HELLION

About

"HELLION is a Science Fiction Simulation game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op and PvP. The game boasts a good plot, spectacular gameplay, and wonderful visuals, but is hindered by numerous bugs, optimization issues, and grinding. Despite a bumpy start, HELLION delivers a unique and complex multiplayer space survival experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,964 reviews

gameplay176 positive mentions

stability476 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and immersive space survival experience with realistic physics.
Players enjoy the challenge and sense of accomplishment from overcoming the game's steep learning curve.
The developers are responsive to community feedback and regularly update the game.

The game is plagued with numerous bugs and glitches that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Many players find the controls to be clunky and unresponsive, making navigation and docking difficult.
The game has been abandoned by the developers, leaving it in an unfinished state with no future updates.

gameplay
713 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The gameplay of Hellion is characterized by its ambitious mechanics, including realistic orbital physics and survival elements, which can be both engaging and frustrating. While many players appreciate the depth and challenge of mastering these systems, the game suffers from significant bugs and a steep learning curve that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its potential, the lack of polish and content, along with complex controls, often leaves players feeling overwhelmed and disappointed, particularly in its early access state.
- “The mechanics are outstanding and despite having an appeal to a smaller crowd and not ever going mainstream on console platforms.”
- “The feel, the challenge, and the mechanics of space survival.”
- “The gameplay is very challenging and things go into the toilet really quickly and very often.”
- “However, the gameplay of course has its faults because it never even made it out of early access.”
- “Do not buy this game; the 'unique' gameplay is tedious and not very fun.”
- “The docking mechanics are the worst I've ever seen; the UI for it is horrible and unintuitive.”
stability
488 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, including character teleportation, frequent crashes, and unresponsive controls. Many players acknowledge that while the game has potential, its current state is often unplayable, especially in multiplayer, and express frustration over the lack of updates and fixes from the developers. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the game, suggesting that it can be fun if one is willing to tolerate its many flaws.
- “The game is now at a point I believe where it is playable and much more friendly (not completely bug free).”
- “If you prefer a feature-finished, bug-free game, then wait.”
- “If you're a fan of Star Citizen (which also has bugs) or Elite Dangerous (which don't have legs), then you will most likely enjoy this when it's playing ball and not being buggy.”
- “The game is a broken buggy abandoned mess; it in no way deserves a positive review.”
- “It's a buggy mess that will never leave early access.”
- “Sadly, this game has been abandoned by the devs and in its current state, the game is very unfinished and extremely buggy, so there is very little point in buying it.”
graphics
359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals and attention to detail, particularly when settings are maxed out. However, there are significant concerns regarding optimization, with reports of performance issues, graphical downgrades in updates, and bugs that detract from the overall experience. While the game shows great potential in its aesthetic appeal, it struggles with stability and performance on various hardware configurations.
- “The graphics are beautiful, the physics are amazing, and the functionality keeps getting better and better.”
- “Let me first say that the concept and graphics for this project are every bit of what it shows in the previews and screenshots: phenomenally breathtaking!”
- “Amazing game, stunning visuals.”
- “Graphics are worse than ever, everything looks like it's from a PlayStation 2 game.”
- “The 'rude awakening' part is about the severe downgrade of graphics from the previous patch to now.”
- “Normally I wouldn't have an issue, since it's early access, but this is a 5+ years rollback in terms of graphics fidelity.”
story
271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
83%
4%
The game's story is often criticized for being incomplete and riddled with bugs, leading to frustrating experiences where quests fail to update or objectives become unachievable. While some players appreciate the atmosphere of isolation and the potential for an engaging narrative, many feel that the current state of the story lacks depth and coherence, with significant portions feeling abandoned or poorly implemented. Overall, the narrative elements show promise but require substantial refinement and completion to enhance player engagement.
- “It's story element also does a very good job boxing you into feeling abandoned, desperately trying to find a living soul, other than the player.”
- “I got sucked in, and survived and looked forward to any snippet of story with each new wreck, listening post or abandoned ship.”
- “The game features an interesting story, and the dialogue currently existing, along with the tidbits of lore, is not badly done.”
- “The story fails in sections rather commonly around the Orthos I, Orthos II, and the asteroid outpost; for singleplayer, you need to quick save and quick load back into the game at each terminal to get them to work.”
- “It's rife with bugs, has no complete story, etc., exactly what you'd expect from a very incomplete game.”
- “The developers did not finish the story as far as I can tell, but I cannot get far as the second mission in the game has objectives that are badly coded so that when you reach your objective, the game doesn't recognize it and you are unable to proceed any further.”
optimization
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
51%
39%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including fluctuating frame rates and frequent crashes. Many users recommend waiting for significant updates before playing, as the current state is plagued by bugs and subpar performance across various hardware configurations. While some acknowledge that the game is still in early access and may improve, the consensus is that it requires substantial optimization to become playable.
- “Although currently focusing on optimization and bug fixing, unlike others, they have loads of plans for this game.”
- “The game has taken huge steps in optimization and runs a good FPS (with shadows rendering off) on my old GPU tech.”
- “And for a game that basically has no optimization yet, it does run smoothly on my system (Ryzen 5 1600X, 16GB RAM, GTX 1070 Ti, and a hybrid SSHD).”
- “Great start of a game, but here we are 2 years later and the game is still riddled with game-breaking bugs and extremely poor optimization + terrible net code.”
- “Games like this are why early access is, for the most part, terrible. The system requirements are a joke; if you even try to launch this game on minimum specs, it'll crash. Some of the worst optimization I've ever seen; wait for a few years and then come back to this game. Right now it's such a mess it's not worth your time; there is so little to do it's unbelievable.”
