Gestalt: Steam & Cinder
- July 16, 2024
- Metamorphosis Games
- 10h median play time
In "Gestalt: Steam & Cinder" , play as Aletheia, an elite mercenary, in the Steam City of Canaan. Combat clockwork golems, horrors, and raiders using melee combos and gunplay while uncovering the city's dark secrets and thwarting the corrupt overseers' schemes. Explore various locations, from grimy markets to blazing furnaces, in this action-packed adventure.
Reviews
- Gorgeous pixel art and animations that create a visually stunning experience.
- Engaging combat mechanics that allow for a mix of melee and ranged attacks, providing a satisfying gameplay loop.
- Interesting story and character development, with a steampunk setting that adds depth to the narrative.
- The game is relatively short, taking around 8-10 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
- Excessive dialogue and exposition can disrupt the pacing, making it feel tedious at times.
- The ending is abrupt and feels like a setup for a sequel, leaving many plot threads unresolved.
- story417 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-paced, while others criticize it for being overly verbose and lacking a satisfying conclusion. Many reviewers noted that the narrative feels rushed, particularly towards the end, leaving unresolved plot points and a cliffhanger that detracts from the overall experience. Despite its ambitious premise and interesting characters, the execution often falls flat, leading to a sense of disappointment among players who were invested in the story.
“I really liked the story, the part we got anyway, and how it was told.”
“The story is clear enough and well-paced with cut scenes.”
“The story is engaging if you give it some attention.”
“In general, I think the story was pretty poor, the characters weren't particularly interesting, and the ending was clearly a setup for a future game.”
“After completing the final battle, however, the last bit of story is just... extremely weak and it ends very unsatisfactorily.”
“The pacing isn't great and if the story was good enough to make up for the constant interruption of gameplay it would have easily made up for it, but the ending is so poorly realized and comes out of nowhere that it's hard to wholeheartedly recommend the game to people.”
- gameplay191 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the smooth mechanics, engaging combat, and beautiful pixel art. However, frequent interruptions from cutscenes and dialogue detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of disconnection between the story and gameplay. While some find the gameplay enjoyable and accessible, others criticize it for being simplistic, repetitive, and lacking depth compared to other titles in the metroidvania genre.
“Great gameplay, OST, universe, level design not annoying, map markers, good story.”
“The gameplay is fun as all hell and the attacks and abilities are flashy but not obnoxious.”
“Beautiful little steampunk metroidvania with gorgeous pixel art, smooth animations, and slick gameplay.”
“Despite cutting out from gameplay to show cutscenes every once in a while, the dialogue really fails to compel me in any way.”
“The amazing pixel art and animations definitely draw you in to picking it up, but past that, the game feels so lacking that the gameplay is honestly forgettable.”
“The gameplay is too slow and repetitive, the controls are kinda clunky and the game is only hard because of the controls.”
- music129 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. While some players found the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the game's various environments, others noted that certain tracks were forgettable or repetitive. Overall, the music is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal alongside its impressive visuals.
“Beautiful artstyle and a great soundtrack.”
“The music is another standout.”
“Gestalt: steam & cinder presents a visually stunning adventure with its gorgeous pixel art and very catchy music.”
“My only real complaints would be that the music is rather forgettable and having enemies constantly respawn every time you leave a room does sometimes make backtracking a bit tedious.”
“The music in this game curbed my enthusiasm to do that.”
“The fact that the OST is not that great does not help.”
- graphics105 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, detailed animations, and vibrant steampunk aesthetic. Many reviewers highlighted the beautiful artwork and fluid character designs, noting that the visuals significantly enhance the overall experience. While some mentioned minor gameplay shortcomings, the consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, making the game visually captivating and engaging.
“The artwork is gorgeous, the animations are fluid, and the world feels really well established.”
“Let's get the obvious stuff out of the way: the game looks absolutely gorgeous, the steampunk aesthetic is nailed perfectly, the pixel art is fantastic, character designs are very nice, backgrounds are colorful and different areas of the game are easily identifiable and memorable.”
“Gestalt is a metroidvania with a great art style that uses a mixture of colors to bring their world to life through fluid animations and detailed backgrounds and characters.”
“The visuals, while extremely ugly on a big screen due to no resolution options, are an absolute treat on a handheld like the Steam Deck.”
“Gorgeous game with lacking gameplay when compared to the visuals.”
