creepy atmosphere.”
“The low-res graphics and primitive gameplay really do make it feel like a long-forgotten, cheap shareware game from the 1990s.”
“Combat is fairly clean, although the collision boxes are a bit strange, as they are in front of the artwork rather than inside of it.”
“While not very technologically advanced, this game has very charming pixel art graphics, highly customizable controls, and a truly creepy atmosphere.”
- music40 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the gameplay. The soundtrack is described as "amazing," "paw-some," and "well-made," effectively setting the mood for both spooky moments and charming scenes. However, some users noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, and a few criticized the sound effects as lacking, though the overall sound design is generally regarded as effective and immersive.
“The soundtrack is amazing.”
“This was a great game with an amazing soundtrack!”
“The soundtrack is nicely made and serves to enhance the atmosphere without ever seeming out of place.”
“Plus, in the first level, the soundtrack doesn't loop in a way that is very subtle.”
“Would advise to stay away, still in early access and the controls are the worst I've ever experienced, not a bad price but still there are better games for that money, music is dull, not even scary just annoying.”
“The music, as I previously mentioned, gets boring quickly.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effective blend of eerie audio, unsettling visuals, and a unique premise that combines cartoonish elements with horror. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create tension and dread, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive and chilling, making it a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“You might expect cartoon horses mixed with gore to come off as cheesy, but I honestly think it was done really well here thanks to good gameplay and genuinely creepy atmosphere and audio.”
“The atmosphere is amazing, and I love the 8-bit style.”
“Wow, this is genuinely terrifying in its atmosphere; combat is surprisingly responsive and well done.”
“While it isn't that bad, it's just honestly not my thing and I unfortunately think that the way it sounds doesn't fit the atmosphere the game is trying to present.”
“From the few minutes I've played, it has an atmosphere of dread, and once the monsters showed up, I noped out of that game so fast you could hear the frantic clicking.”
“I guess what I'm trying to say is that this game is very unique and different apart from other horror games I've played, even though it's the first 2D horror game I've played, the storyline is pretty original and not too cliché like others tend to be, and though the atmosphere may be disturbing and scary at times, it isn't exactly what I'd call top quality horror.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its abundance of content, multiple endings, and numerous challenging achievements, encouraging players to explore different strategies in their playthroughs. Priced affordably, it provides a satisfying experience for those who enjoy unlocking content and tackling challenges, although some players note that replayability may be limited for others. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile investment for fans of replayable gameplay.
“Lots of content and replayability in a cheap package.”
“The replay value is there and there are a ton of achievements that are not easy to get, encouraging you to be creative on your future playthroughs.”
“There are also multiple endings and loads of achievements to add replay value if you're into that sort of thing, and it's only 5 dollars at full price; I am more than satisfied with what I received here!”
“It may be in early access and look simple, but the best way to enjoy this game is to challenge yourself. Do all the achievements and different run types; replayability is minimal, but if you like challenges, grab this. The price isn't too bad for what you get.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight that grinding in the game is excessive, often requiring a significant time investment that feels overwhelming, with some even suggesting it demands a "second life" to manage effectively.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A lot of grinding.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game experiences several minor glitches, particularly with the teleport orb feature, which is seen as a creative concept but suffers from significant bugs. While the idea is appreciated, the instability detracts from the overall experience.
“There are a few little glitches here and there.”
“The little teleport orb is an exceptional idea, but it's super buggy; unless always smashing into walls is intended, I nonetheless love the concept.”
“It's (who guessed?) buggy.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by random yet amusing dialogue and clever jokes, such as the suggestion to wear a scarf when cold. While the game may not boast advanced technology, its charming pixel art and customizable controls enhance the overall experience, contributing to its quirky and entertaining atmosphere.
“Some of the dialogue in the beginning is kind of random, but still pretty funny.”
“While not very technologically advanced, this game has very charming pixel art graphics, highly customizable controls (I suggest you turn on the shooter mode and use WASD keys to walk around), funny jokes (put on a scarf if you're freezing!) and a truly creepy atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its stunning portraits and exceptional character designs, highlighting the visual appeal and creativity involved in bringing the characters to life.
“The portraits are wonderful, and the character designs are fantastic.”
“The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay experience.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally satisfactory, with users noting that the control performance is adequate, contributing positively to the overall experience.
