Hell Pie
- July 21, 2022
- Sluggerfly
- 11h median play time
Hell Pie is a 3D platformer that’s crude, rude and has some of the best locomotion in the genre thanks to its grappling gameplay.
In "Hell Pie," play as Nate, the Demon of Bad Taste, on a mission to gather ingredients for Satan's birthday pie in a twisted 3D platformer. Traverse insane environments, wield Nugget the angel-companion as a weapon or grappling hook, and discover grotesque abilities from various horns. Witness shocking sights and questionable humor in this mature take on classic mascot platformers.
Reviews
- Hell Pie offers a fun and fluid platforming experience with a unique grappling hook mechanic that allows for creative movement and exploration.
- The game features a quirky and humorous narrative filled with dark humor and absurdity, reminiscent of classics like Conker's Bad Fur Day.
- Visually appealing with vibrant environments and a charming art style, Hell Pie successfully captures the essence of nostalgic 3D platformers.
- The game suffers from some bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with hitboxes and collectibles not registering properly.
- Some players found the humor to be crude and repetitive, which may not appeal to everyone and can detract from the overall experience.
- The level design can feel uneven, with some areas lacking inspiration and the final boss encounters being underwhelming.
- humor178 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is a divisive mix of dark, crude, and gross-out elements, often reminiscent of classic titles like *Conker's Bad Fur Day* and *Banjo-Kazooie*. While some players find the absurd and raunchy jokes hilarious, others feel that the humor can be immature or overdone, leading to a hit-or-miss experience. Overall, those who appreciate offbeat and edgy humor are likely to enjoy the game's quirky charm, while others may find it off-putting.
“Hell Pie is silly, funny, and disgusting.”
“The humor is great!!!”
“It's filled to the brim with charm and attention to detail, all wrapped up with great gameplay and a stupid fun sense of humor.”
“Get past the painfully unfunny 'comedy' (there are no actual jokes here unless you consider zero-context poo and gore to be jokes) and you will find one of the most fun 3D platformers to be released in quite some time with great controls, great levels, and lots of freedom to explore.”
“Worst jokes ever, no respect to religions + easter egg of so many Nintendo games like Bad Fur Day + Banjo + Ratchet, but the game is silly, not funny.”
- gameplay145 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its fun and fluid movement mechanics, particularly the grappling hook and swinging abilities, which allow for creative traversal and exploration. While the platforming is generally enjoyable and reminiscent of classic titles, some players noted issues with hit detection, level design, and the overpowered nature of certain mechanics that can trivialize challenges. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging mechanics with a quirky sense of humor, making it a solid choice for fans of 3D platformers.
“I love the swinging mechanic, and some of the level designs were fun and creative.”
“The levels are packed with quirky challenges and inventive mechanics, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.”
“The gameplay is a platformer with jumps and goes, not many variety of things/skills etc but little puzzle-like areas that you move from one to another but all felt the same.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's just simple jump and run, with the addition of an always available grappling hook, which quite frankly makes the game a cakewalk once upgraded a bit.”
“As much as I would like to give this game a sideways thumb, the core mechanic of swinging is unfortunately broken, especially toward the end levels.”
“However, that same mechanic (swinging) makes most of the level design pointless as most platforms can be skipped without too much trouble.”
- story58 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Hell Pie" is characterized as simple and quirky, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a deep narrative experience. While some players appreciate its humor and absurdity, others find it lacking coherence and depth, with the plot revolving around collecting ingredients for a pie to celebrate Satan's birthday. Overall, the lighthearted and zany storytelling, combined with humorous dialogue, contributes to the game's charm, making it enjoyable despite its narrative shortcomings.
“Hell Pie may not be the perfect platformer as the controls can get a little sluggish at times; however, the quirky story, funny dialogue, and the all-over-the-place atmosphere surely cover up for the controls. The humor of the game is truly what makes it special.”
“The story of Hell Pie is quite simple: Satan’s birthday is around the corner, and you are tasked to collect various ingredients to help out the chef create the most hellish and disgusting pie to celebrate Satan’s special day.”
“The story is zany and fun, and the horn upgrades help bring more of the platforming and exploration out of the game.”
“The story is...well...basically non-existent.”
