Helium
- March 10, 2017
- rocketship
Get on Steam"Helium" is a hardcore first-person shooter set in a distant future where you, the liaison on Vega 2
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique atmosphere and interesting worldbuilding, making it stand out among indie titles.
- It is a cheap option for achievement hunters, with easy 100% Steam achievements available.
- The soundtrack and sound design are well-received, enhancing the overall experience.
- Gameplay mechanics are poorly executed, with frustrating controls and a lack of intuitive design.
- The graphics are bland and repetitive, primarily featuring a dull grey color palette that detracts from immersion.
- The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs, poor AI, and a frustrating checkpoint system.
- graphics22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique, abstract aesthetic and cool enemy designs, while others criticize the visuals as inconsistent and lacking polish. The limited graphical settings (only low and medium) and technical issues, such as screen tearing and poor audio-visual synchronization, detract from the overall experience. Despite its artistic intentions, many find the graphics to be a significant drawback, often describing them as "hideous" or "hot garbage" at times.
“Although the game started on a pretty poor note and at times it can look pretty sweet one moment and then turn around and look like hot garbage the other, what is presented here overall has a unique, abstract aesthetic with cool, strange enemy and weapon designs.”
“+ for a cheap indie game fine graphics, sounds, level design (only very empty), gameplay.”
“I think the developers knew it looked hideous because your options menu is limited to two choices - graphics low or graphics medium.”
“Graphically, the game is the equivalent of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry is dating a woman that looks great sometimes and horrendous at others.”
“Graphics are made in gray tones, which additionally creates an atmosphere of unreality of what is happening.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its rough mechanics, poor controls, and lackluster level design, leading to a frustrating experience that can become tedious after a short time. Players noted the minimal HUD and absence of guidance can make navigation difficult, while technical issues, such as audio-visual desynchronization and unresponsive enemy AI, further detract from the overall experience. Despite some appreciation for the aesthetic choices, the gameplay is generally considered bog standard and in need of significant improvement.
“For a cheap indie game, the graphics, sounds, and level design are fine, but the gameplay could use improvement.”
“The story and worldbuilding were pretty nice, but the gameplay felt rough and the visuals were very repetitive throughout.”
“The gameplay is quite standard; you walk from one end of the map to the other and shoot at a few different types of enemies.”
“Controls are terrible, level design is poor, story/presentation is weak, gameplay can be boring/frustrating.”
“Gameplay is bog standard; you walk from one end of the map to the other and shoot the 3-4 different types of enemies.”
“It does a poor job explaining the game mechanics and it's a technical mess; the audio doesn't always sync with visuals, the enemy AI automatically knows where you are but has no attack animation, so you can't tell when you're getting hit. The sprint mechanic is awful because you don't know how long you can run, and the speed increase is barely noticeable.”
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story and worldbuilding are generally considered underwhelming, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and coherence, often feeling rushed or poorly presented. While there are hints of a more complex narrative involving themes like terraforming, the execution is criticized for being lackluster, with minimal voice acting and a reliance on simplistic text snippets. Overall, the story fails to elevate the gameplay experience, which is marred by poor controls and repetitive visuals.
“Out of all story-driven adventure games, this one stands out because it's a first-person shooter.”
“The story/worldbuilding was pretty nice but the gameplay was rough and the visuals are very samey throughout.”
“[h1]+[/h1] - music, design, atmosphere, story.”
“The story is very meh, and the one bit of voiceover in it is laughable.”
“There seems to be no story purpose for this thus far and seeing the disparity between them is jarring and seems rushed/cheap.”
“In addition to that, the 'story' amounts to nothing more than a few snippets of text that barely qualify.”
- music16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its fitting ambiance and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players expressing interest in obtaining the soundtrack as downloadable content. While the sound effects and music are well-executed, some reviews note that the outdoor environments may lack the same level of quality. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“The music goes very well with the ambiance, and I'd be interested to get the game soundtrack as a DLC (free would be very appreciated).”
“Great ambiance and music without a doubt.”
“The game's sound effects and music seem well done, and some of the environments and technology (warp gates, doors, weapons, etc.) are sleekly designed.”
“The game's sound effects and music seem well done, and some of the environments and technology (warp gates, doors, weapons, etc) are sleekly designed; however, the outdoor environments in between can be awash in mediocrity.”
“Also, atmospheres are enhanced by well-chosen soundtracks.”
“- Soundtrack is fitting.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its gray-toned graphics, which contribute to a sense of unreality, complemented by a well-chosen soundtrack that enhances the experience. Reviewers note that the atmosphere evokes a strange and dangerous sci-fi world, making it particularly appealing to fans of the genre, while potentially deterring those less interested in such themes.
“The atmosphere is truly captivating, drawing you into the experience.”
“The graphics are rendered in gray tones, which enhance the sense of unreality in the game.”
“The well-chosen soundtracks significantly contribute to the immersive atmosphere.”
“Graphics are made in gray tones, which additionally creates an atmosphere of unreality of what is happening.”
“If you are not interested in sci-fi, the atmosphere of a strange and dangerous world, and you are not ready for difficulties in passing - then you better refrain from buying.”
“Also, atmospheres are enhanced by well-chosen soundtracks.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide any information regarding the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on the controller support and button mapping. Therefore, no summary can be made about monetization based on the provided texts.
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is noted for its unusual performance, which contributes to its overall intrigue and appeal.
“The game is interesting in the first place due to its unusual performance.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues that hinder the overall experience.”
“Performance drops significantly in certain areas, making it frustrating to play.”
“The lack of proper optimization leads to frequent stuttering and lag during gameplay.”
