Impaler

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 310 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Impaler Game Cover
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"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.

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Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 310 reviews
gameplay35 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Impaler offers a unique and satisfying gameplay experience with its spike mechanic, allowing for creative movement and combat strategies.
  • The game is very affordable, providing a fun and engaging experience for its low price, making it a great value for players.
  • The retro-inspired graphics and sound design contribute to a nostalgic atmosphere, appealing to fans of classic FPS games.
  • The game lacks content, with only a single arena and a limited variety 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.
  • The controls and movement mechanics can feel floaty or imprecise, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
  • gameplay66 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its fun and satisfying mechanics, particularly the unique impaling and spike systems that enhance combat dynamics. While the core mechanics are simple and polished, allowing for a high skill ceiling, some players note a lack of content and variety in enemies and weapons, which may limit long-term engagement. Overall, the game offers a smooth, enjoyable experience with a blend of depth and accessibility, making it a solid choice for fans of arena shooters.

    • “While the gameplay loop is rather simple on a surface level, it actually takes time to master.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and mostly well balanced; the movement feels great, the guns have decent feedback, and it looks and runs good.”
    • “Learning the game’s mechanics is very satisfying, and it’s very fun to kill monsters in many different ways.”
    • “On the other hand, the content is seriously limited, with only five enemies, six weapons, of which I have so far got three, and I have no motivation to really push further, because they all feel as if they have pretty much the same DPS and accuracy. So there is no alpha vs. DPS choice, etc. You can only carry one 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

    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 may not 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, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “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 with no real substance.”
    • “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, but they don't elevate the experience.”
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 90s boomer shooters, with vibrant colors and well-designed monsters that enhance the overall ambiance. While some users noted minor inconsistencies in texture quality and presentation, the game is generally considered visually appealing and runs smoothly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the unique art style and crisp visuals contribute to an enjoyable gaming 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.”
    • “First, the presentation and aesthetics could use some tweaks.”
    • “The game has slightly high-res PBR textures, which, in my opinion, clash with 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

    Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many players appreciating its engaging gameplay and high score challenges. 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.

    • “Very good and funny to play, also has a pretty good amount of replayability!”
    • “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.”
    • “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

    The game lacks a narrative, with users advising potential players not to expect any story elements or traditional level design reminiscent of classic titles.

    • “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

    The game is well-optimized, delivering smooth performance with high frame rates even on older hardware, and the developer is responsive to user feedback regarding optimization issues.

    • “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

    The humor in the game is highly praised, contributing to an enjoyable and entertaining experience, while also enhancing its replayability.

    • “Very good and funny to play, also has a pretty good amount of replayability!”
  • stability1 mentions

    Reviews suggest that while the game is generally stable, players feel it could benefit from additional features, such as a third limited-use weapon like a bomb, to enhance gameplay dynamics.

  • grinding1 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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
3-27hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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