“There is no story to the game at all.”
“Also, there was no coherence, no overarching plot that would somehow glue this mess together; there is basically no narrative besides 'just collect these ingredients for the pie.' It's a sightseeing of crude situations born from infantile minds who checked all the boxes that obviously are supposed to detonate the boundaries of good taste.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their quirky, cartoonish style that effectively complements the platforming mechanics and humor, reminiscent of titles like "A Hat in Time" and "Conker's Bad Fur Day." While some players noted minor graphical glitches and a reliance on crude humor, the overall visual design is considered vibrant and well-executed, with options for customization and decent optimization. The aesthetic, though intentionally grotesque, is appreciated for its creativity and alignment with the game's themes, making it a fun experience for fans of the genre.
“Graphics and art style are also great, with lots of graphics customization options.”
“The art style reminds me of the old Alice in Wonderland games (in a good way) and the platforming is very satisfying, especially when you get upgraded a bit.”
“Graphics are great, platforming is on point and I've encountered very little bugs/performance issues.”
“The visuals are disgusting (just how the developers wanted it), but the cutscenes could definitely use some work.”
“Otherewise, try to bear with the redditor that never ends the joke, alongside horrid visuals, annoying dialogue, and an overly unbearable game among that.”
“A little rough around the edges here and there such as some minor graphical glitches and collision issues, but otherwise a very fun experience.”
- music39 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the enjoyable and memorable soundtrack that enhances the whimsical adventure, while others find it average or repetitive. Notably, certain tracks stand out as exceptional, particularly in specific zones, but issues with audio mixing and volume levels detract from the overall experience for some. Overall, the sound design is considered good, contributing positively to the vibrant environments and gameplay.
“The soundtrack is amazing, and as bizarre and eclectic as the rest of the game.”
“The environments and music were very creative, which were what I enjoyed most about the game.”
“I was bobbing my head along to a lot of the soundtrack and really loved the detail that went into the noises.”
“Lean back, crack a cold one and enjoy the wide range of emotional abuse that'll have you go from 'huh???' to '.. what?' to 'hah!' while you collect ingredients, dress up in fabulous outfits, get high and drown in acid, all while listening to a chronic case of elevator music that would make you double-check whether you're in hell or not.”
“If I had to say one easy thing that would make it better, it's that the music and voice are way too low even at max. The rest of the game's sounds are turned down, and some tweaks do help shake the 'sleepy' vibe.”
“Music carries games like this, and having a serviceable track list that is also very understated kills the vibe.”
- optimization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report stable performance and decent graphics on higher-end PCs, others experience significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor performance in certain areas, particularly with a high number of enemies on screen. V-sync functionality has also been criticized, and despite some updates improving performance, many users remain frustrated with ongoing bugs and inconsistent optimization.
“Mobility is wonderful, it is well optimized.”
“The visuals are fine, they're rendered well and the optimization is decent, with later updates fixing some of the main issues I'd had with the game.”
“Performance-wise it's pretty solid, you don't need a monster PC to run this game.”
“My experience with this game was less than satisfactory mainly because performance was really broken for me.”
“This game looks really awesome, and I wish I could play it, but the performance was so bad that I had no choice but to refund this game, which really made me sad since I was looking forward to playing this.”
“I've read that this game has been having performance issues for a while, and I was hoping to see the game fixed, but it isn't, and I have no idea if the devs will.”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by a mix of minor bugs and glitches, including occasional clipping and camera issues, but none are deemed game-breaking. While some players report a few frustrating gameplay bugs and rough edges, the experience remains enjoyable and well-optimized for the most part.
“The game is bug-free and well optimized.”
“The stability of the game is impressive, with no crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it feels very stable.”
“I did fall through the wall in the pipe restaurant several times, but other than that I've not noticed any other bugs or glitches.”
“Finally, there was generally terrible boss design, in that, there were really only 2 and both felt buggy and half-finished.”
“For the cons, I would say that the game is still a bit buggy and sometimes it feels like I'm fighting with the camera every time I do the swing.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the exploration and movement mechanics are enjoyable, the lengthy and tedious level designs, along with the need for extensive farming to achieve 100%, can lead to frustration. Many reviewers noted that the requirement to backtrack through levels and hub worlds to collect upgrades and complete achievements contributes to a grindy feel, especially towards the end of the game.
