HELLGATE: London

49%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,073 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
HELLGATE: London Game Cover
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In the action RPG Hellgate: London, players fight to save humanity from demonic invasion in a post-apocalyptic world. With 6 character classes, randomized levels and enemies, and various game modes, the game offers infinite playability and a blend of first-person and third-person perspectives. Premium support items and optimized scenario contents are included in the latest version on Steam.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

49%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,073 reviews
story56 positive mentions
graphics46 negative mentions
  • Nostalgic experience for fans of the original game.
  • Offers a unique blend of action RPG and first-person shooter mechanics.
  • Includes all DLC content, providing a substantial amount of gameplay.
  • Severe 1 FPS bug that makes the game unplayable for many users.
  • Graphics and performance issues, with no updates or fixes from the developers.
  • No multiplayer option, which was a significant aspect of the original game.
  • graphics346 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being outdated and lacking significant improvements from the original release, with many players noting issues such as a persistent 1 fps bug and overall poor visual quality. While some enhancements to character models and textures have been acknowledged, the game still suffers from technical problems and a lack of modern graphical options, leading to a frustrating experience for many users. Overall, the visuals are seen as a major drawback, detracting from the gameplay despite its nostalgic appeal.

    • “Great graphics.”
    • “I'm so happy to see this still playable with decent graphics nearly 20 years later!”
    • “The graphics, while still dated, have been improved from the original run.”
    • “The graphics are, and have always been the biggest issue with this game.”
    • “The graphics are somehow worse than the original.”
    • “It also has worse graphics (much worse and the better textures will not help at all) than original and 1fps bug that makes some areas unplayable.. it is a brutal cash grab.”
  • story296 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging themes and atmosphere, while others criticize it for being convoluted, repetitive, and poorly executed. Many noted that the quest system feels generic and reminiscent of a low-quality MMO, leading to a lack of immersion and interest in the narrative. Additionally, issues with localization and bugs have detracted from the overall storytelling experience, leaving some players frustrated and unable to progress.

    • “The story, the concept, the design are awesome!”
    • “The story is really great; the action is pretty fun as well as the classes. For a game as old as this one, it still has a storyline better than most games these days by keeping you interested to keep going to find out more, even on the predictable parts.”
    • “When Hellgate: London was first released back in 2007, I was enthralled by the story and captivated by the cinematics.”
    • “The main story, the little bit of it there is, is non-interesting and needlessly complicated for the sake of it being complicated without there being a payoff of any sort.”
    • “This is not what you expect after watching the amazing intro movie which is supposed to set up a tone for the story which is then not followed at all.”
    • “They took a game I loved when it first came out and reduxed it to a convoluted mess with no apparent plot left and broken quests.”
  • gameplay250 mentions

    The gameplay of Hellgate: London combines first-person shooter mechanics with RPG elements, offering a unique experience that many find engaging and nostalgic. However, it suffers from repetitive gameplay, technical issues like the notorious 1 FPS bug, and a lack of polish, which can detract from enjoyment. While the game features diverse character classes and satisfying loot mechanics reminiscent of ARPGs, it is often criticized for its clunky mechanics and outdated graphics, leading to mixed reviews overall.

    • “Combining first-person shooter mechanics with RPG elements, the game offers a unique and immersive experience.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, Hellgate London offers a diverse range of character classes, each with their own distinct playstyle.”
    • “I’ve loved the gameplay and atmosphere, especially the customization for gear.”
    • “However, the game suffers from repetitive gameplay and technical issues that can detract from the overall enjoyment.”
    • “This version has managed to significantly ruin the gameplay to a point where it simply does not engage me, which is fairly shocking considering I purchased this through pure nostalgia when I learned it was a Hellgate Global port.”
    • “Gameplay is cramped and hitchy and not quite fluid, and between the textures and framerates, it is a bit rough to deal with.”
  • stability138 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including frequent freezes and significant frame rate drops. Many players describe it as a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience, making it difficult to recommend, even for nostalgic fans. While some find humor in the glitches, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization and fixes to be considered playable.

    • “No freezes for whatever hours I've spent on this grindfest.”
    • “So instead of feeling older than it is, it feels exactly its age and runs great!”
    • “The game was riddled with bugs, glitches, and optimization issues, which eroded the player experience and discouraged long-term engagement.”
    • “This is a buggy broken mess.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess, and as far as I know, it is not going to be fixed by its current maintainers.”
  • optimization110 mentions

    The optimization of Hellgate: London has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and bugs that significantly detract from the gameplay experience. Many users express frustration over the lack of updates or fixes from the developers, suggesting that the game feels poorly optimized for both older and newer hardware. While some players have found workarounds or experienced smoother performance, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements before it can be recommended.

    • “Apparently there are some performance issues with specific Intel CPUs, but on my Ryzen, the game runs very smoothly in all situations.”
    • “Anyway, to my delight, not only is the bug nonexistent in the flagship version, but overall performance is much better.”
    • “This game runs on an engine developed in the 1990s and graphics will reflect as such. If you can see past old graphics and enjoy good gameplay and what I personally consider to be a good story, I warmly recommend it; however, be warned of a few bugs, the most noteworthy being FPS spikes. Performance will vary from player to player, but for those willing to look past obvious faults and invest some time, this is definitely worth a play.”
    • “The game was riddled with bugs, glitches, and optimization issues, which eroded the player experience and discouraged long-term engagement.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized to run on newer systems, the devs are silent, and the 1 fps bugs that can take up to 1 minute per instance will ruin your experience.”
    • “The fact that they released this on Steam and never even bothered to fix the performance problems tells me that this is nothing but a lazy cash grab.”
  • monetization94 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over its lack of meaningful updates and persistent performance issues. While the removal of microtransactions was noted as a positive change, the overall sentiment is that the game exploits nostalgia without delivering a quality experience, leading to a consensus that it is not worth the investment.

