Insecticide

About

"Insecticide" is a single-player mystery shooter game with a good plot and plenty of humor. As Detective Chrys Liszt, you'll explore a futuristic world of mutant insects and solve puzzles, collect clues, and interrogate suspects to uncover a gripping mystery. Utilize unique insect abilities and specialized bug weaponry to navigate the action-based platforming and weapons-based combat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 360 reviews

story26 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

Insecticide features a unique and charming setting with a film noir aesthetic, making it an interesting experience.
The mix of puzzle-solving and action gameplay is enjoyable, with fun voice acting and clever writing that includes plenty of humorous insect puns.
Despite its flaws, the game has a certain charm and nostalgia, appealing to fans of quirky, retro-style games.

The game is incomplete, ending on a cliffhanger with no plans for a sequel, which can be frustrating for players.
Gameplay mechanics, particularly in the action and platforming segments, can feel clunky and unpolished, leading to frustrating moments.
The graphics and overall presentation are dated, which may detract from the experience for players expecting modern visuals.

story
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The story of *Insecticide* is praised for its unique setting and engaging characters, featuring a detective narrative filled with humor and insect-themed puns. However, many reviewers express disappointment that the game only presents the first part of a larger story, leaving players with an unsatisfying cliffhanger and an incomplete experience. While the plot is described as charming and fun, it ultimately feels half-baked without a follow-up to resolve the narrative.
- “The storyline of the game was charming, and fun with interesting characters.”
- “You play as the hot-blooded detective Chrys Liszt, who is on a mission to recover her memory and uncover the biggest mystery of her time.”
- “Impressions: looks dated with low-rez cutscenes, awkward controls and mismatched mouth to voice work.. but in the first 10 minutes I was impressed by the storytelling, characters, and gameplay.”
- “Yes, the developers released only the first part of a story onto PC, probably gauging audience interest before releasing the second half.”
- “The story as far as it goes is decent but there is no getting away from the fact that this is only half the game; just as it gets into its swing, the game ends.”
- “Unfortunately, Insecticide Part 2 was never released; so you're left with an incomplete story and an unfinished game.”
graphics
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
59%
19%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its origins as a 2008 DS title, with many reviewers noting low resolution and lack of widescreen support. However, the art style is often praised for its charm and detail, reminiscent of titles like Psychonauts, and some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic despite the technical shortcomings. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they contribute to the game's quirky and engaging atmosphere.
- “The art style is gorgeously detailed, capturing the essence of an insect-infested city.”
- “The graphics looked fine, sharp, and scaled surprisingly well to my 1440p display.”
- “It has a cool art style reminiscent of Psychonauts and an interesting story, and the voice acting is of good quality.”
- “I guess nostalgia and the detective part inspires some people to play this through, but I just found the controls, dated graphics, and constant crashes to be a bit too much to continue playing this game.”
- “It feels more like a console game than a PC game as you not often require the mouse, just while interacting with a scene during investigation mode and in the menus. Furthermore, the cutscenes (which seem kind of compressed along with their audio) and the overall graphics seem pretty outdated, considering the game came out in 2008.”
- “It has the means to be an okay if not a good game, but the bugged controls, fairly crappy graphics (especially during cutscenes), and flat-out lack of quality sadly pretty much ruins it.”
gameplay
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
73%
11%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of point-and-click investigation and action-platforming elements reminiscent of classic titles. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and engaging story, many criticize the awkward controls, frustrating mechanics, and numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a unique but uneven gameplay experience that may appeal to those who value narrative and humor over technical polish.
- “The gameplay shifts between investigations (a point-and-click adventure style mode where we walk about examining clues, collecting objects to use on puzzles, and talking with NPCs), and chases (sections with a combat focus, tricky platforming, and waves of enemies).”
- “Part one provides a hybrid gameplay style consisting of action blasting platforming with point-and-click detective work.”
- “I like that the gameplay differs from level to level, the dialogue is witty and funny, the characters are interesting, and the plot makes you want to continue playing.”
- “The platformer shooter parts of the game have absolutely terrible gameplay.”
