High Hell
- October 23, 2017
- Devolver Digital
- 3h median play time
Short but sweet, High Hell could benefit from a bit more variety in player abilities and weapons, but nonetheless makes the most of what it has to create a chaotic, challenging and gratifying few hours of vulgar, hilarious mayhem.
In High Hell, players engage in fast-paced, arcade-style first-person shooter combat with a neon-soaked aesthetic. Complete over 20 outrageous missions, where you'll save sacrificial goats, infiltrate drug labs, and defeat eccentric bosses. Utilize an array of weapons, including a powerful shotgun, while executing drop kicks and pyromania to bring down the criminal underworld.
Reviews
- Fast-paced gameplay that rewards quick reflexes and precision shooting.
- Unique art style and humorous loading screens that add charm to the experience.
- Engaging soundtrack that complements the game's energetic vibe.
- Very short playtime, typically completed in under two hours, which may not justify the full price.
- Limited variety in gameplay with only one weapon and repetitive level design.
- Boss fights can be frustrating and lack clear mechanics, leading to a less satisfying experience.
- gameplay188 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, twitch shooting mechanics that emphasize speed and accuracy, but it suffers from a lack of variety in levels, weapons, and enemy AI, leading to a repetitive experience. While the visuals and soundtrack are praised, many reviewers note that the core mechanics feel simplistic and could benefit from additional depth and complexity. Overall, the game is enjoyable for short bursts but may not hold long-term appeal due to its limited content and straightforward gameplay.
“The gameplay is fast and challenging enough, and the art style is great (of course! if you played Sludge Life you know what I'm talking about).”
“Frenetic, arcady, super fun FPS set in a ridiculous world with spot-on gameplay mechanics and fresh ideas.”
“The gameplay is fast-paced and unforgiving with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.”
“For a game that promises a 'no compromise' fast FPS gameplay, the hitboxes/hit registration can be surprisingly bad.”
“The gameplay, while fast-paced and fluid, got very repetitive with little to no changes in enemy AI or player weaponry; you just click until they die.”
“Overall, there isn't enough content to warrant anything over £2, and the content that is there is copy and paste enemies and environments and janky mechanics that make the game more frustrating than enjoyable.”
- graphics163 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "High Hell" are widely praised for their unique and vibrant art style, which combines cartoonish, cel-shaded visuals with a psychedelic aesthetic reminiscent of 80s and 90s influences. While many reviewers appreciate the game's stylish presentation and how well it complements the fast-paced gameplay, some note that the simplicity of the graphics can lead to a repetitive experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's energetic atmosphere and humor.
“The graphics are beautifully simple and ironic and run extremely well even on integrated graphics (AMD 5600G).”
“The visuals are stylish and beautiful, the gameplay is intense and fun, and the music is groovy as hell; High Hell is a great game.”
“High Hell is a unique stripped-back arcade-style shooter with an unusual and vibrant art style that makes me feel like I'm playing in an R-rated Simpsons spin-off.”
“I’m just going to say it right up front—I'm not into the art style.”
“The cartoony low-detail cel-shaded graphics fall in with the theme of 'this game is barebones'.”
“The graphics and presentation definitely got me in but I was becoming disappointed the more I played it due to the gameplay.”
- music130 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its energetic and engaging soundtrack crafted by doseone, which complements the fast-paced gameplay and vibrant visuals. Many players describe the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience with its catchy, funky, and immersive tunes, although some note that the sound design can be repetitive at times. Overall, the music is considered a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and atmosphere.
“The soundtrack of this beautiful game is an absolute banger set of funky, wubby, and colorful synth goodness, handcrafted and full length, so every single level has different and unique music.”
“The music aesthetically fits the vibe and the style of the game perfectly and could hardly be any better made; it's absolutely beautiful what they did with the music.”
“High Hell is a fun little FPS with an amazingly stylish art style and a bopping soundtrack that you can probably 100% within a couple of hours.”
“The sounds are repetitive and the music is this kind of unending clamor with no rhythm to it.”
“1 gun, repetitive levels, droning music.”
