G String
- October 16, 2020
- LunchHouse Software
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"G String" is a first-person shooter game with rhythm-based combat mechanics. Players control a character named Eila, who battles against musical enemies using her "Sound Energy Arms." The game features fast-paced action and a variety of weapons, abilities, and costumes to customize the gameplay experience. The story follows Eila's quest to uncover the truth about her past and the mysterious "G String" organization.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredible atmosphere and world-building that immerses players in a dystopian cyberpunk setting.
- Stunning visuals and attention to detail, showcasing the potential of the Source engine.
- Engaging gameplay that combines exploration, puzzles, and combat, reminiscent of Half-Life 2.
- Confusing level design that often lacks clear direction, leading to frustration and aimless wandering.
- Combat can feel unbalanced, with enemies being bullet sponges and dealing high damage.
- The story is vague and difficult to follow, leaving players with more questions than answers.
- story522 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "G-String" is a complex and often confusing narrative set in a dystopian cyberpunk world, with many players finding it difficult to follow due to vague cutscenes and abstract storytelling. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and atmospheric depth, others criticize the plot for being thin and lacking coherence, often feeling disconnected from the gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as a passion project with a unique aesthetic, but its narrative execution leaves much to be desired, leading to mixed reviews on its effectiveness.
“Literally one of the best games I've ever played, the atmosphere is perfect as is the gunplay and the story keeps me saying, 'Oh, I can't wait to see where this goes next!'”
“Due to the attention to detail, very rich and diverse soundscapes, consistent worldbuilding, and captivating storytelling, the game will draw you in and amaze you at times.”
“The story of an escaped test subject named Myo Hyori fighting against all odds in a cyberpunk dystopia on the verge of collapse had me hooked from beginning to end, as well as a great soundtrack and just classic mid-2000s FPS action.”
“The game also has a bit of a downside, the overall story of the game is alright, however I'm still trying to figure out why some of the events are happening in the game as there are no explanation of what's going on in the game.”
“The story is napkin thin and the narrative technique is amateurish and impenetrable.”
“The story borders on complete nonsensical sometimes but is easy enough to follow along with most of the time.”
- gameplay357 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "G-String" is heavily reminiscent of Half-Life 2, featuring familiar mechanics, combat, and level design, which some players appreciate for its nostalgic value. However, many reviews highlight issues such as confusing map layouts, excessive crawling through vents, and a lack of innovation, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel tedious and linear. While the game offers a solid atmosphere and engaging world-building, its gameplay is often criticized for being outdated and lacking depth, making it more appealing to fans of the original Half-Life series than to those seeking a fresh experience.
“Finding your way through the environment is one of the main gameplay elements.”
“The best way I could summarize the gameplay would be to say that G String captures a lot of the exploration and action that makes the best parts of the Half-Life games.”
“Gameplay is basically Half-Life 2 with some interesting twists that will make it worth it.”
“My biggest complaint is that, from a gameplay standpoint, the map design and layout is mind-numbing.”
“The gameplay is also basically Half-Life 2, but worse; there's a lot of walking, and especially a lot of crawling slowly through vents. About half the game is just walking around and going through vents.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay really isn't the strong point of this game.”
- atmosphere295 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed cyberpunk setting, often described as dark, oppressive, and hauntingly beautiful. Reviewers highlight the game's exceptional world-building, sound design, and visual aesthetics, which create a captivating experience reminiscent of classic dystopian narratives. Despite some criticisms regarding level design and gameplay mechanics, the overall atmospheric quality is considered a standout feature that elevates the game to memorable heights.
“You're buying this game for the grungy, post-apocalyptic, dystopian up to 11, cyberpunk, urban spelunking atmosphere which is a 10 out of 10.”
“The atmosphere and world-building alone make up for the game's flaws.”
“The atmosphere is so thick with despair that you can practically feel it weighing on you as you navigate through the levels, each aspect of which is meticulously handcrafted to convey a completely believable cyberpunk metropolis hellscape.”
