Kartong
- April 4, 2018
- Antler Interactive
"Kartong - Death by Cardboard!" is a single-player Action game with good graphics and a dense atmosphere, available for Arcades on SpringboardVR. Players are shrunk to the size of a toilet paper roll and must navigate a deadly cardboard city filled with toy enemies, in a stealth/FPS gameplay mode. The game offers procedurally generated levels with constantly changing maps, traps, weapons, and enemies, allowing for a unique experience each playthrough. Both PC and VR modes are available.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and beautiful art style, reminiscent of Tim Burton's creations, which enhances the overall atmosphere.
- The randomly generated mazes provide a fun and engaging experience, encouraging players to explore and try 'just one more level.'
- The gameplay mechanics, including the use of various weapons and traps, create a tense and immersive experience that keeps players on their toes.
- The game suffers from a lack of content, with limited enemy types and repetitive gameplay that can become boring over time.
- Control issues, particularly the 'click to move' mechanic, can make the game frustrating and unplayable for some users.
- Technical problems, such as crashes and glitches, detract from the overall experience and can lead to a loss of progress.
- graphics14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and charming art style, featuring quirky cardboard visuals that create an immersive atmosphere. While some players initially found the graphics disappointing, adjusting the settings revealed crisp colors and detailed environments that enhance the overall experience. The combination of beautiful artwork and eerie elements contributes to a captivating and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The art style is unique and compelling, and the short and randomly generated levels make you want to play 'just one more level.'”
“I loved the quality of the graphics, the crisp colors and cardboard theme.”
“The art style, overall atmosphere, and feeling of immersion is amazing.”
“Graphics: at first I was pretty disappointed until I saw the settings menu, which by the way is super easy to use and navigate using motion control, and bumped up the settings and man.”
“But after playing a few minutes, suddenly the graphics start to fade in and out and the sound stops for a couple of seconds.”
“The cardboard visuals on the entire world around you is surreal; all this filled with bizarre enemies can give some eerie chills.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Kartong is widely praised for its unique visual style, reminiscent of Tim Burton's creations, and its immersive environments filled with creepy toys. Reviewers highlight the game's blend of surrealism and horror elements, complemented by excellent art design and music that enhance the overall experience. While the gameplay may be considered average, the atmospheric levels and aesthetic appeal leave a lasting impression.
“Environments filled with creepy toys are very atmospheric and look a bit like set pieces from Tim Burton's stop-motion movies.”
“The art style, overall atmosphere, and feeling of immersion is amazing.”
“I really enjoy the level design and the atmosphere in this game; it's a mix between surrealism and straight-up horror clichés (mainly the enemies, who look very much like Tim Burton's creations).”
“The dark atmosphere feels more oppressive than immersive, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
“While the graphics are impressive, the atmosphere lacks the depth needed to draw players in.”
“The overall ambiance is too bleak, which detracts from the enjoyment of the gameplay.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Kartong is a mixed bag; while it features intriguing mechanics and a unique visual style, many players find it only passable, with some mechanics needing improvement, particularly the disorienting teleportation feature. However, recent updates have made the gameplay more fluid, challenging, and enjoyable, with a focus on navigating randomly generated mazes filled with traps and enemies. As it is still in early access, there is potential for further enhancements and content additions.
“The gameplay was intriguing and it made me want to dive right in.”
“I'm glad to see how the game changed drastically for the better, because I just played it again after a long time and now the gameplay is fluid, challenging, and fun!”
“Kartong has a unique visual style and atmospheric levels, but the gameplay is just passable rather than exciting.”
“The teleportation mechanic is very weird because it makes you choose which direction you want to face after teleporting, which can be disorienting.”
“As for the gameplay, don't look for any storyline or plot; it is a game you have to enjoy for what it is: a sort of rogue-lite with FPS elements where you adventure in a world full of traps and enemies who will hunt you down relentlessly.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its fitting and atmospheric qualities, described as a hauntingly creepy circus or toy store style that enhances the overall experience. Additionally, the visual cue of windows turning red when enemies are near adds to the immersive effect of the soundtrack.
“The music is great!”
“The music represents the atmosphere, so it's perfect.”
“Kind of a creepy circus/toy store style music that plays hauntingly in the background.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics as players navigate a procedurally generated maze to escape while collecting gears. It emphasizes a rogue-lite experience with first-person shooter elements, prioritizing action and exploration over a traditional narrative.
“The story unfolds in a unique cardboard-like city maze that changes with each mission, creating an engaging environment where players must navigate to find their way out while searching for gears to open the exit.”
“While the gameplay focuses on action and exploration, the experience is enriched by the atmosphere and challenges of a rogue-lite world filled with traps and relentless enemies.”
“As for the gameplay, don't look for any storyline or plot; it is a game you have to enjoy for what it is: a sort of roguelite with FPS elements where you adventure yourself in a world full of traps and enemies who will hunt you down relentlessly.”
“The story is virtually non-existent, leaving players to navigate through a maze without any meaningful context or character development.”
“There is no narrative depth or engaging plot to draw players in, making the experience feel hollow and unfulfilling.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is generally enjoyable, but players report occasional bugs, such as glitches that allow them to pass through walls and issues with item selection. Despite these minor stability concerns, many feel that the game is worth the price and could improve with future updates.
“The game is enjoyable, but it suffers from frequent bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as glitching through walls and issues with item selection. These problems could be resolved with updates, but they still detract from the overall experience.”
“While the game has potential, the stability issues are frustrating. I often find myself getting stuck in the environment or unable to interact with items properly, which makes it hard to fully enjoy the experience.”
“I love the concept of the game, but the stability is a major concern. There are too many glitches that can ruin immersion, like falling through the ground or having items not respond as expected.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's strong replayability, distinguishing it from typical VR minigames and experiences available on platforms like Steam. This title offers engaging content that encourages multiple playthroughs, making it a worthwhile choice for those seeking depth in their VR gaming experience.
“If you want a VR game that doesn't feel like those mini-games or experiences you can find pretty much everywhere on Steam at the moment and are looking for some replayability, then don't hesitate and go for this one!”
“The variety of choices and paths you can take in this game makes every playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and different character interactions, I find myself coming back to explore all the possibilities.”
“The game lacks the depth needed for true replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
“After finishing the main storyline, I found no compelling reasons to replay the game, as the choices felt superficial.”
“While the initial experience was enjoyable, the lack of varied outcomes and limited content made replaying feel tedious.”