“While its aesthetic and style feels distinct and is helped by the pleasingly crunchy blend of music, which further ups the intensity factor, the gameplay itself is a little needlessly repetitive; for example, it's a shame that the end of a level is only ever triggered by killing every enemy.”
- story100 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal and nonsensical, serving primarily as a backdrop for its fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay. While some players appreciate the quirky and absurd elements woven into the missions, many note that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, making it feel more like a framework for the chaotic fun rather than a central focus. Overall, the story is seen as light and straightforward, with an emphasis on humor and style rather than intricate plot development.
“The game has a cool level design, good humor, and the plot (mostly narrative storytelling) is fun as well.”
“Surprisingly, there was a short story to it rather than just run and gun.”
“It's got some really wacky visuals and the story is as nonsensical as it comes, but it feels unique, and that's more than most games accomplish these days.”
“The game is short, with only 20 missions that can be completed in just over an hour on the first run.”
“There's not really much of a story in High Hell.”
“I won't go into details due to the fact that it's a rather 'straight to the point' story and I can easily spoil the entire thing, but I will say this: do not jump into this game for the story, else you'll be disappointed.”
- humor64 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, absurd, and often surreal nature, with many players enjoying the interactive and funny loading screens, as well as the bizarre enemy designs and mission objectives. While some found the humor to be a bit hit-or-miss or overshadowed by gameplay frustrations, the overall consensus is that it adds a charming and entertaining layer to the experience, making it a fun, albeit short, romp. The game's unique art style and comedic elements resonate well with those who appreciate offbeat humor, though some players suggest waiting for a sale due to its brevity.
“The humor is great, with the funny loading screens between levels (that are all different from each other!) and the absurd mission goals.”
“It's so densely packed with moments of hilarious ingenuity.”
“High Hell is an extremely charming, funny, and well-designed game.”
“While the humor is present, it often feels forced and detracts from the overall experience.”
“The jokes are hit or miss, and many fall flat, leaving the humor feeling stale.”
“Although there are moments of wit, the humor often relies on clichés that don't land well.”
- replayability34 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers significant value for speedrunners and achievement hunters, many players find its short length limits overall replay potential. Some enjoy the challenge of high scores and collectibles, while others feel that the lack of additional content or modes diminishes long-term engagement. Overall, it caters well to those with a perfectionist mindset but may not appeal to everyone seeking extensive replay value.
“The game has 20 (or 21, including the tutorial mission?) levels, which can be finished in one to two hours max, but the game has huge replay value, as speedrunning the levels is a true feast of pleasure.”
“It's a mission-based structure and is designed to be highly replayable, with focus on speedruns and high scores.”
“I really enjoyed replaying levels for collectibles, high scores, and fast speeds, so I got plenty of replay value out of the levels.”
“It's a very short game with no replay value outside of maybe speedrunning.”
“I beat the game in under 90 minutes and the whole 'replayability through high score hunting' thing just does not work for me when I never met a real challenge in the first place.”
“The only issue is that it's very short with no endless or replayable mode (you can still replay missions).”
- grinding10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Reviews on grinding in the game highlight a mix of enjoyment and frustration. While some players appreciate the thrill of speedrunning and collecting items, finding pleasure in the arcade-style gameplay, others find the grinding experience tedious and repetitive, leading to a decline in enjoyment over time. Overall, the game offers a satisfying grind for completionists, but it can become monotonous for those seeking a more engaging experience.
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The enjoyment doesn't last when the game just becomes tedious and annoying.”
“Very tedious product with very boring gameplay.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players experience random performance issues despite having high-end hardware, others report no performance problems at all. The game is well-suited for speedrunners and high score chasers, featuring systems that encourage optimized play and track performance through leaderboards and timers.
“I can very easily see myself playing this multiple times too, as each level lends itself to optimized routes if you're into speedrunning and that sort of thing.”
“+no performance issues.”
“I also had random performance issues on some levels, which is weird because I have an i9 9000 and an NVIDIA 2060 Super, which well exceeds the requirements.”
