Hell is Other Demons
- May 20, 2019
- Cuddle Monster Games
A fun, but frustrating, bullet hell shooter with some of the best damn pixel graphics and chiptune sounds out there.
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"Hell is Other Demons" is a retro-style bullet hell shooter with fast-paced, challenging combat and a campaign set in a vibrant, over-the-top depiction of hell. The game features unforgettable style with bold art and a synthwave soundtrack. The Arcade Mode offers infinite replayability with procedurally generated action. Practice and creativity are rewarded as you battle against thousands of demons and memorable bosses.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features stunning pixel art and a fantastic synthwave soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Gameplay is fast-paced and fluid, with tight controls that make jumping, shooting, and dashing feel satisfying and responsive.
- The variety of weapons, upgrades, and game modes (including a campaign and arcade mode) provide ample replayability and keep the gameplay fresh.
- The campaign is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content after completion.
- The aiming mechanics can be frustrating, especially when using a controller, as movement and aiming are often mapped to the same stick.
- Some players have reported issues with enemy spawn mechanics, leading to unfair hits and difficulty in distinguishing projectiles amidst the chaotic visuals.
- music77 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay. The blend of dark synth and electronic elements creates an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replayability.
“The music is just fantastic and pumps adrenaline.”
“This game has a simple concept and delivers it perfectly, presented with awesome retro graphics and a banger soundtrack.”
“The art and music are top notch and so is the gameplay, simple yet quite deep thanks to the several movement options and the various upgrades and weapons you can obtain.”
“Oh my god, the soundtrack...”
“The soundtrack deserves a special mention too, with evil synths and rhythmic blips.”
“I honestly bought this game for the music alone.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, arcade-style mechanics that are easy to pick up yet challenging to master, offering a blend of simple controls and engaging action. Players appreciate the variety of upgrades, weapons, and modes that enhance replayability, although some find the experience can feel sparse or repetitive at times. Overall, the game is praised for its smooth controls, beautiful visuals, and a satisfying difficulty curve that keeps players returning for more.
“The gameplay is fast and easy to pick up, while the visuals and audio are a feast for the senses.”
“Gameplay: arcade, bullet hell perfection with extremely smooth and responsive controls and fair/balanced gameplay.”
“The art and music are top notch and so is the gameplay, simple yet quite deep thanks to the several movement options and the various upgrades and weapons you can obtain.”
“It's more akin to a mobile game with its small scope and arcade-like gameplay, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just that the game doesn't do much with it; it has nothing to make it stand out.”
“Between the constant particles, moving/claustrophobic camera, and lack of animation, the bullet-hell gameplay can be exhausting to look at.”
“Aiming mechanic is bad.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Hell is Other Demons" are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and vibrant color schemes, effectively blending retro aesthetics with modern polish. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to maintain clarity amidst chaotic gameplay, with well-defined enemies and engaging environments that enhance the overall experience. The art style, combined with an impressive soundtrack, contributes to a visually appealing and immersive arcade shooter that captivates players.
“The aesthetic style alone is worth the money in my opinion.”
“The visuals are striking.”
“I could go on and on about the graphics: the pixelation effect is blended masterfully with other more modern effects, to produce a hybrid level of detailed smoothness which is very conducive to hyper-fast gameplay.”
“Love the art style and overall vibe but I did not find it at all rewarding from a gameplay perspective for a few reasons.”
“Too bad, because I really liked the art style.”
“It doesn't matter; the graphics work well.”
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally viewed as the weakest aspect, with many players noting a captivating premise but a lack of significant progression throughout the campaign. While some appreciate the mission-based structure and the opportunity for skill progression, others feel that the narrative is minimal and overshadowed by the more engaging arcade mode. Overall, the game seems to cater more to players who prioritize gameplay mechanics over a deep story.
“A truly fantastic arena game which features a robust arcade mode and a mission-based story mode, both with tons of unlockable stuff which will give you a nice feeling of progression even when you lose.”
“In the story mode, you can explore a small map with road forks, buy upgrades, and fight bosses.”
“I have not played the arena that much, but I think it has a good loop for those that like high scores, and the story provides enough content if you just want some skill progression.”
“The premise of the story is captivating; however, I feel the campaign is almost at an end and I haven't seen much story progression. I hope this is not a storyless game or a Souls-like narration. Paying attention to hidden details while dodging bullets at high speeds doesn't sound reasonable.”
“Story is almost non-existent, and once you get past the controls (not bad, not really good either), the game is kind of fun and you get this 'one more level' kind of vibe.”
“Writing/story: little to no story.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various modes and challenges, including an engaging arcade rogue-lite mode and opportunities for high-score pursuits. While some players note that the core experience may not encourage multiple playthroughs, the combination of alternate modes and appealing graphics contributes to its overall replay value.
“It has great graphics, a great soundtrack, simple and fun mechanics, and a great deal of replayability.”
“The arcade mode is the rogue-lite mode and is a great choice for replayability.”
“Replayability seems high with several modes and challenges in addition to the basics of clearing levels.”
“Replayability: there are some alternate modes/challenges to get high scores for endless levels, but other than that there isn’t any reason I can find to play through the game again.”
“Replayability: seems high with several modes and challenges in addition to the basics of clearing levels.”
“All that with gorgeous pixel art, sexy soundtrack and huge replay value.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it encourages revisiting past levels to collect gems, which enhances the overall experience. The grindy and industrial vibe, reminiscent of synthwave artists like Carpenter Brut and Perturbator, adds to the enjoyment for fans of the genre.
“Encourages grinding past levels for gems.”
“I love synthwave, and this grindy/industrial take on it reminds me very much of Carpenter Brut or Perturbator.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have reported issues with stability, noting the presence of buggy physics that can affect gameplay.
“The game suffers from frequent crashes that disrupt the experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that affect gameplay, making it frustrating to progress.”
“The physics engine is quite buggy, leading to unpredictable character movements.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its impressive demonic and cyberpunk atmosphere, with attention to detail evident in elements like weapon projectiles and exploding enemies, contributing to an immersive experience.
“The game has a great demonic/cyberpunk atmosphere, and even the smaller details (weapon projectiles, exploding enemies, etc.) all look exceptionally good.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization for controller use is criticized, as players experience performance issues due to the aiming and movement being controlled by the same stick, which can hinder gameplay, especially for those accustomed to keyboard and mouse controls.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the settings, making it easy to adjust graphics for the best performance.”
“The game runs flawlessly after the latest patch, showcasing the team's commitment to optimization.”
“First, even though I'm a keyboard and mouse person, I do sometimes play with a controller for comfort. While this game is technically playable with a controller, you'll lose a lot of performance due to aiming and moving both being mapped to the same stick.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted and playful tone, with comedic elements that resonate well with players. The comedic timing and witty dialogue contribute to an overall enjoyable experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious, keeping me entertained from start to finish.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and clever puns throughout the game.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, making every interaction a joy to experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the reviews highlight positive elements such as art style, character design, and sound design, they do not provide specific insights into character development itself. Therefore, the feedback on character development remains unclear and unaddressed.
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is impacted by the need for manual interaction, such as pressing a button to pick up weapons, which may detract from the immersive experience and emotional engagement players seek.
