Gloom
- April 13, 2017
- Hunchback Studio
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Gloom" is a single-player action game with an intriguing HP Lovecraft-inspired story, presented through procedural levels and challenging combat. The game offers a wide array of weapons, items, and foes for unique scenarios, and a permadeath system similar to modern roguelike titles. Its delightful pixel art and outstanding soundtrack create a unique atmosphere .
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Reviews
- Gloom offers a unique blend of roguelike and souls-like mechanics, providing a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience.
- The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its dark, monochromatic art style and an engaging soundtrack that complements the eerie setting.
- The combat mechanics are satisfying, requiring players to learn enemy patterns and manage stamina effectively, which adds depth to the gameplay.
- The game suffers from a lack of permanent progression, leading to repetitive runs that can feel tedious after multiple attempts.
- Some players find the controls clunky and unresponsive, which can detract from the overall combat experience.
- The limited number of enemy types and environments can make the gameplay feel repetitive, reducing the overall replayability.
- gameplay89 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Gloom is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of soulslike mechanics with a roguelite structure that offers both challenge and variety through randomized elements. While many players appreciate the atmospheric design and engaging combat, criticisms arise regarding clunky controls, stamina management, and a lack of polish that can lead to frustration. Overall, the game provides a unique experience with addictive gameplay, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its difficulty and some design choices.
“The actual gameplay is very much souls inspired with dodge rolls, a parry system, and it's even got guns and melee that feels pulled straight out of Bloodborne.”
“Gloom is extremely difficult; however, each death makes you more determined to keep playing because of how strategic and patterned the gameplay is.”
“Great atmosphere, top-notch soundtrack, pretty fun gameplay that didn't feel repetitive, controls are tight, and you can and must experiment with different builds and play styles because items are RNG generated.”
“You feel exhausted and strained before the gameplay even starts, and since this game seems to be about living through nightmares and dreams, perhaps that was the intended atmosphere; however, it just doesn't translate well into the gameplay.”
“The stamina mechanic is garbage and makes the game slower than it needs to be.”
“Gameplay is clunky and methodical, but the technology doesn't feel good enough for how much mobility is demanded in terms of reaction timing and dodging, though there was a serious effort.”
- music80 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the soundtrack to be phenomenal and fitting for the game's dark themes, others criticize it for being repetitive or bland. Overall, the music is often highlighted as a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's ambiance and enjoyment.
“The music perfectly matches the look & feel of Gloom and its world: it's dark, depressing, somber, yet atmospheric and gorgeous.”
“The soundtrack is gorgeous and the background set pieces are beautiful, which saddens me considering how little of the game is there.”
“One of the best games I have played so far, amazing music, gameplay is difficult and fun, and the lore is just breathtaking.”
“The atmosphere and music is so drab and dull that it's so tiring to play even after just 10 minutes.”
“The music is bad.”
“The gameplay is linear and tedious, the music is mediocre at best and the enemies are boring.”
- graphics68 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that complement the game's lore and music. While some players appreciate the simplicity and monochromatic aesthetic reminiscent of titles like "Limbo," others find the graphics uninspired or lacking in detail, particularly in animations and clarity during combat. Overall, the visuals are seen as functional and fitting for the game's theme, though opinions vary on their appeal and execution.
“The graphics are top-notch, and the fighting is actually pretty engaging for the first 3 hours.”
“The lore, atmosphere, visuals, and music are top-notch.”
“The graphics are simple yet fit the dark and mysterious atmosphere; there's plenty of intriguing lore to discover and piece together, and the combat is rather satisfying.”
“The 8-bit black and white graphics are uninspired and terrible to look at.”
“It can be pretty unforgiving, and the monochromatic and simple graphics may turn some people away.”
“However, the controls themselves are a bit sluggish and I am not a fan of the graphical aesthetic at all.”
- story49 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is intricately woven through item descriptions and lore, requiring players to piece together the narrative themselves, reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. While some players appreciate the subtle and cryptic storytelling, others find it lacking in direct narrative engagement, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, the rich lore and unique setting are praised, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy exploring a game's backstory.
“The reimagined version of Lovecraft’s dreamlands crafted by Aleksi Sirviö is a monochromatic delight, complete with an engaging storyline and phenomenal music.”
“The story is unique, and the weapons are fun.”
“The game's story, hidden in its item descriptions and the depictions of its characters, is genuinely fascinating and one of the more interesting settings I've had the pleasure to glimpse into.”