- “In the end, this game has a lot of bugs (no pun intended) and the gameplay is terrible, but if you're the type of person who can appreciate other aspects of games other than the gameplay, I'd say it's worth a couple dollars and a few hours' time.”
- “Gameplay-wise, Insecticide isn't much to write home about: it has sequences that are third-person shooter with platforming elements, part action adventure game where you need to investigate a crime scene, and lots of cutscenes.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark, twisted jokes and clever puns, often drawing on 60s sci-fi references and pop culture. While some jokes may fall flat, the witty dialogue and engaging character interactions provide a fun experience, especially for fans of quirky humor. Overall, the game successfully entertains with its comedic elements, making it a worthwhile adventure for players.
- “You'll be laughing, you'll be scratching your head, but you won't be bored.”
- “The game is often funny, and there are lots of geeky references to 60s sci-fi movies and other areas of pop culture.”
- “I like that the gameplay differs from level to level, the dialogue is witty and funny, the characters are interesting, and the plot makes you want to continue playing.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
11%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy jazzy soundtrack that complements the noir setting and enhances the overall experience. While the voice acting is noted as good, the soundtrack is described as limited and occasionally suffers from poor looping, which detracts from its quality. Overall, the music is appreciated for its orchestration and thematic fit, making it a highlight for many players despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The soundtrack to this game is absolutely top.”
- “Big ups to the guys who put in the heart on that music.”
- “But the music doesn't loop smoothly, so it stutters briefly as it restarts, like a DVD menu.”
- “The admittedly limited soundtrack is kind of catchy and fits the noir setting, but it's not sublime.”
- “The soundtrack is a mix of seedy jazz and more intense, action-packed stuff.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The game "Insecticide: Part 1" has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with users describing it as "really buggy" and likening it to an old, problematic title. Despite these flaws, some players feel that the gameplay is still enjoyable enough to justify the experience.
- “At least it isn't buggy.”
- “6.7/10 - it's really buggy...”
- “I'd say that it's buggy.”
- “It's a buggy little bastard, but for what it's asking for, it's worth it for the decently solid 3rd person action.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The atmosphere of "Insecticide" is highly praised for its film noir style and immersive bug-themed city, particularly during the detective segments, which enhance the overall experience despite being limited in number. Players appreciate the engaging investigative moments that allow them to fully absorb the game's unique setting.
- “Insecticide is a film noir styled action and adventure game with a great atmosphere.”
- “In my opinion, the detective segments are the most fun because it allows you to take in the atmosphere of a bug themed city.”
- “In my opinion, the detective segments are the most fun because it allows you to take in the atmosphere of a bug-themed city, despite being only two missions of detective fun time.”
- “I did quite like the detective moments where you investigate a scene and the atmosphere of the game.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews highlight a strong appreciation for the character design, noting that it is visually appealing and effectively complements the game's jazzy soundtrack. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth.
- “The character designs and the jazzy soundtrack support the game well.”
- “I like the character design.”
- “Character designs.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspects of the game frustrating due to large, confusing rooms and a lack of helpful hints, which leads to tedious item management. The investigation segments, intended as a nod to classic Sierra games, are criticized for being boring and disrupting the overall game flow.
- “These investigation parts are supposed to be a reference to the old Sierra games, but they're really just boring and tedious and break the flow of the game.”
- “The first and second ones are kind of tough, as the rooms are pretty big, and you don't get many hints on what to do. Also, items that have no more use don't always disappear from your inventory, making the parts even more tedious to solve.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Replayability in the game is primarily driven by the collection of soda bombs scattered throughout the environments, which offers players a reason to revisit levels. However, this aspect may feel limited, as it relies heavily on finding collectibles rather than providing diverse gameplay experiences.
- “The only source of replay value here is the collectibles that are soda bombs, which are littered throughout the environments.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that while the game's optimization is not directly addressed, there is a sentiment that it has a tendency to take itself too seriously, which may detract from the overall experience.