I Expect You To Die
- April 25, 2017
- Schell Games
- 3h median play time
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
"I Expect You To Die" is a virtual reality spy game that puts you in the role of an elite agent solving puzzles to escape dangerous situations. You'll face challenges such as disarming bombs, escaping a sinking car, and avoiding deadly traps in fully interactive environments. With its clever gameplay and immersive VR experience, it provides a unique and exciting take on the spy genre.
Reviews
- Engaging and humorous puzzles that make you feel like a spy.
- High-quality graphics and a fantastic opening sequence.
- Great for seated play, making it accessible for those with limited space.
- The game is quite short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete.
- Limited replayability as puzzles become predictable after the first playthrough.
- Some players find the controls clunky, especially on certain VR setups.
- story616 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story, while not groundbreaking, effectively immerses players in a classic spy narrative filled with humor and engaging puzzles. Players appreciate the progression of the storyline through various missions, although many express a desire for more content, as the current number of missions feels limited. Overall, the combination of a fun premise, clever writing, and the challenge of solving puzzles contributes to an enjoyable experience, making players feel like true secret agents.
“This game takes players on an unforgettable journey through the world of espionage, tasking them with completing dangerous and challenging missions.”
“Rather than just throwing you into a puzzle to solve, you actually become part of the storyline and your goal isn't always to escape.”
“The story and atmosphere of the game are similar to what you'd expect from a classic spy movie, and I found it good, although it wasn’t anything special for me.”
“The story isn't great and there's no checkpoints in the puzzles (so one mistake and you have to restart the entire puzzle) but beating a level makes you feel like the most badass spy in the world.”
“My main complaint is that there are no checkpoints within missions, so if you miss a prompt and die, you have to replay the entire mission.”
“I couldn't figure out a lot of things and the game kept skipping an entire chunk of dialogue from your handler, making the mission really confusing.”
- gameplay272 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this VR puzzle game is generally praised for its innovative mechanics, engaging puzzles, and immersive experience, though many users note that it is relatively short, averaging around 2-3 hours. While the game features clever design and humor, some players express frustration with trial-and-error mechanics and a lack of checkpoints, which can lead to repetitive gameplay. Overall, it is recommended for fans of escape room-style games, but many suggest waiting for a sale due to its limited content for the price.
“This is the definitive VR escape room puzzle game - excellent visual style, smooth and clear game mechanics, interesting puzzles, and lovely voice acting all come together to create an exceptional gaming experience.”
“The combination of challenging gameplay, high-quality presentation, and the fully immersive VR experience make it a game that is both exciting and memorable.”
“Incredibly fun gameplay, great humor, and the game is getting updated and supported by devs. One of the best VR games I've ever played.”
“The forced replayability and multiple glitches made the gameplay a frustrating chore after a bit.”
“I get the whole premise of you're expected to die, but jfc, don't make me play through 20-30 mins of gameplay over and over and over and over without a checkpoint system if you've already died multiple times at the same point (usually getting shot), even though you've progressed past that point and died.”
“It's too expensive for the amount of gameplay it offers, wait for a sale.”
- humor262 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its clever, tongue-in-cheek style that complements the puzzle-solving experience. Players appreciate the engaging voice acting and witty dialogue, which enhance the overall atmosphere and make the game feel light-hearted and fun. While some noted that repeated deaths can diminish the novelty of the jokes, the humor remains a key element that keeps the gameplay enjoyable and immersive.
“Super fun puzzler, great humor, very accessible for people who may get motion sickness.”
“The tone of the game is very soft and you'll often find yourself smiling or laughing at conversations, objects and situations.”
“The writing, the puzzle aspects, and the humor are brilliant.”
- graphics192 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their high quality, charming art style, and immersive environments that effectively capture a retro spy aesthetic reminiscent of classic James Bond films. While some reviews note that the visuals are not hyper-realistic, they are described as polished, colorful, and well-suited to the game's humorous tone and puzzle mechanics. Overall, players appreciate the combination of engaging graphics, sound design, and level design, contributing to a delightful and immersive VR experience.
“The graphics are top-notch, featuring high-quality visuals that are both eye-catching and immersive.”
“The art style is fantastic, the writing is witty, and the level design is *chef's kiss*.”
“The visuals are beautiful and the gameplay is crafted like a well-oiled machine!”
“Graphics are quite simple, but pleasing and definitely good enough for not very serious and sometimes even humorous game.”
“Visuals and sound are on par with most VR titles, nothing overly impressive.”
“This game had neither, so it didn't really justify to me the setup time, discomfort, and bad graphics inherent to VR.”
- music160 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising the opening theme and soundtrack as exceptional and reminiscent of classic spy films. Reviewers highlight the catchy tunes, atmospheric compositions, and clever integration of music that enhances the overall gameplay experience, making it feel immersive and engaging. The intro sequence, in particular, is frequently described as a standout moment, showcasing the game's commitment to quality audio and thematic consistency.
“100% worth it at full price just to experience the intro sequence & intro song - those alone are legendary beyond description.”
“The game's soundtrack is also excellent, with a score that perfectly complements the game's espionage theme and sound effects that add to the overall atmosphere.”
“Absolutely loved the intro sequence and music, great attention to detail and it's clear that they have put a lot of effort into creating the right atmosphere.”
“The puzzles can get rather quiet where some music could add more ambient mood to the puzzle.”
“If more work was put into the ambient, sound, and music, it'd really set the mood right!”
“Except for voice acting and music, it's at the same level as many indie VR titles.”
