Heat
- June 25, 2020
- Code}{atch
- 12h median play time
Heat is a role-playing game with both single-player and multiplayer modes. The single-player "Homestead" mode allows you to nurture and build your own farm, while the multiplayer mode for up to 40 players involves surviving in 19th century America with the possibility of becoming a president, sheriff, chief, or governor. Despite its masterful game mechanics, beautiful atmosphere, and humor, the game is plagued by bugs and is poorly optimized, with significant grinding required.
Reviews
- optimization239 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates, long loading times, and frequent crashes. Despite some players noting that the game has potential and could improve with future updates, the current state is described as "horribly unoptimized" and "unplayable" for those without high-end hardware. Overall, the consensus is that significant optimization work is needed to make the game enjoyable.
“The game has so many biomes, and I bet when this game is optimized well it could be maybe the best game ever!”
“Asides from needing some optimization, this game overall is pretty fun to play and looks beautiful.”
“This game has potential, but at the moment it is incredibly unoptimized (fps, game mechanics, crafting, ui, movement, sound, etc).”
“I really wanted to like this game, but the optimization is some of the worst I've ever seen.”
“The game is terribly optimized and abandoned.”
“Poorly optimized and runs at unbearably low framerates.”
- graphics216 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and immersive environments, while others criticize the poor optimization and low-quality character models. Many users report significant performance issues, including lag and crashes, especially on lower-end hardware, suggesting that the game requires a powerful PC to run smoothly. Overall, while the graphics have potential, they are marred by technical problems that detract from the gaming experience.
“The game is amazing, it has stunning graphics and a lot of places to explore.”
“The graphics are really good, but the only thing is that it takes long to load and there is rubber banding.”
“I'm amazed at the level of realism, the graphics and total immersion the game brings.”
“This game has the worst graphics; the characters look like badly made cartoons.”
“The graphics are shit at best for this day and age, and the game requires higher-end hardware to run it. It's more of an optimization issue on your end; your graphics look like the Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 could run it on ultra settings. Fix your game and give it some serious optimization.”
“The graphics are nothing special at all and should not require so much. I had to turn my graphics so far down that the game doesn't look that good.”
- gameplay174 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics, such as crafting and building, which many players find enjoyable and immersive. However, it suffers from significant optimization issues, bugs, and clunky mechanics that detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among users. While some players appreciate the potential and depth of the gameplay, the frequent crashes and poor performance hinder its enjoyment, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.
“The gameplay and scheme of the game is brilliant and the map is very well done.”
“I got 167 hours on this game and I can recommend it as it has good mechanics and plenty of things to do. The craft tree is nice and all the possibilities are also good.”
“Moving on from game mechanics, the actual gameplay is very fun and rewarding!”
“Terrible load times indicative of crappy development, clunky-unpolished mechanics everywhere, and basically everything about this title needs work.”
“Dull environment, boring gameplay, unresponsive controls, and very poor collision detection with crafting/combat also help to make this quite possibly the worst game I've ever played.”
“The game world might look okay but generally the mechanics, the functionality, piss poor optimization and the bugs make this a garbage game.”
- stability122 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and performance issues, making it often unplayable. Many players note that while the game has potential and can be enjoyable, it suffers from severe optimization problems and frequent glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, it is considered a buggy and unfinished product, with players expressing hope for future updates to address these issues.
“After 70 hours in alpha 7, the developers have been incredibly hardworking, adding and fixing numerous features. The game runs great even on a GTX 970.”
“The stability of the game has improved significantly with recent updates, making for a smoother experience overall.”
“I appreciate how the developers are committed to addressing bugs and enhancing stability, which makes the gameplay much more enjoyable.”
“Codehatch left this game to die; it's buggy as hell and wonky.”
“The game is near unplayable due to bugs, crashes, and glitches.”
“I waited for my review, gave this mess all the chances; I have 15 hours on the game, 14 hours were spent recovering from crashes and screen freezes, and throwing my keyboard against the wall. Right now this game is not worth $19.99; stay away, this is a huge mess right now.”
- grinding91 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players noting that significant effort is required to gather resources, upgrade tools, and progress through crafting and farming systems. While some enjoy the depth and complexity of farming and building mechanics, others find the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a sense of emptiness. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players appreciating the grind as part of the survival genre, while others feel it hampers enjoyment and progression.
“The building is nice as well, I like the way it's set up, not too grindy.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“There is only emptiness and grinding.”
“The game is super grindy and broken.”