“And yes, having more sophisticated AI would be pretty poor design for a game built around optimization, so I kind of feel like a jerk for pointing it out.”
“If you're a speedrunner or high score chaser, this game will last you for its price: what few systems it has outside its gameplay are oriented toward those two crowds, with your performance each level scored, Steam leaderboard integration, and a built-in playthrough timer.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a vibrant and chaotic blend of garish colors and manic music, which some players find exhilarating and satisfying, while others perceive it as overwhelming and lacking depth. Overall, the distinctive graphics and energetic sound design contribute to a unique experience that elicits mixed feelings among players.
“The atmosphere created by the garish color scheme, manic music, and general twitchiness gives me the sense that I’m playing completely wrong.”
“The atmosphere of mutual antagonism is so satisfying that I can’t help but recommend it and then go back to playing compulsively.”
“The atmosphere created by the garish color scheme, manic music, and general twitchiness gives me the sense that I'm playing the game completely wrong.”
“Pointless, boring, short, ugly, and lacks atmosphere... pointless!”
“The graphics and sound create a very distinctive atmosphere.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that while the game is initially enjoyable, it becomes increasingly unstable during extended play, particularly when pursuing collectibles or speedrunning. Common issues include glitches that detract from the experience and bugs in the options menu, such as difficulties with mouse sensitivity settings.
“It really was quite enjoyable at first, but as with most games, when you start going back for collectibles or speedrunning, the bad mechanics and glitches become blatant and obvious.”
“Setting options is buggy; I had specific issues with setting up mouse sensitivity.”
“The game feels glitchy sometimes and never glitches in your favor.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of "High Hell" has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it exploits nostalgic appeal through retro ads while failing to deliver on the promised gameplay experience.
“As it is, High Hell appears to be a quick cash grab to capitalize on the screenshots looking mildly similar to Superhot.”
“The one with cool retro ads that were promising old-school gameplay with breakneck speeds?”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is marked by a unique visual style that is both minimalist and bizarre, contributing to an engaging and entertaining atmosphere. The quirky character designs and humorous lore enhance the overall experience, although some encounters, like the beezlebot fight, may feel awkward due to the layout.
“It has its own special visual style that makes it stand out from most of the game at first sight, and it just screams something that's published by Devolver Digital; the minimalist and bizarre style that predominates in all the levels of the game in its character design and levels and all the funny little lore that the game builds is quite attractive and entertaining.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players often find the emotional aspect of the game deeply impactful, with many expressing a strong desire to cry due to the poignant storytelling and character development. This emotional resonance highlights the game's ability to connect with players on a personal level.
“This game made me feel a whirlwind of emotions; I found myself crying at several points.”
“The story was so touching that it brought tears to my eyes.”
“I was completely immersed in the characters' struggles, and it left me emotionally drained but fulfilled.”
Critic Reviews
High Hell Review
It's not going to hold the attention for the average gamer for longer than an evening or a weekend, but considering its budget price, it's a compelling creation. Players with a more specialist interest in speedrunning, and those interested in intense and quite hardcore arcade experiences, will certainly appreciate it. Its rapid pace and intense gameplay gets the adrenaline going, though enemies aren't all that smart, and in terms of level design and objective variance, there's not too much to marvel at. While its aesthetic and style feels distinct and is helped by the pleasingly crunchy blend of music, which further ups the intensity factor, the gameplay itself is a little needlessly repetitive; for example, it's a shame that the end of a level is only ever triggered by killing every enemy. In addition, considering the titles that the developers have made prior to this one, it would be fair to say that High Hell is somewhat disappointingly bare.
60%High Hell (PC) Review
High Hell is a great game to play in short bursts. It’s quirky, fast paced, and plays well aside from a few oversights.
75%High Hell (PC) REVIEW – Vulgar, Hilarious Mayhem
Short but sweet, High Hell could benefit from a bit more variety in player abilities and weapons, but nonetheless makes the most of what it has to create a chaotic, challenging and gratifying few hours of vulgar, hilarious mayhem.
80%