"Hero of Not Our Time" is a 2D top-down action game with elements of 90s classics, where you'll navigate through neo-noir dungeons and battle monsters using magic and weapons. The game offers unique weapon assembly with no customization restrictions, the ability to create magic spells with your own blood, and the option to implant electronic devices in your head for enhanced gameplay. The game features ultraviolence stimulation with energy EDM music in Synthwave and Darksynth genres.
The game features a unique and fun gun customization system that allows players to create a variety of weapons.
The soundtrack is highly praised, providing an energetic backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience.
There are interesting mechanics, such as using blood to create spells and a quirky reload system that adds a unique twist to combat.
The game is riddled with bugs and lacks polish, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.
Gameplay can feel tedious due to unskippable animations for opening chests and a confusing fog of war mechanic that hampers visibility.
The controls and user interface are convoluted, leading to a frustrating experience for players trying to navigate the game's mechanics.
gameplay
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The gameplay of the game features a mix of interesting mechanics, such as a unique reload system and crafting options, which some players find enjoyable and innovative. However, many reviews highlight issues with convoluted controls, lack of clarity in tutorials, and a frustrating balance that detracts from the overall experience, leading to a gameplay that can feel dull and disjointed. While the game has potential and offers a quirky charm, it suffers from bugs and design choices that hinder its execution.
“Player-side mechanics like the upgrade/crafting system for both guns and your own face, as well as magic and even small things like reloading are really fun and, in my humble opinion, the main selling point of the game.”
“Excellent top-down action with very dynamic gameplay.”
“Many mechanics, much stuff to do - at first I was confused about what to do and how to do it, but after that you quickly learn - and trust me, this game will amaze you.”
“General gameplay is frustrating due to lack of balancing and the high amount of bugs.”
“The game contains a lot of incredibly counter-intuitive mechanics that make combat not only a chore, but also potentially deadly and run-ending.”
“While the gameplay mechanics and customization are interesting mechanically, the game itself is confusing and it's baffling to think that slowly revealing a tiny condensed map in what is supposed to be a fast-paced roguelike would fit.”
music
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and unique qualities, often described as a "banger" that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players noted issues with repetitive tracks and sound effects that can overshadow the music. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment, making it a standout feature despite some technical flaws.
“The music is fantastic.”
“I really liked the soundtrack, which gives the game incredible energy.”
“An excellent soundtrack suitable for the atmosphere of the game, allowing you to relax while killing various enemies.”
“Esdeaz did a pretty good job on the soundtrack here, but it's ruined by the fact that you hear the same songs repeated - not looped, repeated, as they are interrupted and started anew each completed level - for extremely large blocks of levels at a time.”
“Gunfire noise is generic, enemy noise is forgettable, and everything is pretty much drowned out by the music.”
“And the music is pretty bipolar.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the detailed pixel art and retro aesthetic, while others find the visuals hard on the eyes and reminiscent of outdated graphics. Some reviews highlight the stylish design and well-executed animations, but there are concerns about the overall visual experience feeling jumbled and potentially causing discomfort during extended play. Overall, the pixel graphics evoke a nostalgic charm that may appeal to fans of the genre, despite some criticisms.
“The game's a lot of fun so far and has amazing visuals.”
“At first glance, the pixel aesthetics appear well done: the character model, weapon parts, spell book, and head case are all extremely well-detailed.”
“It is worth noting the pleasant pixel graphics, weapons reload animation, a variety of enemies and excellent soundtracks under which to destroy monsters is a pleasure.”
“The visuals are hard on the eyes.”
“I got a headache after playing this for 3 hours and I suspect the visuals are to blame.”
“They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The story is described as rich and interesting, with a unique aesthetic, though it suffers from vagueness and a lack of coherent flow. Some players appreciate the thematic elements, while others criticize the repetitive level design and unclear narrative connections. Overall, the story has potential but is hampered by execution issues.
“And the ending and the story are rich.”
“The aesthetic is fantastic and the story, even though it's vague, is interesting.”
“Good idea: the story.”
“The developer was unable to come up with decent level design or game/story flow/plot, so they opted to try to use samey repetitive procgen as a substitute for adding content to the game.”
“I'm unsure of the story, but in terms of theming and design, the game is set in a weird mix of worlds that don't really link to one another.”
“What's the story?”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The atmosphere of "Hero of Not Our Time" is highly praised, with many players noting its quality and immersive qualities. The game's soundtrack complements the atmosphere effectively, enhancing the overall experience and making it both engaging and relaxing. Overall, the atmosphere is a significant draw for players, contributing to the game's addictive nature.
“An excellent soundtrack suitable for the atmosphere of the game, allowing you to relax while killing various enemies.”
“A very interesting game with well-suited music that creates its own atmosphere in the game.”
“Hero of Not Our Time is a challenging game with a quality atmosphere.”
“In general, I liked the game and many will like it because of its atmosphere and soundtrack; I recommend it.”
“A very interesting game with well-suited music that creates its own atmosphere.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and detrimental to the overall gameplay experience, particularly in the early stages. Many describe it as a barebones and outdated roguelike that disrupts the flow of more intense moments, making the overall experience feel underwhelming.
“Probably one of the most barebones and ancient roguelikes I've played in years, in a bad way, with how tedious and underwhelming the early game is.”
“It's really tedious and kills the flow of the intense gameplay.”
“A lot of things that 'look interesting' are very tedious and gameplay-impeding.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky mechanics, such as a humorous reload gun feature, and a comical mistranslation of a Shakespeare quote that players find amusing. However, while the humor is appreciated, it is often overshadowed by poor implementation of these mechanics. Overall, the game offers a blend of funny elements within its roguelike gameplay.
“Also, a little translation note: I think the Shakespeare quote you show at the start of every game is meant to be 'brevity is the soul of wit.' Although I find the mistranslation hilarious, so it might be better to leave it as is.”
“Hero of Not Our Time is a singular top-down game with a funny reload gun mechanic; gameplay is like a roguelike where you have to gradually move from level to level.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its unfinished and buggy state, leading to a lack of recommendations from users. Additionally, the absence of communication from the developers for several years raises concerns about its stability.
“However, I cannot recommend it due to its unfinished and buggy state, as well as no word from the developers for several years now.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a contrast between the adrenaline of quickly clearing floors and the subsequent reflective moments spent exploring the darkness and discovering hidden treasures, creating a sense of anticipation and curiosity.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews indicate that the new hoods significantly enhance weapon performance, suggesting a positive impact on optimization within the game.
“With these hoods, we will be able to improve the performance of our weapons.”