“On the flipside, I feel like the game lost some atmosphere, honestly.”
“The whole game has this gloomy atmosphere and it just makes it kinda hard to enjoy; the game really puts you in a bad mood.”
“Unfortunately, for what the game excels in with atmosphere, it falls short with some awful level design.”
- graphics273 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "G String" are a standout feature, showcasing a striking cyberpunk aesthetic that immerses players in a richly detailed, dystopian world. While the visuals are often praised for their artistic direction and atmospheric depth, some players note technical issues such as graphical glitches and performance problems, which can detract from the experience. Overall, the game's unique art style and compelling environments are celebrated, even as the underlying engine shows its age.
“Aesthetics alone in this game are pure art and an absolute trip to a world that makes you wonder, makes you think, makes you terrified.”
“The visuals of G String are fantastic, especially given that this is a source mod.”
“Incredible atmosphere, stunning visuals, and a fantastic soundtrack, packed within a classic Half-Life framework.”
“This has a tedious and irritating game underpinning ugly basic graphics, with no controller support in a 2020 release so that for me is a massive no-no even before taking into account just how dull this is.”
“Texture issues, lag, horrible art style, confusing, messy, long cutscenes, yeah... count me out, I cannot believe this is paid.”
“The old source engine graphics are really showing its age.”
- music254 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its overall quality and atmospheric fit, particularly the original soundtrack that complements the cyberpunk aesthetic. However, some players noted that certain tracks can feel out of place or overly upbeat for the game's darker themes. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing immersion and emotional engagement throughout the gameplay experience.
“The world is well crafted and a joy to explore, the music is top notch and fits the mood perfectly, and the story is intriguing with a deeper philosophy at the heart of it all.”
“Incredible atmosphere, stunning visuals and a fantastic soundtrack, packed within a classic Half-Life framework.”
“The music is well done and does a good job at setting the mood, not really upbeat, reminding me of some of the slower tracks from Ruiner.”
“The main flaw in this instance is the music.”
“The sounds in this game are great, apart from the OST, which in some chapters really fits the theme; however, in a lot of other chapters, it ruins the atmosphere and leads me to mute the game's music because of how obnoxious and out of place it is.”
“Don’t get me wrong, most of the music enhances the experience tenfold, although I found that a lot of the songs which play during cutscenes or memorable moments seem far too upbeat for the dreary setting they’re meant to be conveying the emotion of.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a deeply emotional experience through its intricate environments, haunting music, and a narrative that evokes a strong sense of struggle and despair. Players feel a profound connection to the silent protagonist's journey, enhanced by the game's stunning visuals and immersive settings, despite some frustrations with the narrative's complexity and a disappointing ending. Overall, it stands out as a heartfelt passion project that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
“The level of detail and focus on emotional tone makes for a stunning experience, especially impressive when you remember it's one person's passion project and on the Source engine no less.”
“Sometimes, G String makes some of the most beautiful, intricate, and emotionally powerful environments I have ever or suspect I will ever see in the Source engine.”
“Even as a silent protagonist, you feel deeply connected to her struggle, and the game uses subtle cues—such as her reactions and the way she navigates environments—to make her emotional journey palpable.”
- monetization25 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's monetization is intricately woven into its world-building, featuring pervasive advertisements and announcements that enhance immersion and contribute to the narrative. The use of darkly comedic and provocative ads, particularly those targeting the male gaze, creates a satirical commentary on consumerism and societal decay, making the environment feel alive and engaging. Players are encouraged to explore and interact with the rich tapestry of in-game advertising, which adds depth to the overall experience.
“The last time you watched it with a glimpse of an eye was full of advertisements, news that were imagined in a toilet room and a newspaper flushed down in the process.”
“Every now and then, myo seemingly intercepts radio signals and psas/advertisements play through your headset which further develop the dark and gritty world of the game.”
“And the in-world advertising is super comical (in a dark way).”
- stability21 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, graphical glitches, and missing audio or textures. While some players found enjoyment in the gameplay and story despite these issues, many expressed frustration over the persistent bugs and overall roughness, indicating that the game remains in need of significant improvements.
