Haydee
- September 26, 2016
- Haydee Interactive
- 6h median play time
"Haydee" is a hardcore old-style metroidvania mixed with modern-day third person shooter and platformer mechanics. As well as a sexy character.
Reviews
- gameplay332 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Haydee is a polarizing mix of challenging puzzle-solving, platforming, and shooting mechanics, often compared to classic titles like Resident Evil and Tomb Raider. While some players appreciate the depth and difficulty, noting that it requires a trial-and-error approach and offers a unique atmosphere, others criticize the clunky controls, lack of tutorials, and punishing save system that can lead to frustration. Overall, the game is seen as a niche experience that may appeal to those who enjoy hardcore gameplay and modding, but it may not be for everyone due to its steep learning curve and mechanical shortcomings.
“The character animation, ambiance, and gameplay are put to the test and pass with flying colors.”
“This game has everything - good, challenging gameplay and quite an interesting workshop that makes said gameplay 1,000x better.”
“Underneath the slobbery forefront is a genuinely smart game with some very fun design and interesting gameplay.”
“The gameplay is thin, the puzzles feel like mostly trial and error (a lot of 'press all the buttons in the right sequence' with absolutely no information to work with), the levels are a pain to navigate, many of the rooms look the same, and there's no map.”
“The biggest complexity is not gameplay, but the lack of explanation of mechanics which makes the game very annoying.”
“Gameplay is slow and clunky and as far as I can tell is based entirely around spending as much time as possible looking at the main character's ass.”
- story126 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and largely absent, with no dialogue or overt narrative, leaving players to piece together the plot through environmental storytelling and speculation. While some players appreciate the potential for a deeper narrative, many find the lack of a clear storyline disappointing, focusing instead on gameplay and puzzle-solving. Overall, if you're seeking a rich story experience, this game may not meet your expectations, as it prioritizes gameplay over narrative depth.
“There's not a single line of dialogue, but by the end of the game, you will understand how much potential for a large story this fantasy world has.”
“A dark and challenging 3D world of traps and death, driven by a cold story and sterile setting.”
“At first glance, it's a lewd game, but it's actually a deep dark story with mystery behind every corner.”
“There is no story, and your only satisfaction will be completing puzzles for the sake of completing puzzles.”
“The game has not really told me what the story is.”
“There doesn’t seem to be any plot or story, and you are just thrown into the game with no guidance, and no clear objectives.”
- graphics120 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Haydee" are generally described as clean, polished, and aesthetically pleasing, drawing comparisons to the minimalist style of "Portal." While some players appreciate the character design and the ability to customize appearances through mods, others note that the overall visual fidelity is adequate but not groundbreaking for 2023. The game successfully combines a sterile, industrial atmosphere with solid graphical presentation, although optimization issues have been reported by some users.
“The graphics and sound design of the game are also worth special mention.”
“The graphics are quite clean and run very smoothly; it feels polished and minimalist.”
“More than just some fetish game, Haydee is a wonderfully crafted survival horror reminiscent of the first Resident Evil with a portal aesthetic.”
“The game focuses on the aesthetics and atmosphere, not the visual effects.”
“For such simple graphics, the game is badly optimized.”
“The overall visuals are clean and take obvious notes from Portal.”
- music67 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and how it enhances the overall experience. While some find it monotonous or repetitive over time, others highlight its ability to set the mood for different areas, contributing to a sense of tension and immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is described as fitting and effective, though some players wish for more variety and options.
“The soundtrack adds even more depth and tension to the game.”
“There's a really nice OST that does a great job setting the vibe for the area; whether it be slightly mysterious but optimistic like the beginning of the game, or foreboding and helpless like the dark section.”
“The music is nice and ambient, it's not loud and in your face which is a nice change of pace.”
“Monotonous music.”
“I ended up muting the game entirely within the first 30 minutes and putting some music on.”
“The soundtracks aren't stuff to write home about, but the constant undertone and atmosphere it creates only enhance the gameplay.”
- atmosphere52 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional detail, immersive sound design, and a unique blend of eerie and foreboding elements that enhance the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a tense environment through its level design, music, and character aesthetics, often evoking feelings of dread and nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles. While some note a lack of ambient sounds, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that captivates players and contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The game's atmospheric environments, immersive sound design, and meticulously crafted level design create an intense and unforgettable journey.”
“The oppressive atmosphere is perfect for the setting but can leave you feeling like you need some warm cuddles in between play sessions.”
“The mechanical and isolated atmosphere combined with the sudden appearance of relentless enemies creates a constant feeling of dread that you probably wouldn't expect by just looking at the main character.”
“The general atmosphere of the game is tense and foreboding, often leading me to hold my breath every time I explore a new area for the first time.”