- humor31 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its absurdity, goofy character animations, and the hilarious interactions that arise during gameplay. Many reviews mention the game's ability to create memorable, laugh-out-loud moments, especially when playing with friends, despite some bugs and oddities. Overall, the combination of silly mechanics and unexpected scenarios contributes to a uniquely entertaining experience.
“If there ever was a game that was hokey, visually artsy, crazy, deep, challenging, silly, imaginative, funny, and disgusting (at times), then this game is all of that and more.”
“I guarantee you will have many funny, meme-worthy, hilarious moments with your friends in this game.”
“The bandits drop some decent loot and accidentally shooting a friend with a dart gun to watch them drop is as funny as it sounds.”
“This is a nice game, but the loading time is so long that it's not funny at all.”
“The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
“I expected more laughs, but the jokes are stale and unoriginal.”
- story25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is highly variable, with some players noting a lack of a structured narrative or quests, leading to a sense of emptiness in gameplay. Others appreciate the potential for personal storytelling through exploration and crafting, though they express a desire for more defined missions and character interactions to enhance engagement. Overall, while there are glimpses of depth and potential, many feel the game falls short in delivering a compelling story experience.
“The plot is interesting and the characters have depth and personality.”
“Sometimes I even forget that I sit in front of my computer and I perceive myself inside of some story.”
“There is a lot of potential replayability in Heat; the political strife you may face as a farmer may make you want to take up arms and fight for a better president.”
“There is no real story and the progression of the game is boring.”
“Lack of quests or story.”
“There is no questline or story features in the game at all, and while the environment is beautiful, it quickly begins to feel empty since there is no purpose to what you are doing besides building up a homestead.”
- monetization18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to its unfinished state, poor performance, and lack of engaging content. Reviewers express disappointment over the disparity between the game's promotional materials and the actual experience, suggesting that the developers prioritize profit over quality. Overall, the sentiment indicates a lack of trust in the developers, who are perceived as having a history of releasing subpar games for financial gain.
“This game feels rushed and like a cash grab.”
“The game was never playable really, plagued by terrible FPS and buggy gameplay paired with terrible servers and empty concept ideas rushed to launch for a cash grab.”
“Beware those who want to play this game, it is clearly a cash grab and is almost nothing like the videos/screenshots.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and detailed world, effectively capturing the essence of the western genre. Players appreciate the beautiful scenery, natural sounds, and the ability to engage creatively within the environment, making it a standout experience among survival games. Despite some suggestions for improvement, the overall ambiance significantly enhances the gameplay, encouraging players to explore and enjoy the world.
“The attention to detail in terms of western atmosphere and characters makes the game a unique experience.”
“You really get an atmospheric taste for the wild west and frankly, I have been encouraging folks to enjoy it themselves.”
“Not as good as it could have been. I know that Hunt: Showdown doesn't have any real persistence or MMO aspect; however, I'd recommend if you want an atmosphere kind of like this... just get Hunt.”
“It's the atmosphere of the game that makes you want to play it more and more.”
“They have some new ideas, and it's set in a western atmosphere.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's significant potential for replayability, driven by its diverse roles and scenarios, such as navigating political strife or building a colony. While some technical issues exist, many find the game more playable than other early access titles, suggesting that with further development, it could become a standout in terms of replay value. Overall, the game's concept is praised for offering nearly infinite replayability.
“The game itself is an amazing idea, with almost infinite replayability.”
“One other element of this game that is important to me when I purchase games is their replayability.”
“There is a lot of potential replayability in Heat; the political strife you may face as a farmer may make you want to take up arms and fight for a better president. If you find yourself in the shoes of a sheriff, you can protest the safety of people because you're being paid too little. Whether you want to be the classic southern governor or just a man with a mission wanting to build a thriving colony, you can choose whatever you want to do. Heat is your playground.”
“Make the game more playable.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as decent, with some players appreciating the beautiful soundtrack while others find it less fitting for a survival game. Overall, the music contributes positively to the environment, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
“The environment and music are beautiful.”
“Good music soundtrack.”
“Music and sounds.”
“The music is okay, but I don't like music in survival games.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with users expressing frustration and disappointment due to technical issues, particularly long loading times. This has led to feelings of regret over the purchase, with some suggesting that the experience is so disheartening that it would be better to spend the money on something more fulfilling, like a meal.
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received criticism for its poor design choices, with avatars appearing unappealing and lacking depth. Reviewers noted that the animations and overall character aesthetics are subpar, detracting from the overall experience.
“The character design screen allows you to either have your avatar looking like a dead hobo or a drug addict with a bad cold.”
“Animations are bad, character design is poor, and the overall user interface is pretty lacking.”