Heathen - The sons of the law
- December 18, 2018
- Frog Factory
Get on SteamIn "Heathen - The Sons of the Law" , players experience a first-person adventure, inspired by HG Wells' "The Island of Doctor Moreau." As part of the English expedition "Peary & Scott," discover a mysterious island with half-human, half-animal creatures, created by the infamous Dr. Moreau. Navigate ethical dilemmas between scientific advancements and the morality of slave labor, while building an empire within 20 years. Early Access disclaimer: saved games may not carry over between updates.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The graphics and art atmosphere are impressive, drawing players into the game world.
- The gameplay mechanics, including the ability to switch between human and beast forms, provide a unique and engaging experience.
- The game has a promising story based on 'The Island of Dr. Moreau' and offers interesting exploration and combat elements.
- The game has been in Early Access since 2018 without any updates, leading many to believe it is abandoned.
- There are numerous bugs and unpolished elements, including issues with controls and hidden objectives that can frustrate players.
- The game ends on a cliffhanger, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and uncertain about the future of the story.
- story18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, with players finding it interesting and engaging, though some express a desire for more depth and completion as it currently feels unfinished. The narrative features unique elements, such as a non-human protagonist on a compelling mission, and is based on a book, which adds to its intrigue. However, there are concerns about the linearity of the main story and the need for improved world-building and additional content.
“The story is interesting.”
“First of all, the character you play isn't even fully human; he can turn into some sort of beast, and he's taking up a painful mission in the name of Moreau, which is pretty badass.”
“That being said, the story is just good, and it's based off of a book that I now have to read, so if you'll excuse me...”
“I hope development continues (right now, only a small part of the levels and the story is finished/accessed) and the problems are improved upon (e.g. performance, melee hit detection, world building, things to do besides the linear main story).”
“The game seems promising, I love the gameplay and I want to know how the story proceeds later, but as of now it is still unfinished...”
“Less story than expected (cutscenes, more documents ... )”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its intuitive mechanics, user-friendly interface, and engaging puzzles, creating a smooth flow that allows players to adapt quickly. While the action elements may feel lackluster to some, the overall experience is enjoyable, with balanced gunplay and interesting game mechanics. However, some players express concern over the game's unfinished state and occasional glitches, indicating that it may still require further development.
“There are puzzles, some steampunk technology, and a good gameplay flow.”
“You won't have any problems adapting to the gameplay; the interface is user-friendly and the gameplay overall is intuitively recognizable, so you'll adapt fast.”
“Gameplay is awesome!”
“Tasteless is the word I would use to describe the action/shooting part of the gameplay.”
“The game seems promising, I love the gameplay and I want to know how the story proceeds later, but as of now it is still unfinished...”
“However, after you defeat a major boss, the game does cut off, making it clear that the game is still not complete.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their quality and immersive art atmosphere, with many reviewers noting they remain impressive even by current standards. However, some users report occasional glitches, such as floating objects and minor terrain issues. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, especially given the small development team behind it.
“The graphics are fantastic, especially for a team of just two people.”
“Graphics - the game looks nice and plays smoothly.”
“The graphics are still extremely good, even by today's standards, and the art atmosphere really draws you in.”
“The graphics and gameplay are so-so at best.”
“There are a few graphic glitches where you can see under or outside the map, trees and bushes floating in the air, etc.”
“The only thing that really bothers me is that there has been no update for some time, and it seems like this game has been abandoned, which is a shame since I can only recommend it for its unique atmosphere and decent gameplay, gunplay, and graphics, even in this state.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its impressive graphics and immersive art design, creating an engaging and eerie environment that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the unique blend of challenge and exploration, noting that the atmosphere is both atmospheric and creepy without relying heavily on horror elements. However, concerns about the game's lack of updates suggest a fear of abandonment, which could detract from its overall experience.
“The graphics are still extremely good, even by today's standards, and the art atmosphere really draws you in.”
“A really good, atmospheric game and worth every penny of its asking price.”
“I love the atmosphere; it's not horror or too gory but features challenging encounters.”
“Eerie atmosphere noises.”
“The graphics are still extremely good, even by today's standards, and the art atmosphere really draws you in; it needs to be finished.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its quality and immersive sound design, enhancing the overall experience. However, there is a notable criticism regarding the limited number of tracks available.
“The music and sound effects are great.”
“Amazing game music, sounds, monster design, and also monster screams.”
“Wonderful music, though there is a huge lack of tracks.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report minor graphic glitches, such as floating objects and visibility issues, but these do not significantly disrupt gameplay. Stability is generally acceptable, with only occasional, non-game-breaking issues noted.
“There are a few graphic glitches where you can see under or outside the map, trees and bushes floating in the air, etc.”
“There are a few glitches here and there (I'm constantly being seen but nothing is around) but nothing that really halts my gameplay.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, users express a desire for continued development to address various optimization issues, including melee hit detection and world-building elements, while noting that performance is currently satisfactory.
“Performance is good!”
“I hope development continues and the problems are improved upon, such as performance, melee hit detection, world building, and additional activities beyond the linear main story.”
“I hope development continues; right now, only a small part of the levels and the story is finished and accessible. The problems need to be improved upon, such as performance, melee hit detection, world building, and providing things to do besides the linear main story.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“There are significant issues with loading times and texture pop-ins that make the game feel unfinished and frustrating to play.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express disappointment over the emotional impact of the game, particularly due to its unresolved cliffhanger, which leaves them feeling heartbroken and unable to recommend it despite its other qualities.
“I cannot recommend it only for that reason, and even if you don't mind its price, the fact that it will probably remain in a cliffhanger forever is just heartbreaking...”