“Graphics 6”
- grinding20 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling that enemy encounters and boss fights drag on unnecessarily. Many reviews highlight the frustration of respawning enemies and lengthy maps, which contribute to a sense of monotony during gameplay. While some players appreciate the game's aesthetics and mechanics, the grinding experience is frequently described as a chore rather than an engaging challenge.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This all comes to a head with the fact that the game was honestly pretty short; I completed most of the content in about 4 hours, and the content I haven't done for 100% felt tedious enough that I don't feel like going back for it.”
“The third boss had more health than the previous two, and so I saw an extremely tedious pattern developing where I'd need to bring a book and a packed lunch for whenever the final boss occurred and decided to peace out.”
“While the difficulty is on the easier side, the combat still holds up, though some encounters, particularly boss fights, are annoyingly tedious with bosses having few attack patterns but excessively long fights.”
- character development12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive pixel art and character designs, which are visually striking and memorable. While the writing may not reach the same heights, the character development system, featuring a flexible skill tree and branching upgrade paths, adds depth and engagement to the gameplay experience. Overall, the combination of strong visual aesthetics and a solid development framework enhances the game's appeal.
“The character development system through a node grid is great.”
“The character development tree was interesting; you can branch out in a few directions as usual, but you get a new starting point for every major upgrade, and the sub-upgrades to that are usually locked behind a junction that needs you to meet it from both the main start and the start point for the upgrade.”
“It's a shame the writing isn't stellar, because the character designs are fantastic and when the writing sings, it really sings.”
“Despite the plot being more familiar than your favorite worn-out hoodie, the game weaves in enough cohesion, world-building, and character development to transform that old favorite into a retro-chic piece you'd proudly display on Fifth Ave.”
“The game’s skill tree, which can be easily refunded, adds some layer of flexibility to character development, although by the end of the game, you will have almost everything unlocked.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers little incentive to play again after completing it once. The linear design, absence of difficulty variations, and a bloated plot contribute to a "one and done" experience, leaving players wishing for additional content or features to enhance replay value. While some found the initial playthrough enjoyable, the consensus is that the game lacks meaningful replay options.
“Just something to add to the experience, I think would do a lot to improve the overall package and give it some good replay value.”
“Wish it had a bit more replayability; hopefully it will get a DLC or second installment to progress the story, as the end leaves the plot open.”
“Can get all achievements in one run; there is, however, no replayability at all.”
“Game was fun to go through, but it seems to be more of a one play and done kind of game; I didn't see much replay value.”
“However, the lack of replayability is a downside, as there are no bonuses or new game plus options.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, featuring beautiful pixel art and atmospheric music that enhance the immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the unique and lively locations, intricate level design, and a captivating blend of haunting melodies and epic orchestral pieces, all contributing to a compelling metroidvania experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as exceptional, with many giving it a perfect score.
“Beautiful pixel art, atmospheric music, fun combat, tight controls, and a fascinating story make for one hell of a great metroidvania!”
“Each location feels unique and alive, filled with intricate machinery, atmospheric lighting, and a sense of history that draws you in.”
“It perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, with a mix of haunting melodies and epic orchestral pieces that elevate the overall experience.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is appreciated for its clever writing and unique lore, though some find it amusingly ironic that the expansive world described is only partially realized. While the plot follows a typical "chosen one" narrative with predictable twists, the inclusion of humorous rumors and quirky elements adds a lighthearted touch to the experience. Overall, the humor is a highlight, enhancing the game's charm despite its narrative shortcomings.
“The lore was unique but didn't overstay explanations; also, the art is gorgeous, and I loved the humor and writing.”
“The plot is pretty straightforward chosen one(s) stuff, with a series of last-minute twists that are hilariously generic.”
“It's funny that the game spends so much time telling you about the world, and the actual world you're able to explore is not even a fraction of what is promised.”
- stability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally stable experience with the game, highlighting a bug-free gameplay on platforms like the Steam Deck. However, some players noted issues with quality of life features and occasional bugs in certain areas.
“My gameplay was completely bug-free, and I didn't notice any translation errors.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
“The game is plagued with bugs that disrupt the experience.”
“There are several stability issues that make it hard to enjoy the game.”
“The lack of quality-of-life features, like skipping dialogues, adds to the frustration.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's emotional moments fall short, primarily due to minimal character interaction, which diminishes the impact of the narrative. Players can easily defeat enemies without engaging with the game's deeper mechanics, further detracting from the emotional experience.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fair balance between free and paid content, while others criticize the presence of aggressive microtransactions that can hinder gameplay. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a point of contention, impacting player experience and satisfaction.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features.”
“It's frustrating that essential game content is locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
“The constant barrage of ads and in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”