- “The performance is horrible at the moment when doing anything with station modules, and input lag makes everything harder than it has to be.”
atmosphere
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
30%
4%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and realistic depiction of space, featuring dark, haunting visuals and effective sound design that enhances the feeling of isolation and danger. Many players highlight the game's ability to create tension through atmospheric elements, such as the fear of losing air during hull breaches and the overall sense of vulnerability in a vast, empty environment. Despite some technical issues, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, offering a captivating experience that draws players into its world.
- “But man... the atmosphere is absolutely incredible.”
- “They have done a magnificent job with the atmosphere and as far as I am concerned their version of space, physics, pressurization and resource gathering is one of the most immersive and realistic experiences that I have ever had in a space sim.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is unbeaten, that moment when you get soaked out of the airlock, out in the black endless space, the sound, the goosebumps, I'll never forget that gaming moment.”
- “However, despite a well-nurtured atmosphere, there is little else to offer at the moment.”
- “Apparently in less than 24 hours you can accumulate enough damage to cause breaches in modules that will vent all of the atmosphere, making it utterly pointless and wasteful to pressurize your base.”
- “You will either lag out or spawn in a zone with no atmosphere and die in under five seconds.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, often leading to frustration among players. While some appreciate the realism it adds to the survival experience, many find the slow pace and clunky mechanics detract from enjoyment, making it a challenge for those without significant patience. Overall, players suggest that the grind can feel excessive and may hinder the overall gameplay experience.
- “Do not buy this game, the 'unique' gameplay is tedious and not very fun.”
- “It's not a game for those without superhuman patience; it's extremely tedious and the flight is extremely clunky. I've only played 4 hours of this game, and 3 of those hours were spent trying unsuccessfully to dock a simple module to my habitation pod/ship because of how fiddly and clunky piloting anything in this game is.”
- “Some elements of the gameplay are very tedious (flying to a different planet can take 45+ minutes, docking, even if you're good at it, takes a lot of time).”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, which players find amusing despite their frustration. Many users report hilarious moments, such as unexpected teleportation and chaotic interactions with the game's mechanics, leading to memorable and comedic experiences, especially when playing with friends. Overall, while the game is still in alpha and plagued by issues, the humor adds a lighthearted element to the survival gameplay.
- “Get it and play it with a friend, some of the accidents you will have are almost priceless and funny.”
- “Your carefully crafted space station is subjected to some hilariously inane concept of 'realism', which means it's constantly bursting into flames in random sections, being depressurized, or just plain degrading.”
- “Artificial gravity makes an appearance here, and while the science behind it is hand-waved, it's pretty hilarious to watch yourself tumble head over heels down a wall when you float down a zero-g corridor only to realize you've entered a room with gravity upside-down.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
75%
13%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the updates that have improved playability and learning opportunities, while others criticize the lack of substantial content and persistent bugs that hinder enjoyment. Although there are reports of enhanced experiences through dedicated servers and updates, some users still find the game unplayable or lacking in depth for repeated playthroughs. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, but it heavily depends on individual experiences and game performance.
- “It has a lot of replayability, so dying is more of a chance for learning.”
- “It definitely still has its bugs, but I can't say that's too much of an issue since the game is a lot more playable than it was.”
- “There is a team working to keep it alive and modifying the game to make it more playable with updates.”
- “No updates ever made the game more playable.”
- “Replayability: due to its rather unsubstantial nature, I see no way to play Hellion again and again with my playstyle.”
- “The previous updates were playable; however, with the latest update running a 1080 GTX Gaming X video card, I get 1 FPS and it is wholly unplayable.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the cinematic trailer's soundtrack while others express frustration over the lack of effective in-game music and sound options. Many feel that the music does not enhance the gameplay experience, and there are calls for better integration and controls for music and sound effects. Overall, while the concept and potential are acknowledged, the current execution leaves players wanting more.
- “Play this game while listening to interstellar soundtracks to fully experience the danger; this game wants to kill you.”
- “Music good, intro video quality meh.”
- “Only good thing about it is their cinematic trailer, and even then only for the music.”
- “And it doesn't even work for music, so you're stuck with the semi-loud menu music, lovely.”
- “I feel really left out in the cold with this one... if I were a developer, I for one would use music effects to convey mood.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's monetization strategy is perceived as a cash grab, particularly given the disparity between the advertised content and the actual gameplay experience. While some players see potential in the game, they express frustration over misleading marketing and a lack of substantial content, leading to skepticism about the developers' intentions. Overall, there is a call for more honest advertising and a clearer commitment to delivering on the game's promises.
- “It felt like a cash grab too, especially when three of my friends had just purchased the game (full price) a few months before.”
- “Quick cash grab.”
- “First, the game is nothing like the trailer/advertisement video!”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is described as deeply frustrating, with players feeling that it could have been an incredible experience if completed. However, issues such as poor audio choices and a lack of emotional engagement detract from the overall experience, leaving players feeling disconnected and disappointed. Despite some initial intrigue, the gameplay challenges overshadow any potential emotional resonance.
- “I... I mean, it's heartbreaking that this game couldn't be finished, because it's an incredible experience.”
- “It would be heartbreaking.”
- “The first NPC you hear in story mode will probably get on your nerves, not because she does a bad job at acting, but because the devs decided to amplify the voice and distort it; it is loud and disturbing to hear, and breaks the emotional delivery of her lines.”