HellCat
- June 14, 2018
- Verbal Chambers
Get on Steam"HellCat" is a pixel top-down shooter game featuring a cat protagonist on a mission to rescue a friend and defeat an evil enemy in a monochrome world of hell. The game boasts an explosive retro-wave soundtrack and provides a challenging quest filled with battles against devilish creatures. As the cat becomes HellCat, players will navigate labyrinths and uncover truths in this epic journey through purgatory.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game is free and offers addictive gameplay with good music and funny sound effects.
- It features responsive controls and a variety of guns that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Despite its difficulty, the game provides a sense of accomplishment and is fun for those who enjoy challenging gameplay.
- The one-hit-death mechanic can be frustrating, leading to a reliance on long-range tactics and making the game feel unfair at times.
- The game is relatively short, with some players finishing it in just a few hours, and the level design lacks creativity.
- There are issues with the game's save system and difficulty balance, which can lead to repeated frustration for players.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its responsiveness and the strategic use of various weapons against different enemies, making it engaging and fun. However, the 1-hit-death mechanic can lead to a cautious playstyle that detracts from the experience, and many players feel the game lacks polish and additional content. Suggestions for improvement include automatic weapon pickups and refining the throwing mechanic to enhance overall gameplay.
“On the one hand, basic gameplay is pretty good as Hellcat is very responsive to input, and the various guns all have their (dis)advantages that you can put to good use depending on the type(s) of enemies you're dealing with in a particular level.”
“Easy-to-pick-up gameplay (and the addition of a cat!) somehow manage to make this ultra-difficult 2D shoot-em-up fun, even if that isn't generally your genre.”
“I get what they are going for; it certainly provides an interesting mechanic. Though its current implementation is frustrating, I'm not sure how you would get around that given the design they are going for, but some polish at the very least is needed as it certainly has the potential to be a super interesting and unique mechanic for such a game.”
“On the other hand, I think that a 1-hit-death mechanic is not optimal - it very strongly encourages playing safe and just spraying the enemies with bullets from afar.”
“The uncatlike gameplay and low-res graphics really don't give you much to go on.”
“The gameplay is pretty simplistic; you can pick up guns, throw guns (and yes, it hurts enemies), use a melee attack if you have no gun, and you can shoot guns. If you get hit once, you are dead and restart.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as nice and fitting for the experience. However, some players find it excessively loud, though they appreciate the option to adjust the volume, with some even preferring the game without music to better hear in-game sound effects.
“A neat little game with nice music.”
“The music is really, really loud, but thankfully you can adjust this in settings, and the game is somehow even better without any music at all, as being able to hear the firing of the crossbows and guns really helps.”
“My other complaint would be that the music is really, really loud, but thankfully you can adjust this in settings and the game is somehow even better without any music at all, as being able to hear the firing of the crossbows and guns really helps.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by simple pixel art that may appear low-resolution, but the game runs smoothly without any technical issues. However, some players feel that the graphics do not enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“The uncatlike gameplay and low-res graphics really don't give you much to go on.”
“The pixel graphics are very simple, but the game is smooth and I didn't encounter any problems.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a quest to save the protagonist's girlfriend, featuring battles against minions and berserkers. Each level includes narration that adds a minor narrative element, enhancing the overall experience.
“You adventure through all the minions and berserkers (the enemies with red eyes), killing everything in sight on the quest to save your girlfriend.”
“There is now narration with every level, which gives a minor story.”
“The story feels incredibly shallow, with little depth or character development.”
“The plot is predictable and lacks any real twists or surprises.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to engage the player emotionally.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighting the funny sound effects that enhance the overall comedic experience.
“The funny sound effects really add to the overall humor of the game.”
“I love how the humor is enhanced by the hilarious sound effects.”
“The game is filled with funny sound effects that keep me laughing throughout.”