“The character design is disturbing but adds to the bleak atmosphere of the game.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often leading to repetitive gameplay due to frequent deaths and slow movement mechanics. While some enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of overcoming obstacles, many feel that the game's design lacks cohesion, resulting in a slog of backtracking and item hunting that detracts from the overall experience. The combination of tedious puzzles, platforming, and resource management contributes to a sense of monotony that can overshadow the game's more enjoyable elements.
“This game is so unbelievably boring and tedious.”
“Your experience playing this game will be occasional discovery of new areas & items using tedious movement mechanics punctuated by frequent need to reload the game & lose several minutes redoing what you just did because you didn't notice an enemy in time, failed a platforming challenge, or forgot the location of a mine.”
“The puzzles are often frustratingly tedious and require quite a bit of backtracking which often confuses the player as it's easy to become lost in this game's maze-like level design which an in-game map would easily fix.”
- character development20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is heavily influenced by its provocative character design, which has sparked mixed reactions among players. While some appreciate the bold aesthetic choices that contribute to the game's atmosphere, others feel that the design overshadows the gameplay and puzzles. Overall, the character design serves as a focal point, drawing attention and debate, but it may not resonate with all players, particularly those sensitive to its sexualized portrayal.
“This review is more on the heavy annualized gameplay and character design that gives a feel of storytelling.”
“Additionally, to make such a bold character design choice is inspiring; both as a hobbyist game developer and as a core gamer.”
“I liked the character design, the graphics look fantastic and the workshop content really makes the game very interesting for anyone who just wants a good look at the protagonist and pose her around a bit.”
“The only gimmick is the character design.”
“The character design is disturbing but adds to the bleak atmosphere of the game.”
“I gotta say the character design is over the top.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Haydee is described as cheeky and darkly funny, with players appreciating its quirky design and clever puzzles that often lead to amusing situations. While some found the humor to be fleeting or reliant on mods, others enjoyed the genuine comedic elements that added depth to the gameplay experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of lighthearted moments and clever jokes that resonate with players who appreciate its unique style.
“Haydee's 'cheeky' design will have you laughing and sweating!”
“It's still a joke, but a very nice joke, one you can savor for a bit before finishing laughing and you can look back and smile realizing that you had a good time.”
“The fans understand this stuff; they have the intellectual capacity to truly appreciate the depths of these jokes, to realize that they’re not just funny - they say something deep about life.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and stability, others experience significant issues, particularly with certain mods and on specific hardware like AMD GPUs, leading to irregular frame drops and unresponsive controls. Despite these challenges, many users have found that adjusting settings can improve performance, and some have noted that the game runs well at higher resolutions with max settings.
“And in terms of stability and performance, there's nothing to complain about.”
“- the engine runs smoothly.”
“+ feels overall pretty well made and optimized.”
“For such simple graphics, the game is badly optimized.”
“The game is actually a physics sandbox with unoptimized controls and a terrible menu.”
“[*] not properly optimized for all systems: expect irregular framedrops on rooms that have lots of other haydees in it or just rooms with complex lighting (even more for AMD adapters).”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its extensive variety of maps, customizable options, and a vibrant modding community that continually adds new content. Players appreciate the ability to engage with the game in short sessions while still finding value in pursuing achievements and exploring user-generated content. However, some users note a lack of fun in certain aspects, which may affect replay value for them.
“There's also a wide variety of maps and modules for even more replayability.”
“Good replay value and many hard achievements to shoot for.”
“Lots of mods from a pretty active community add to the replayability of the game as well.”
“Little to no fun and no replay value.”
“The game will support mods so players can create their own sections/maps/objects, so as you can imagine, the replay value will be very high.”
“Highly customizable: there are a lot of models and mods, which makes the game replayable in the workshop.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, stability in the game is mixed; while some players report a lack of bugs and smooth performance, others have encountered issues with the aiming mechanism. Many users appreciate the solid gameplay and fluid controls, indicating that their experience is generally free of glitches or crashes.
“Solid gameplay, no glitches, and fluid controls.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
“I appreciate the consistent performance; it never lags or stutters.”
“The aiming mechanism is buggy and poorly designed.”
“I play at 2560x1440 max settings with SSAO on, performance is good, no crashes or glitches.”
“There weren't any glitches, bugs, or wonky controls that caused it; my actions determined the outcome.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a sense of discovery and satisfaction from solving puzzles, which can evoke a wholesome feeling when players are in the right mindset. However, some users express frustration with gameplay mechanics and unexpected experiences, leading to mixed emotional responses ranging from disappointment to unexpected joy. Overall, the game elicits a complex emotional landscape, balancing moments of fulfillment with instances of confusion and dissatisfaction.
“It creates a truly wholesome feeling of discovery of both mechanics and puzzle 'a-ha!' moments that feel really satisfying once you're in the right headspace for them.”
“As a sexually repressed male, this game made me feel like life is worth living again.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that it distracts from the overall experience, despite acknowledging the game's decent quality.