Halfway
- July 21, 2014
- Robotality
- 13h median play time
"Halfway" is a single-player Science Fiction Turn Based Strategy game with an intriguing story and good gameplay. As the leader of a team of survivors, you must fight and outsmart the enemy aboard a colonized spaceship while uncovering the mysteries of the violent invasion. The game features tactical turn-based battles, unique characters, and an immersive storyline with outstanding visuals and fantastic music, though some grinding is required.
Reviews
- Great mix of genres with a compelling story and interesting characters.
- Simple yet engaging turn-based combat that requires strategic thinking.
- Charming pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
- Combat can feel frustrating due to erratic hit chances and enemy accuracy.
- Limited enemy variety and repetitive gameplay can lead to boredom.
- Lack of character progression and meaningful choices diminishes replayability.
- story549 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as engaging but flawed, with many players noting its intriguing premise set in a sci-fi horror context. While some found the character interactions and plot developments interesting, others criticized the narrative for being linear, lacking depth, and leaving many questions unanswered by the end. Overall, the story is seen as a decent backdrop for the gameplay, but it often feels incomplete or underdeveloped, leading to mixed feelings about its execution.
“The story is really interesting, and the characters are decent.”
“The story is very rich, with each mission having a backstory and reason to it and each character in the game has its own interesting personality.”
“Great story that is left open for expansion.”
“The story probably gets going later in the game, but in the first hour it's virtually nonexistent.”
“The story is simple and the characters are what carries it forward.”
“The story is also boring and seems to get stale about 'halfway' through the game.”
- gameplay190 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is often compared to XCOM, featuring straightforward turn-based mechanics that are accessible yet lack depth and complexity. While some players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and solid core mechanics, many express frustration with unclear mechanics, interface issues, and a lack of variety in enemy encounters, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mixed bag, with potential for enjoyment but marred by significant design flaws and inconsistencies.
“Overall, engaging turn-based gameplay with immersive atmosphere, but unclear mechanics, weak narrative, and interface issues.”
“Great atmosphere, fun gameplay, decent challenge; this is a surprisingly satisfying light game.”
“The gameplay, though straightforward, offers some serious amount of depth.”
“The tactical gameplay itself seems fine, but I felt like I was fighting against the interface for most of the 20 minutes I spent on this, and I have no desire to try pushing further.”
“I've never played 19 hours into a single-player game and got so frustrated that I rage quit and uninstalled the game, but when you have aiming mechanics as nonsensical and lackluster as this game, then I guess there's a first for everything.”
“The gameplay is severely limited by the lack of a few essential mechanics.”
- graphics136 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia and complements the overall atmosphere. Many users appreciate the attention to detail and the effective use of lighting, while some note that the visuals, though basic, are well-executed and enhance the gameplay experience. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics could benefit from higher resolution support and that the user interface feels clunky at times.
“The graphics, music, and story feel polished and put together in a way that got me enjoying the experience.”
“The graphics are really nice, with detailed environments.”
“The graphics and aesthetics of the game are definitely good quality; it's basically what you see in the video promo and the screenshots.”
“Graphics are very basic; they reminded me of 'Into the Breach' (a cellphone game, free with Netflix).”
“The graphics are not my thing with pixels, but they're nice enough to see the details of the game, and the gameplay for me makes this game a good 8/10.”
“However, the user interface feels clunky and the graphics could use work.”
- music98 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is often described as fitting, engaging, and reminiscent of classic sci-fi themes, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersion. However, some users noted that the music can be repetitive and occasionally fails to match the intensity of certain gameplay moments.
“The music/score is on point as well, puts you in an atmospheric vibe.”
“Great atmospheric narrative-driven pixel art game that's like XCOM with an amazing soundtrack by Gavin Harrison.”
“The game feels and sounds nice, its soundtrack is a great fit for the game and the story is just engaging enough to feel alive but not in your face enough to distract you from the game.”
“The music is mediocre.”
“Yes, it has a cool space theme, but it feels like there are only 2 soundtracks (title screen, battle theme) as far as I am aware.”
“The soundtrack, though good, is repetitive with maybe 2-4 songs in rotation.”
- atmosphere54 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging pixel art, compelling music, and immersive narrative elements, creating a captivating experience reminiscent of classic titles. While many reviewers appreciate the game's charm and atmospheric design, some note that the overall gameplay mechanics can detract from the experience, leading to a mixed reception regarding its execution. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a strong point, enhancing the game's appeal despite its gameplay flaws.
“The music/score is on point as well, puts you in an atmospheric vibe.”
“It shines through a compelling atmosphere, charming art style, and pleasant, fitting music and sound design.”
