Impaler
- December 6, 2022
- Apptivus
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Impaler" is a single-player fantasy shooter with outstanding gameplay and music. The challenging arena shooter features 90s-inspired graphics, diverse map layouts, monsters to impale, and upgrades to earn. With controller support, this game offers a smooth and immersive experience, perfect for the Steam Deck.
PC
Windows
steam_deck
Reviews
- Impaler offers a unique and satisfying gameplay experience with its spike mechanic, allowing for creative movement and combat strategies.
- The game is very affordable at around $3, providing good value for the amount of fun and replayability it offers.
- The retro-inspired graphics and sound design enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable for fans of classic FPS games.
- The game lacks content, with only a single arena and a limited number of enemies, which can lead to repetitive gameplay.
- Some players have reported issues with balance and difficulty, feeling that the game can be too easy or frustrating at times.
- There are complaints about the controls and movement mechanics, particularly after updates that changed the gameplay feel.
- gameplay66 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, particularly the unique impaling and spike systems that add depth to combat without overwhelming players. While the core mechanics are simple and satisfying to master, some reviewers noted a lack of content and variety in enemies and weapons, which could limit replayability. Overall, the game offers a polished and enjoyable experience, especially for fans of arena shooters, but could benefit from additional content and complexity.
“While the gameplay loop is rather simple on a surface level, it actually takes time to master.”
“The gameplay mechanics feel extremely well made.”
“The spike gun is probably one of the most fun core game mechanics I've seen in a shooter in a while, because it doesn't just kill things in a satisfying way and pop enemies into the air for sick trick shots, but it also completely changes how you and enemies navigate the level.”
“On the other hand, the content is seriously limited, with only five enemies and six weapons, of which I have so far gotten three. I have no motivation to really push further because they all feel as if they have pretty much the same DPS and accuracy. You can only carry one weapon per run, with a special spike weapon as your secondary, which fits the name but limits the gameplay.”
“But with no leaderboards and no other levels, I see no reason to return to it after my 2.3 hours of gameplay.”
“The gameplay is slow and way too easy.”
- music22 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many users praising the soundtrack as enjoyable and well-suited to the gameplay. While some noted that the music doesn't always match the game's atmosphere, the overall sound design, including sound effects and ambiance, is considered exceptional and enhances the gaming experience. Players appreciate the combination of good music, art, and gameplay, often highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature.
“The music, sound effects, visual feedback, etc. are all more than worth mentioning as well.”
“A good OST to be slaying the denizens of hell!!!”
“The sound design, music, sprites, and gameplay are exceptional and make me more than a little envious.”
“The music is just filling noises; there's no real music.”
“Sad, because everything else is great: the concept, the map, the movement, the art, and the music.”
“The game soundtrack and sound effects are pretty neat too.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 90s boomer shooters, featuring vibrant colors and well-designed monsters that enhance the overall ambiance. While some users noted minor inconsistencies in texture quality and presentation, the game's visuals are generally considered fun and engaging, running smoothly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the unique art style and crisp graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience.
“The tasteful art style on the cover doesn't promise too much: the monsters look good, the music and ambiance are very well done.”
“Extremely fun, retro graphics done in a very interesting way that just looks really cool.”
“It runs very smoothly and has a nice looking retro-inspired art style.”
“The game has slightly high-resolution PBR textures, which, in my opinion, clash with the rest of the game's aesthetics.”
“The pillars, for example, are too high quality for the rest of the game's aesthetics.”
“My reservation with Warlock was the same here - flat enemies and a mismatch between the art style of the game and the store thumbnail.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many players appreciating its engaging gameplay and potential for high scores. However, some critics note that it lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of repetitiveness over time. While it offers decent replay value, enhancements like dynamic environments and difficulty settings could significantly improve the experience.
“The game’s replayability is one of its strongest suits.”
“This never gets old, and never will because of the arcade replayability of trying to get a high score.”
“Decent art direction, amazing simple yet deep gameplay, plentiful replayability.”
“A roguelite with not the most replayability due to a few reasons.”
“The game would be much more replayable if maybe some walls moved around or the pillars shifted across the room.”
“Great game, fluid and fun FPS but too easy and too short; it lacks depth, variety, and replay value as it gets repetitive.”
- story3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative, with users advising potential players not to expect any story elements or traditional level design reminiscent of classic titles.
“The story is incredibly immersive and keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
“The narrative is rich and well-developed, with characters that feel real and relatable.”
“The plot twists and emotional depth of the story make it a memorable experience.”
“There is no story.”
“Don't come into this game expecting a story or Doom E1M1 type maps.”
“The narrative is virtually non-existent.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, delivering smooth performance with frame rates between 460 and 560 on older hardware like the AMD Vega 64. Additionally, the developer is responsive to user feedback, further enhancing the overall experience.
“Runs smoothly and has a good developer who listens to feedback.”
“Performance is great; I get between 460 and 560 FPS with an old AMD Vega 64.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly praised, with players finding it very entertaining and enjoyable, contributing to a solid replayability factor.
“Very good and funny to play; it also has a great amount of replayability!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations!”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users suggest that the game could benefit from the addition of a third limited-use weapon, such as a bomb that can damage or freeze enemies, to enhance gameplay stability and strategy.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, contributing to an overall sense of length that detracts from the enjoyment.
“The game is longer now, and it just gets too tedious and repetitive.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“The amount of time required to level up is excessive, making the experience frustrating.”