- replayability146 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while the initial experience is enjoyable, the limited number of puzzles and their linear solutions significantly reduce long-term replay value. Some players appreciate the inclusion of challenges and achievements, such as speedruns and collectibles, which provide a reason to revisit the game, but many agree that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to play again. The game is generally considered short, with most playthroughs lasting around 4-6 hours, leading to a consensus that while there are some replayable elements, they may not justify the game's price for all players.
“This game has quite a lot of replayability as each level has a number of challenges that you can complete if you decide to go back to it.”
“The extra challenges and 'speedrun' time goals for each level add a nice bit of replayability, even after you know all the solutions by heart.”
“Great puzzle game offering lots of replayability as you go for your perfect score.”
“No replay value at all.”
“The only problem is it has very little replay value; once you solve the puzzles, you know the solutions.”
“Replay value is pretty close to zero.”
- atmosphere62 mentions
- 81 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and humorous qualities, reminiscent of classic spy films from the 60s and 70s. Players appreciate the excellent soundtrack, high-quality sound design, and engaging VR implementation, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and controls, the attention to detail and the fun, comic-book spy humor contribute to a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere.
“The game's soundtrack is excellent, with a score that perfectly complements the game's espionage theme and sound effects that add to the overall atmosphere.”
“Absolutely loved the intro sequence and music, great attention to detail and it's clear that they have put a lot of effort into creating the right atmosphere.”
“Having finished all the included base game missions, I have to say this is a great game with an immersive and cool atmosphere that makes you feel like a master old classic movie spy.”
“The story and atmosphere of the game are similar to what you'd expect from a classic spy movie, and I found it good, although it wasn’t anything special for me.”
“It oozes with humor and atmosphere that is very reminiscent of old spy films from the 60s.”
“There's definitely a lot of trial and error, but the humor and atmosphere of the game make your failures feel natural rather than frustrating.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, particularly due to the need to restart puzzles upon failure, which can lead to repetitive gameplay. While some enjoy the challenge of the puzzles, many feel that the experience can become clunky and unforgiving, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, there are moments of fun in grinding for collectibles, though the overall sentiment leans towards a desire for a more streamlined experience.
“The puzzles are engaging while not being tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“My only real gripe with the game was the failure results in starting a puzzle over, which can lead to some tedious follow-up to get back to where you were.”
“It's very tedious, and aside from the second level, which was where the game peaked for me, every level has this to some degree, especially the latest 'DLC' level, which took me at least an hour or so to beat, simply because you have to restart the level every time you die, and that level loves to kill you.”
“In Dark Souls that can be fun, in a puzzle game, that's tedious.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often likening their experience to that of a spy, particularly James Bond, which evokes feelings of excitement and empowerment. The game's engaging intro and immersive graphics contribute to a sense of thrill, with moments that elicit physical reactions like tingles down the spine. Despite some confusion during gameplay, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the game's ability to create a memorable and exhilarating experience.
“It made me feel excited to play the game; I even got a tingle down my spine.”
“The intro to this game perfectly sold the whole game to me and made me feel straight up like James Bond with the stylized intro and great vocals to match.”
“The textures and graphics are good, and the puzzles provided a fun challenge that made me feel like a real spy.”
- stability16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on older hardware, players frequently encounter glitches that disrupt gameplay, including sensor issues and software inconsistencies. These problems can lead to frustrating replayability and hinder the overall experience, despite the game being largely bug-free during some playthroughs. Controls are particularly problematic, with reports of them being buggy and difficult to navigate, especially in the tutorial.
“Enjoyable sit-down experience that runs great on older hardware.”
“Other than that, it was bug-free for my playthrough.”
“The forced replayability and multiple glitches made the gameplay a frustrating chore after a bit.”
“I had several minor problems with sensors glitching and impacting my input and reaction time, headset issues, software glitches, and setting issues where Windows Mixed Reality and/or Steam VR changed things seemingly at random.”
“Controls are buggy and I could barely make it past the tutorial.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates solid optimization with smooth performance and no major issues reported. However, there are some concerns regarding the telekinesis control, which appears to be better suited for Vive controllers rather than HP Reverb G2 with motion controllers. Despite this, the game is accessible and can be enjoyed in a seated position, making it suitable for various play styles.
“The game runs smoothly and no major movement is required (can be played in a chair) so I recommend this game no matter your play-size.”
“Solid performance (ran without a single hiccup!)”
“The writing, performances, appearance, intro sequence, and most importantly the levels are refined and play into the 70s spy aesthetic excellently.”
“For the moment, telekinesis control does not work properly on my HP Reverb G2 with the HP motion controllers, as the game seems to be optimized for touchpads on the Vive controller rather than joystick (which I prefer overall).”
- monetization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, users appreciate the game's current monetization model as a refreshing departure from typical VR cash grabs, but express concerns that future content updates should not introduce microtransactions or similar practices. The community is hopeful that continued support will enhance the game's value without compromising its integrity.
“If they add more content in the future, it will help tremendously, but my recommendation will only stay unless they add microtransactions or some other nonsense.”
“If they add more content in the future it will help tremendously, but my recommendation will only stay unless they add microtransactions or some other nonsense.”
“Refreshing change of pace from the mountain of VR cash grabs out there.”
Critic Reviews
"You seem to have this nasty habit of surviving." - I Expect You To Die PSVR review
More than just a ‘locked in a room’ simulator, I Expect You To Die! Is a masterful use of VR and the Move controllers. The puzzles are just challenging enough to be fun, while not so easy as to be obvious. My only complaint is that the game is relatively short, but the promise of a sequel has me ready to hand over my money. You need this game in your VR library.
90%I Expect You To Die Review - PSVR
One of the best puzzle games of 2016. Addictive, fun and clever.
70%Review: I Expect You To Die
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
80%