“Even the story is uncreative and generally amateurish; it's barely even told to the player, but these days poor plot telling has become a trend.”
“The story is largely communicated through optional text associated with discovered items and defeated bosses, which can be reviewed through the menu; while not mind-blowing, this lore succeeds in assembling the different regions, characters, and enemies into a cohesive whole.”
“The story to the world is provided piecemeal with each item you collect and record onto your necronomicon, and it truly helps add onto the mysteries of the common dream.”
- atmosphere48 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as dark, eerie, and immersive, with strong Lovecraftian influences that enhance the overall experience. While many reviewers praise the combination of visuals, music, and lore in creating a captivating environment, some note that the somber tone can become exhausting over time. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature, effectively complementing its challenging gameplay and rich storytelling.
“The dark and eerie atmosphere drips with intensity.”
“The atmosphere and soundtrack is top-notch.”
“The lore, atmosphere, visuals, and music are top-notch.”
“The atmosphere and music are so drab and dull that it's tiring to play even after just 10 minutes.”
“You feel exhausted and strained before the gameplay even starts, and since this game seems to be about living through nightmares and dreams, perhaps that's what the intended atmosphere was; however, it just doesn't translate well into the gameplay.”
“Ultimately, I do still recommend this on the atmosphere and lore alone, but if you're like me in that you find Sekiro's core just-have-perfect-timing-and-input-choice-don't-try-to-do-anything-clever gameplay fundamentally boring, you're probably not going to get past the second level either.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable with varied buffs and relics that encourage experimentation, others note that it suffers from repetitive environments and limited enemy variety. Despite these flaws, many appreciate the addictive nature of its roguelite elements and the potential for alternate endings, suggesting that it can remain engaging for a time, though it may not have the depth of more established titles in the genre. Overall, it offers a decent level of replayability, particularly for those who enjoy quick runs and experimentation.
“An enjoyable game with a surprising amount of replay value.”
“The varied buffs and relics you can get add a ton of addictive replayability, always debating which ones to grab and what kind of combinations you can create out of them.”
“Rogue-likes live and die based on their replayability, and I can see Gloom staying fresh and fun for a long time to come.”
“It's an alright game that is burdened by a lot of minor flaws; it especially struggles with replayability, as all the rooms are the same and each floor only has 4-5 enemies.”
“Since if the player beats the game, they likely won't need to play it anymore since it has no replay value, so it just artificially stops them from winning.”
“While this game is delightful, it still feels a bit young compared to its de facto parents, having neither the difficulty of Dark Souls-style games nor the sheer content and replayability of The Binding of Isaac.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the structured progression and challenge, others feel it can become tedious and repetitive, especially in the early stages. The need to grind for specific synergies and items can lead to frustration, but once players become familiar with the mechanics and objectives, the gameplay can turn addictive. Overall, the game offers a balance between necessary grinding and rewarding progression, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“Then it becomes a little tedious, even grindy.”
“Needless to say, some synergies are stronger than others, and you're going to find yourself grinding for the one for a bit of time, since the game is pretty challenging.”
“At first, I was grinding run after run trying to get good, so I was starting to lose interest.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including clunky and slow combat that causes character movements to freeze for half a second, hindering responsiveness. Additionally, the menus are described as buggy and poorly designed, further detracting from the overall experience.
“I only paid $3 for this and it's not even worth that; combat is clunky and slow; every movement you do 'freezes' your character for a half second, so even if you react quickly enough, your character doesn't.”
“Buggy menus.”
“Fortunately, you can change those, but the menu to do so is buggy and very poorly designed.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for poor controller support on Linux, requiring Proton for functionality, which in turn results in significantly reduced performance. Players have reported severe performance issues, particularly during critical moments like boss fights, leading to frustrating slow-motion gameplay.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
“I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the game, resulting in minimal lag and a seamless experience.”
“The game runs beautifully after the latest patch, showcasing the team's commitment to optimization.”
“Controllers don't work on Linux unless Proton is used, and using Proton gives absolutely abysmal performance in the game.”
“I had some performance issues during my abyss boss fights, leading to me playing that boss fight in slow-motion.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as lacking, with players finding it more frustrating than funny, particularly in relation to its difficulty.
“The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that catch you off guard.”
“The witty dialogue and playful banter between characters add a delightful layer of humor to the gameplay.”
