Haydee
- September 26, 2016
- Haydee Interactive
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Haydee" is a hardcore old-style metroidvania mixed with modern-day third person shooter and platformer mechanics. As well as a sexy character.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay664 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Haydee is a polarizing mix of challenging puzzle-platforming and survival mechanics, often compared to classic titles like Resident Evil and Tomb Raider. While some players appreciate the depth and atmosphere, many criticize the clunky controls, lack of tutorials, and punishing save system, leading to a trial-and-error experience that can feel frustrating. Despite its flaws, the game has a dedicated modding community that enhances replayability, making it appealing for those who enjoy a hardcore challenge.
“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.”
“Under a very curvy and robotic shell, lies a challenging puzzle FPS with tight controls and a simple, yet effective gameplay.”
“The game is way too hard and the mechanics are never explained.”
“The animations are robotic and not in a good way, the save system is too unforgiving and the platforming feels unrefined, which is not what you want when that seems to be half the gameplay.”
“Most of the primary gameplay seems to be a test of memory rather than a test of skill and knowledge as most of the game's difficulty relies on trial and error, such as catching the player off guard with enemies spawning directly behind you or around a corner where it is almost unavoidable to take a hit, resulting in a somewhat shallow and thoughtless experience.”
- story252 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely minimal and often non-existent, with players primarily engaging in gameplay and puzzles rather than a narrative. While some reviewers appreciate the environmental storytelling and the potential for a deeper lore, many express disappointment over the lack of explicit plot or character development. Overall, if you're seeking a rich narrative experience, this game may not meet your expectations, as it focuses more on gameplay mechanics than storytelling.
“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.”
“I have to admit though, the plot is non-existent.”
“There is no story, and your only satisfaction will be completing puzzles for the sake of completing puzzles.”
“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.”
- graphics240 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Haydee" are generally described as clean, polished, and reminiscent of the minimalist aesthetic found in games like Portal, with a mix of industrial and sterile environments. While some players appreciate the character design and the ability to customize appearances through mods, others note that the game lacks extensive graphical settings and optimization, leading to performance issues on higher settings. Overall, the visuals are considered adequate for a small indie title, with a mix of positive and critical feedback regarding their execution and impact on gameplay.
“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.”
“The crisp, clean graphics and minimalist, industrial feel of the environments really makes you feel like you're in a sterile testing facility.”
“For such simple graphics, the game is badly optimized.”
“I encountered sluggish framerates on high graphics settings and was only able to experience relatively smooth gameplay with reflections and shadowmaps set to normal on my state-of-the-art Alienware 17 R4 gaming laptop.”
“The game focuses on the aesthetics and atmosphere, not the visual effects.”
- music134 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % 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 the soundtrack to be minimalistic or repetitive, others highlight its ability to set the mood for different areas, creating a sense of tension or calm as needed. However, a few players noted issues with the music's persistence during gameplay and expressed a desire for more options or variety.
“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.”
“Levels themselves feel very well designed, the music is phenomenal, enemies feel threatening and the overall atmosphere is great.”
“Monotonous music.”
“I ended up muting the game entirely within the first 30 minutes and putting some music on.”
“Music gets annoying after hours of getting lost.”
- atmosphere104 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional detail, immersive sound design, and a unique blend of mechanical dread and eerie environments, creating a tense and foreboding experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke nostalgia while delivering a captivating journey through meticulously crafted levels, despite some critiques regarding minimalistic music and ambient sounds. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both mesmerizing and challenging, making it a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience.
“The game's atmospheric environments, immersive sound design, and meticulously crafted level design create an intense and unforgettable journey.”
“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.”
“But graphics, music, and overall atmosphere of the game are gorgeous.”
“No atmosphere in the game.”
“Even the lighting isn't trying to break the atmosphere just to highlight Haydee's assets.”
“The character design is disturbing but adds to the bleak atmosphere of the game.”
- grinding56 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and frustrating, with players noting repetitive mechanics, slow animations, and the need for excessive backtracking. While some find satisfaction in overcoming obstacles, many feel that the game's design leads to a slog, detracting from the overall enjoyment. The lack of effective saving options and unclear mechanics further contribute to the sense of tedium experienced by players.
“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 development40 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The character development in "Haydee" is heavily centered around its provocative character design, which has drawn mixed reactions from players. While some appreciate the bold aesthetic choices that contribute to the game's atmosphere, others find the design distracting or excessive, overshadowing the gameplay experience. Overall, the character design serves as both a focal point and a potential barrier for players, influencing their engagement with the game's challenging puzzles.
“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.”
“Despite certain obvious character design choices making this game look like a pr0n game, Haydee is actually a hardcore metroidvania-style game combining the aesthetic from Portal, a limited inventory and save system à la early Resident Evil, the third-person camera of Resident Evil 4, and the precision platforming of early Tomb Raider.”
“The only gimmick is the character design.”
“That being said, some of the puzzles are way too difficult because of the intended results of the character design.”
“If you're bothered by character design, then don't buy it; the game is age-gated for a reason.”
- humor32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Haydee is described as cheeky and darkly funny, with moments that elicit genuine laughter, particularly through its quirky design and clever puzzles. While some players feel the humor is diminished without mods or voice acting, others appreciate the game's unique charm and the deeper commentary embedded in its jokes. Overall, the humor is seen as a mixed bag—entertaining for a short time but not enough to elevate the overall experience significantly.
“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.”
“One of the darkly funny puzzles in retrospect is the fact that right at the beginning before you're entirely aware of the mechanics of the game, it gives you a chance to get a helpful damage reduction vest if you realize you should backtrack for it right there and then, but if you don't you're locked out of the item for the remainder of the game.”
“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.”
- optimization26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and stability, others experience significant issues, particularly with certain mods and on AMD systems, leading to irregular frame drops. Despite its simple graphics, many find the game poorly optimized, requiring adjustments to graphics settings for better performance. Overall, while some users have had a positive experience, others have faced challenges that detract from the gameplay.
“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 frame drops in rooms that have lots of other haydees in them or just rooms with complex lighting (even more for AMD adapters).”
- replayability20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its extensive variety of maps, customizable mods, and an active community that contributes additional content. Players can engage with the game in short sessions, with many aiming for challenging achievements, further enhancing its replay value. However, some users noted a lack of fun and minimal replay value, indicating mixed experiences.
“Good replay value and many hard achievements to shoot for.”
“Little to no fun and no replay value.”
“There's also a wide variety of maps and modules for even more replayability.”
“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.”
- stability12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, user feedback on stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches or crashes, others highlight issues with the aiming mechanism being buggy and poorly designed. Despite these criticisms, many users have experienced solid gameplay without significant technical problems.
“Solid gameplay, no glitches, and fluid controls.”
“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.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of wholesome discovery and satisfying puzzle-solving moments, which can evoke a sense of fulfillment when players are in the right mindset. However, some users express disappointment when their expectations for a more adult experience are not met, leading to mixed feelings about the game's content and mechanics. Overall, the emotional responses range from joy and satisfaction to frustration and unmet expectations.
“It creates a truly wholesome feeling of discovery of both mechanics and puzzle 'a-hah!' moments that feel really satisfying once you're in the right head-space for them.”
“As a sexually repressed male, this game made me feel like life is worth living again.”
- monetization2 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 relies heavily on flashy advertising rather than offering substantial value. Overall, while the game itself is considered decent, the monetization approach may detract from the overall experience.