“Despite its pixel art style, the game is surprisingly atmospheric and contains a nice story that kept me interested throughout the game.”
“The atmosphere doesn't feel just right; the sounds feel just okay, and the dialogue is really flat.”
“It seems like that was done to create an atmosphere that the game otherwise lacks in its simplistic boxy environments.”
“Still, there are many rooms for improvement which can be contributed to the feel and atmosphere of the game.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, with combat and mission design often described as monotonous and lacking meaningful progression. Many reviewers noted that the game's mechanics, such as low hit chances and bullet sponge enemies, contribute to a sense of irritation rather than enjoyment, leading to a general consensus that the game becomes more of a chore than a fun experience. Despite some initial charm and atmosphere, the repetitive nature of gameplay ultimately detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“It has charm and atmosphere, but the tedious combat, monotonous levels, negligible strategy required, and lack of a meaningful sense of progression made halfway a DNF for me.”
“It started off as pretty fun and atmospheric, but by the end the combat had gotten very tedious.”
“It's just that the game's accuracy is so not-fun and teeth-grindingly frustrating that there is no reason to recommend this game because, well, games are meant to be fun and this game is the most not-fun game I've played all year because of this one thing.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its limited replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and lack of randomization or significant content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players mention a few optional side missions and different approaches to gameplay as potential sources of replay value, the consensus is that the game feels short and repetitive, leading to a generally low replay value. Future updates, such as a level editor and community support, are anticipated to enhance replayability over time.
“Different ways to go about the game also offers some replayability, though I already believe it offers a decent amount of game time for the small price.”
“Easily replayable.”
“Couple that with the promise of an editor and the inevitable Steam Workshop support, and you'll be investing in a game that will have a lot of replay value in many months to come.”
“On a downside, it has very little replayability.”
“Having logged a little less than 40 hours into it, there isn't really any replay value, which would be fine if it were a deeper game, but the encounters become repetitive very quickly.”
“There's not really any replayability since it's a linear game with no random levels, although there are a few optional side-missions.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for various bugs and glitches, particularly affecting the user interface and controls, which can lead to a clunky experience. While the graphics are well-executed, players report that issues tend to escalate as the game progresses, making it feel unfinished. Additionally, the absence of a borderless window mode complicates multitasking, further detracting from overall stability.
“The graphics work well with no glitches; the sprites are beautifully drawn and animated with care, and the backgrounds are fantastic.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or performance issues, providing a stable and enjoyable experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; I haven't encountered any bugs or interruptions that would detract from my enjoyment.”
“Sometimes the UI is a bit buggy and doesn't let you click items that are in side chests.”
“Doesn't have borderless window fullscreen mode unfortunately, so you can't alt-tab unless you want to play it in a bordered window. It has glitches and bugs here and there every so often, which makes it feel kind of clunky, but overall decent.”
“It feels half-finished: there are several interface glitches and a lack of polish in the controls - not in the visuals; these are quite nice.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players appreciating the cohesive backstories and character designs that enhance personality, while others criticize it as minimal or non-existent. The linear story offers a basic level of character progression, but many feel that the development is ultimately superficial and lacks depth. Overall, opinions are divided, with some finding value in the character aspects and others deeming them ineffective.
“If you like a small adventure that requires you to be at least competent and tactful while going through a linear story that showcases character development, then Halfway is for you.”
“The three points I give are only for character development and backstories.”
“What we see of the game feels cohesive, and the character designs lend each a greater degree of personality.”
“The character development and backstories are minimal and lack depth.”
“Character development is pointless or non-existent; the graphics are one step above pixel art.”
“There is no real character development; the stims are very minor and basically necessary to succeed.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of clever banter, irony, and genuine funny moments, making it both intriguing and entertaining. While the story has its sober and dramatic elements, it also features rich, appealing narratives that keep players engaged. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience.
“The banter between them is excellent, with plenty of genuinely funny moments.”
“Easy, then difficult, with loot, great art, and a clever/funny story!”
“The story is simple, funny at times, but quite intriguing and sober most of the time.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its strong controller support; however, players have criticized the overall mechanics for feeling sluggish, impacting the gameplay experience despite adequate performance.
“But even early on, the gameplay feels sluggish, not in performance but in its overall mechanics.”
“They seem to be optimized for controller support.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for creating a challenging experience that feels artificially inflated, as players must frequently focus their resources on overwhelming enemy encounters, suggesting a potential pay-to-win element to ease the difficulty.
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game evokes strong emotional responses, with some even expressing that it brought them to tears, highlighting its impactful storytelling and character development.
“This game made me cry as a tactical gamer.”
“The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me.”
“I felt a profound connection to the story that left me reflecting long after I finished playing.”