“Great game, but the costume achievement ruined my entire experience. It got annoying after having to do 3+ hours of farming crystals.”
“Levels don't have shortcuts and are pretty long and tedious in general. To get that upgrade, I would need to go back through the level by going through it backwards, go to an entirely different hub world (there are 4), find that upgrade (ram horns), and then make my way all the way back to the third hub world, find my way back to the level entrance, and then do the entire level over again just to beat it.”
“Another thing is how grindy it becomes if you want 100%, including all achievements.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a rollercoaster experience, blending humor and absurdity with moments of genuine sentiment, evoking laughter and tears in equal measure. Players navigate a whimsical yet chaotic world filled with dark humor and unexpected twists, all while engaging in platforming mechanics that enhance the overall experience. The juxtaposition of lighthearted themes with deeper emotional undertones creates a unique and memorable journey.
“It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me ooze a little.”
“Lean back, crack a cold one and enjoy the wide range of emotional abuse that'll have you go from 'huh???' to '.. what?' to 'hah!' while you collect ingredients, dress up in fabulous outfits, get high and drown in acid, all while listening to a chronic case of elevator music that would make you double-check whether *you're* in hell or not.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Hell Pie features a unique and engaging atmosphere characterized by its quirky story, humorous dialogue, and a blend of dark comedy. While the controls may be sluggish at times, the enjoyable level design and comedic elements create a memorable experience that stands out in the platforming genre.
“Smooth platforming, enjoyable level design, and overall a unique comedic atmosphere makes this game stand out!”
“This game has a great time setting up a great atmosphere with dark yet strong comedic moments.”
“Hell Pie may not be the perfect platformer as the controls can get a little sluggish at times; however, the quirky story, funny dialogue, and all-over-the-place atmosphere surely cover up for the controls. The humor of the game is truly what makes it special.”
“The atmosphere in Hell Pie feels disjointed and chaotic, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“While the quirky story and humor are enjoyable, the overall atmosphere lacks cohesion and can be overwhelming.”
“The game's atmosphere is all over the place, which detracts from the overall experience and makes it difficult to engage with the narrative.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is polarizing, with some players appreciating the unique art style and character designs, while others find them unappealing and grotesque. The game's use of black humor and violent themes contributes to a distinctive experience, though it may not resonate with everyone. Overall, character design plays a significant role in shaping the game's atmosphere, eliciting mixed reactions from players.
“Overall, the game is filled with a lot of black humor and violent bloody scenes, along with nauseating sound effects and many unsightly character designs, but if you can appreciate them, the game experience can still be very enjoyable.”
“I also really like the art style and character designs in this game; it looks great.”
“The character designs are some of the ugliest I've ever seen, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
“The game is filled with a lot of black humor and violent bloody scenes, but the unsightly character designs make it hard to appreciate.”
“I don't find the character development disturbing, but the map and character designs are absolutely hateable.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for having no replay value, indicating that players do not find incentives to revisit it after completing it.
“There is no replay value.”
“The game lacks any incentive to play again.”
“Once you finish it, there's nothing left to draw you back.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is praised for its absence of microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy a solid game experience without additional costs beyond the initial purchase.
“To top it off, there are no microtransactions; you just get a decent game for your purchase.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than the initial purchase price just to enjoy the full experience.”
“I was disappointed to find that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending extra money.”
“The constant prompts to buy in-game currency really detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
Critic Reviews
Hell Pie review
Hell Pie is a 3D platformer that’s crude, rude and has some of the best locomotion in the genre thanks to its grappling gameplay.
90%Hell Pie Review
We all love a bit of pie, don’t we?
60%Hell Pie
Hell Pie is a vile and crude 3D platformer that will make you laugh. With many well-trodden mechanics and interesting levels to explore, this will keep you busy. If you love your collectables, then this is the game for you! + Colourful graphics. + Interesting and varied level design. + Crude cinematic. + Tight controls. + Plenty of collectables. - The strong language may be too much for some. (Rating: PEGI 18 Strong Language, Nudity Release date: 21/07/2022 Price: £19.99) (Reviewed on the Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5)
80%