GHOSTWARE: Arena of the Dead

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 116 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
GHOSTWARE: Arena of the Dead Game Cover
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In "Ghostware: Arena of the Dead," play as Molly, a soul trapped in a magical arena shooter with five others. Explore diverse dimensions, from a decaying cyber-afterlife to real-world locales, while uncovering a conspiracy surrounding the arena's creation. Experience a fusion of retro-FPS action and adventure game exploration.

Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 116 reviews
story26 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a genuinely unique setting and aesthetic, reminiscent of classic arena shooters while incorporating modern storytelling elements.
  • The movement mechanics, including double jumping and wall jumping, are well-executed and enhance the gameplay experience.
  • The exploration aspect of the game is engaging, with hidden secrets and lore that add depth to the narrative.
  • The AI is often unresponsive and poorly designed, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences during combat.
  • The story can feel disjointed and confusing, with pacing issues that detract from the overall immersion.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it lacks sufficient content for the price.
  • story97 mentions

    The story of the game is a complex and often confusing blend of retro FPS elements and meta-narrative, drawing inspiration from various cultural references and themes such as corporate power and nostalgia. While it features intriguing world-building and lore that rewards exploration, many players find the plot to be erratic and poorly paced, leading to a lack of clarity and coherence as the game progresses. Overall, the narrative has potential but struggles to deliver a satisfying and cohesive experience, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.

    • “While being obviously influenced by the Unreal series in terms of aesthetics, the game pulls from a lot of influences ranging from 1984, Series 7: The Corrections, and No Players Online as you're immersed in a gripping story about interstellar corporate power, the intentional diminishment of the value of human life, and the evil that nostalgia is capable of.”
    • “The game turned out to be surprisingly narrative-driven, and luckily the story and worldbuilding are really interesting and definitely seem like the kind of thing that could be explored more in the future.”
    • “The story really shines in the message items you discover throughout the game, particularly the forums. It's a really engaging way to explore the story, especially as the story elements serve as a reward for exploration.”
    • “The story can be rather opaque and I'm not sure how much I eventually understood.”
    • “The story is... all over the place.”
    • “Imperfect translations, inconsistent and erratic pacing, and plot points that seem to go nowhere all result in a somewhat confusing experience.”
  • gameplay36 mentions

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring strong shooting mechanics and enjoyable arena combat that captures the essence of classic FPS games, but it suffers from uneven pacing and a lack of depth in enemy AI. While the exploration and movement mechanics are praised, the transition from arena to open-world gameplay can feel jarring, and narrative interruptions detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a nostalgic and engaging experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The combat during the arena sections of the game feels great though, it's easily where the game shines best in terms of gameplay, combined with some excellent movement mechanics to gain a ton of speed and feel cool doing it.”
    • “The gameplay is really fun and there are a lot of tiny hints to gems of that era.”
    • “Gameplay itself is solid and built around some modern yet mostly retro mechanics.”
    • “Sadly, the arena gameplay is fleeting, but due to the game's themes and narrative, it is also rather fitting that it often gets cut short.”
    • “It's definitely one of the most uneven boomer shooters on a gameplay level, but it is also one of the most interesting I've played in a while.”
    • “The messiness extends to the gameplay as well.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the atmospheric and immersive soundtracks created by Mothership Loudspeakerz, which effectively complement the game's retro aesthetic and themes. The blend of 90s samples, jungle, drum and bass, and haunting ambient sounds enhances the overall experience, making exploration and combat feel engaging and evocative. While some critiques mention the absence of music in certain areas, the general consensus is that the soundtrack significantly elevates the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “Especially shoutout for the soundtrack, top notch!”
    • “The overall atmosphere created by the visuals, music, and level design is fantastic.”
    • “The vibe is immaculate; the look of everything and the music, I just really enjoy being in this world.”
    • “The moments when you have to explore a whole, empty map, with a creepy soundtrack is so relatable when you try to play an old game.”
    • “Soundtrack made of tracker music with 90s samples ranging from jungle/dnb to haunting ambient, it's all so very fitting to the theme of a resurrected game full of dead people.”
    • “There is no music.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their unique and nostalgic aesthetic, blending influences from the 90s internet and classic arena shooters like Unreal Tournament. Reviewers highlight the successful character and environmental design, which enhances the immersive atmosphere and storytelling. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players suggest improvements in level design to better utilize the game's movement mechanics and create more visual distinction between in-game environments.

