Drive Me to Hell
- January 4, 2024
- MadBug
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Drive Me to Hell" is a first-person driving horror game with PS1 style low poly graphics. Race through eerie landscapes, evade hellish monsters and demonic obstacles, and use the honk button to survive a 20 to 40 minute playthrough. Will you make it out or end up in hell? Note: The above text is a summary of the game's description and I do not have any personal experience playing the game.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging driving experience with good controls and a unique horror theme.
- It features a charming retro aesthetic that enhances the spooky atmosphere and adds to the overall enjoyment.
- Despite its short length, the game provides some genuinely creepy moments and entertaining scripted events.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 20 to 40 minutes to complete, which limits replayability.
- The driving mechanics can feel floaty and imprecise, making it challenging to navigate obstacles effectively.
- The story is linear and predictable, with little impact from player choices, which may leave some players wanting more depth.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple yet engaging mechanics, primarily focused on driving, which some players find to be floaty and mediocre, while others appreciate the tight controls and unique visuals. Despite its short duration of 20 to 40 minutes, the game offers a reasonably priced experience that appeals to casual players, though opinions on the sound design and overall depth vary. Overall, it blends retro aesthetics with accessible gameplay, making it suitable for a wide audience.
“Although the game takes 20 to 40 minutes to complete, it’s great in terms of gameplay and its uniqueness.”
“The gameplay is simple but still fairly engaging, and the chunky polygons make for some fantastic visuals.”
“Main gameplay is the driving which has tight controls, if not at times rapidly responsive (especially the brakes).”
“The driving mechanics aren't particularly sophisticated and have a bit of a floaty feel, but this is more a walking sim on wheels than a racing game, so that's forgivable.”
“In the long run, I am a sucker for graphics like these, and the gameplay is simple enough that anyone can play it.”
“Linear, obvious twist that was basically spoiled within the first minute of gameplay; the driving is mediocre, too much input lag, and the sound design is dreadful.”
- story11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple and linear, with predictable outcomes that do not change based on player choices. While some players appreciated the surreal atmosphere and found the story to be a nice touch, others felt it lacked depth and engagement, ultimately leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact.
“I'll give this a positive rating just because the little 'story' or what there is of it, was a nice touch.”
“I really enjoyed the simple story and the surreal atmosphere of hell.”
“Story-wise, it is very basic and I had already figured out what happened by the ending.”
“It's a linear story and your actions (or inactions) don't change anything no matter what you try.”
“The game was a fun short rollercoaster ride with a simple story.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a low-resolution retro aesthetic reminiscent of PSX titles, which some players find charming and effective in enhancing the horror experience by allowing imagination to fill in visual gaps. While the visuals may not appeal to everyone, they are praised for their unique style and ability to create an unsettling atmosphere, particularly in the game's transition from exploration to horror. Overall, the graphics are considered good, with a solid execution that complements the gameplay.
“The game has a lo-fi PSX aesthetic that actually makes your undead tormentors all the more horrible. I think the reason that the PSX aesthetic is so popular with the horror crowd is that it's a genre that thrives on the player filling in the gaps with their own fears, and when visual fidelity is lacking, a horror enjoyer can really lean in with their imagination to assume the worst.”
“The gameplay is simple but still fairly engaging, and the chunky polygons make for some fantastic visuals.”
“I liked this game; it has very cool graphics and a great idea with solid execution.”
“Low resolution retro graphics may turn off some players.”
“The game has a lo-fi PSX aesthetic that actually makes your undead tormentors all the more horrible. I think the reason that the PSX aesthetic is so popular with the horror crowd is that it's a genre that thrives on the player filling in the gaps with their own fears. When visual fidelity is lacking, a horror enjoyer can really lean in with their imagination to assume the worst.”
“The game effectively changes from an exploratory escape game where the player is driving through highways and desolate cities, to avoiding obstacles and hauntings as the player creepily delves into a hellish world that draws visuals from a 'Hellraiser' twisted world.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its personality and surreal qualities, effectively immersing players in a unique environment. However, the narrow paths and limited visibility can lead to frustration during fast-paced driving segments, detracting from the overall experience. Despite some control issues, the atmosphere remains a highlight, contributing to an enjoyable narrative.
“Nice and short with lots of personality and atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is pretty great and while the controls feel kind of twitchy, it's not bad.”
“I really enjoyed the simple story and the surreal atmosphere of hell.”
“This approach can work well for atmosphere, and it does, but it also adds a fair bit of frustration when you need to drive fast, non-stop, on reasonably narrow paths, or risk falling off a cliff. When you can barely see in front of you, dodging obstacles that lead to falling off a cliff and dying feels more than a bit unfair.”
“I hoped for a better driving experience and some more things to do besides actual driving, but after all, I really enjoyed the simple story and the surreal atmosphere of hell.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting its short length and limited content. Suggestions for improvement include adding more levels, different vehicles, and features like timers or achievements to enhance replay value. While some recommend experiencing the opening again, the consensus is that the game does not offer much incentive for repeated playthroughs.
“The game offers a variety of levels and different cars, which enhances its replay value significantly.”
“Adding a timer for challenges and achievements would make the game even more engaging for repeated playthroughs.”
“I appreciate the potential for replayability with the diverse options available in the game.”
“The game has no replayability, but I would recommend the opening at least once more.”
“It could use some more levels, different cars, maybe a timer for replay value, and achievements.”
“The game is very short, and I'd say it has little to no replay value at all.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its humor, with players finding comedic elements even in scary scenes, suggesting a blend of horror and comedy. The visual portrayal of ghosts adds to the humor, making the overall experience entertaining rather than purely frightening.
“Very funny game.”
“Personally, I found some of the scary scenes quite funny!”
“While I did not find the game particularly scary, there were some good visual hauntings, and the appearance of the ghosts was done well, if not a little funny on occasion.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be intense and challenging, with players needing to navigate perilous obstacles that can lead to failure. Additionally, some users feel that the grinding aspect may require extra effort or "lives" to manage effectively.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“There's even a panic-inducing chase scene where any errors in your slalom through grasping hands, swinging maces, and grinding chains will lead to your doom.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as decent, complementing the overall positive impressions of the graphics and story, though it ultimately does not elevate the experience enough for a recommendation.
“The music is decent but lacks variety and gets repetitive quickly.”
“While the soundtrack has some good tracks, overall it feels uninspired and forgettable.”
“The background music doesn't match the game's tone, making it feel disjointed and distracting.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's stability is compromised by frequent glitches, which detract from the overall experience and contribute to a perception of it being shorter than intended.
“I get that it's short, but it's made even shorter by the glitches.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