    • “To their credit, they stripped out all the microtransactions, which is good, but the game itself was almost untouched.”
    • “It's cheap, there are no microtransactions.”
    • “+ no microtransactions!”
    • “This version is just a shameless cash grab - just do yourself a favor and get the non-Steam version.”
    • “This is nothing but a cash grab!”
    • “The fact that they released this on Steam and never even bothered to fix the performance problems (let's not even talk about the hundreds of other bugs) tells me that this is nothing but a lazy cash grab.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Hellgate: London" is widely praised for its immersive and evocative settings, particularly the dark, post-apocalyptic depiction of London and the unique Tokyo addon. While the game's environments and ambient effects contribute significantly to its charm, some players feel that the sound design falls short, detracting from the overall experience. Despite criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, many reviewers find the atmosphere to be a standout feature that enhances replay value and engagement.

    • “At its core, Hellgate: London boasted an enticing premise that blended the atmospheric charm of a desolate London with the fast-paced action of a shooter and the deep character progression of an RPG.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is immersive, and I immediately got sucked into the post-apocalyptic world of the game.”
    • “The environments in which you move are exquisitely detailed and atmospheric, extremely convincing and evocative of the location in which the action is set.”
    • “The sound is underwhelming and really detracts from the atmosphere.”
    • “This version is unstable, unplayable and really boring; it lost atmosphere somewhere along the way and is more like some generic Asian MMORPG than Hellgate.”
    • “Even without the glitches and censorship of the Steam version, Hellgate London just doesn't hold up as a great memorable game. Melee combat feels like mashing potatoes and guns feel like firing big toys meant for kids, which is a shame because the overall atmosphere of the destroyed and crumbling London is awesome.”
  • grinding32 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find it tedious and repetitive, others appreciate it as a core part of the experience, especially for those who enjoy ARPGs and loot collection. Many reviews note that the grinding can be enjoyable and less frustrating than typical free-to-play MMOs, but it often requires mods to alleviate some of the tedium. Overall, the game's atmosphere and design can make the grinding feel rewarding for dedicated players.

    • “Drop rates for nanos are the same as they were in global, so good luck farming these for hundreds of hours per character.”
    • “It's still the same old graphics and mindless grinding with almost no plot.”
    • “All in all, I think the updates and new content make the 2018 version worth buying, but like the original, you need to use mods to make playing it less tedious.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic elements, including awkward weapon placements, amusing glitches, and poorly translated dialogue that results in hilariously nonsensical quests. While some players appreciate the sly humor and find joy in the game's absurdities, others feel that the updates have diluted the original dark humor that made it more engaging. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience for those willing to embrace its flaws and laugh along the way.

    • “I love this game, even the funny glitches and bugs. It's good to have a laugh at a demon stuck on a pixel and shove a sword up their ass, and they either die or make weird noises. lol.”
    • “The hilariously bad Engrish is still here (one quest literally sends you to kill 'the fat bully', others start with station defenses being too low).”
    • “They obviously didn't use the original English files, but rather re-translated the Korean version back into English, which makes for hilarious gibberish.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its fantastic sound design and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience, creating a creepy yet dreamy ambiance. However, some critics find the original soundtrack to be unmemorable, despite acknowledging the effectiveness of the dynamic music system. Overall, the music is described as heavy, fast, and capable of evoking strong emotions, contributing significantly to the game's immersive world-building.

    • “Fantastic music and sound design.”
    • “Extremely creepy, but dreamy landscapes accompanied by unsettling, but strangely familiar music.”
    • “The dynamic music system designed by Sonic Mayhem still holds up... it's heavy, fast, and can be dark and foreboding at times.”
    • “The music/soundscape, on the other hand, is killer; when it kicks in, it gives me goosebumps.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through its dark, atmospheric setting, varied classes, and innovative procedural generation that randomizes levels and loot, ensuring each playthrough feels fresh. While single-player experiences are enjoyable and enhanced by features like Steam achievements, the absence of multiplayer options may limit long-term replay value for some players. Overall, the game's potential for replayability is promising, contingent on future updates and improvements from the developers.

    • “The dark, atmospheric setting and varied classes provide plenty of replay value.”
    • “The game's innovative approach to procedural generation, randomizing levels and loot, aims to provide endless replayability, making every playthrough a fresh and unpredictable experience.”
    • “The game runs without any major issues, and the addition of Steam achievements and trading cards adds an extra layer of replayability.”
    • “Single player is fun, and this version (so far) seems like it will be fine, but the lack of multiplayer will severely limit replayability for me.”
    • “I've played 82 hours only because I love this game, and have attempted many fixes to make it more playable than the base.”
    • “The game's innovative approach to procedural generation, randomizing levels and loot, aimed to provide endless replayability, making every playthrough a fresh and unpredictable experience.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a powerful opening scene that resonates with players familiar with the original, though it may not evoke a strong sense of heroism. Overall, the emotional impact seems to cater primarily to hardcore fans, suggesting that newcomers might not experience the same depth of feeling.

    • “The opening scene is still emotional.”
    • “It never really made me feel like a 'hero'.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
3-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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