“I loved it; it's janky but in a good way (not buggy or glitchy).”
“Edit 2: still broken, missing audio, missing textures, buggy as hell, it's been a year, come on.”
“But buggy as hell, it crashes before I even get to play the game.”
“As a game on its own, it is rough around the edges with hard to navigate level design at times, some glitches, physics issues, etc.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with repetitive level designs and combat encounters that detract from the overall experience. Players express dissatisfaction with the lack of variety, particularly in navigating cramped environments and the absence of controller support, which adds to the irritation. While some find moments of fun, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding elements make it difficult to fully enjoy the game.
“But it's just so tedious and frustrating.”
“The combat encounters are tedious.”
“I cannot count the amount of times that the game threw me back into cramped apartments and sludge-filled sewage canals; crawling through vents became tedious after the 15th time the game forces you into them.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues that vary across different hardware setups. Many users found that extensive tweaking, including disabling effects and applying various patches, is necessary to achieve stable performance, although some managed to maintain around 60fps most of the time. Overall, while the optimization is poor, it hasn't deterred some players from enjoying the game despite its technical shortcomings.
“Also, cfg edits like mat_parallaxmap 1 or gstring_volumetrics_enabled 1 that the autoconfig warns will drop frames, but I didn't see it impacting performance really at all (60fps 90% of the time, some dotted places drop it to 40fps, but those have been rare).”
“However, I'm unsure if these performance problems were the result of my hardware or the fault of the software.”
“Horribly optimized game.”
“In regards to technical performance, this software required a small amount of tweaking through the Steam client to get running, as everyone seems to be having different performance issues across various varieties of hardware.”
“To play, you need to disable many effects (film grain, etc.), disable the Steam overlay, apply many performance patches in the autostart file (guide in community hub), and apply many startup commands. Worse of all, you need to fix the audio files with a modding tool, something the devs should really fix and release as a hotfix!”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of absurdity and dark comedy, highlighted by the juxtaposition of light EDM music with chaotic combat scenarios. Players find the voice acting and character filters amusingly confusing, particularly the use of a Japanese Google Translate voice for a key character, which adds to the overall comedic tone. Despite the game's serious themes of dystopia and societal collapse, the inclusion of humorous elements, such as a lengthy Star Wars-style scroll of catastrophes, provides a unique and entertaining contrast.
“It's funny being shot at while listening to light EDM.”
“The HL2 HEV suit voice was replaced by the Japanese Google Translate voice, which is both hilarious and occasionally difficult to understand.”
“Including a humorously long list of presently unfolding catastrophes presented in the opening on a Star Wars-style scroll.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its complex, detailed environments and multiple pathways through levels, allowing players to explore different routes and experiences. The engaging aesthetics and weapon mechanics further enhance the desire to revisit the game.
“This game has one of the coolest aesthetics and most detailed maps and environments I have seen in a Half-Life 2 modification. It's like walking through a man-made polluted urban jungle/maze with how complex and overwhelming the levels can be. It definitely has that cyberpunk kind of feeling to it, and I also read that there are multiple ways you can go through the levels, adding even some extra replayability to the game.”
“Clever mazes that are often replayable for different route choices.”
“This game has one of the coolest aesthetics and most detailed maps and environments I have seen in a Half-Life 2 modification. It's like walking through a man-made polluted urban jungle/maze with how complex and overwhelming the levels can be. It definitely has that cyberpunk kind of feeling to it, and I also read that there are multiple ways you can go through the levels, adding some extra replayability to the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game suffers from a lack of character development, leaving players feeling disconnected from the story and characters, which diminishes emotional investment and engagement. Despite some interesting ideas, the shallow portrayal of characters fails to provide depth or meaningful growth.
“Looking at this game in retrospect, it's a combination of interesting ideas and bad level design. Even now, I still don't understand why I'm supposed to care about anything in the story; every character is given barely any depth or character development.”