    • “The overall atmosphere created by the visuals, music, and level design is fantastic.”
    • “They nailed the aesthetic in everything from character and environmental design, down to the UI.”
    • “Visually pleasing, successfully mimicking the intended aesthetic for the character models, maps, and weapons, good voice acting, and a really interesting story.”
    • “One other nitpick I have is relating to a late game spoiler but personally, I think there should be a drastic change in art style in 03_ctf3 due to that map taking place in the real world.”
    • “Sure, I get that the low-fidelity visuals are part of the game-within-a-game setting, though I think there should be a lot more in the way of visual distinction between the game world and touching (in-game) grass.”
    • “I do like the visuals, but I think the dev is missing the point with some of the levels; it depends on the location. I think there is a lot of room for improvement, and you could even rely more on platforming to create challenges since you can move so much in this game. Don't be afraid to create more verticality for the player to jump around.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fantastic blend of visuals, music, and level design, creating a haunting and nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic shooters. Players appreciate the iconic soundtrack and the eerie vibe that enhances gameplay, although some note that the storytelling elements do not fully match the atmospheric quality. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of mystery and discovery, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “The overall atmosphere created by the visuals, music, and level design is fantastic.”
    • “The general vibe of the game is really good with a comfortably eerie atmosphere.”
    • “Just a haunting atmosphere and the fear of the unknown in the virtual void... while you crouch slide, double jump, wall jump and try the level's limits to find all the secret places.”
    • “After a frantic match of deathmatch, domination, or capture the flag, you can revisit the levels, but this time the atmosphere is very different.”
    • “Just a haunting atmosphere and the fear of the unknown in the virtual void... while you crouch slide, double jump, wall jump, and try the level's limits to find all the secret places.”
    • “I think the game gets the atmosphere and the gameplay right for the most part, but when you look into the details, like the magic of unreal level design, it needs a lot of work.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The game's humor is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its quirky moments and nostalgic references, others find it shallow and clichéd, wishing for a more nuanced approach. The humor often feels inconsistent, with some highlights overshadowed by a reliance on familiar tropes. Overall, it elicits a range of reactions, from enjoyment to disappointment.

    • “My player model, hilariously, changed with that of another important character a few times.”
    • “Not to mention the game's humor and passion really shine through.”
    • “Love the story and humor.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express that the game evokes a sense of nostalgia and reflection on aging, highlighting how the low-fidelity visuals contribute to an emotional experience that blurs the lines between the game world and reality. However, there is a desire for greater visual distinction to enhance this emotional connection.

    • “This game made me feel old.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that the game can be quite buggy, indicating stability issues that may affect the overall experience.

    • “The game is plagued with bugs that disrupt the experience.”
    • “I encountered frequent crashes that made it unplayable at times.”
    • “There are numerous glitches that affect gameplay and immersion.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers a moderate level of replayability, primarily revolving around the challenge of acquiring the final collectibles, though the overall experience is relatively brief.

    • “The game offers a decent amount of replayability, allowing players to explore different strategies and approaches to collect everything.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique, thanks to the variety of choices and paths available, enhancing the overall replay value.”
    • “I love how the game encourages multiple runs, with new challenges and collectibles to discover each time.”
    • “There is a decent amount of replayability, but it's pretty quick and mainly revolves around having the right power to collect the last items.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel redundant.”
    • “The game offers minimal variation in playthroughs, leading to a sense of monotony after the first completion.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is seen as enjoyable, though some reviewers feel it lacks the more extravagant designs found in titles like Unreal or Quake 3. Overall, while the character designs may not be as outlandish, they still contribute positively to the gaming experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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