LOCKDOWN Protocol
- July 22, 2024
- Mirage Creative Lab
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"LOCKDOWN Protocol" is a social deduction game for 3-8 players, combining real-time action and communication. Players work together to complete tasks, while a few dissidents aim to sabotage their efforts. It's a race against time to accomplish objectives and root out the traitors in this intense first-person experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay369 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players enjoying its fun and engaging mechanics, especially when played with friends. However, criticisms highlight a lack of content, repetitive tasks, and underdeveloped mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a unique twist on social deduction gameplay, it struggles with balance issues and the need for more maps and gameplay variety to maintain long-term interest.
“Early game sessions are all about gaining trust and learning the mechanics, while the mid-to-late game heats up with mind games, strategic betrayals, and high-stakes decision-making.”
“The dynamic environments and real-time gameplay keep you on edge, making every round feel unique and thrilling.”
“The gameplay is engaging and filled with unexpected moments that make it a joy to play.”
“Fun while it lasted, but then the devs had to care more about getting paid cosmetics out than fixing a bunch of game-crashing bugs, new maps, and other gameplay mechanics.”
“The gameplay loop gets boring after an hour or two.”
“The gameplay is fine, a little complicated, and the tutorial is not finished.”
- humor343 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its ability to create hilarious moments, especially when played with friends. The combination of chaotic gameplay, proximity chat, and unexpected interactions leads to a plethora of funny situations, making it a standout experience in the social deduction genre. However, some users note that the humor can be overshadowed by toxic behavior from certain players, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“I love how funny, interactive, and cooperative this game is.”
“Hilariously fun game that pushes you to think outside the box, work with and against other players.”
“This game is hilariously too much fun when you have an amazing group of people to play with.”
“Remove the vine boom because it's not funny.”
“Not funny so far.”
- graphics154 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style, clean visuals, and immersive sound design that enhance gameplay. However, some users criticize certain aspects as outdated or lacking detail, particularly in comparison to other titles like "Among Us." Overall, while the graphics are generally considered appealing and well-optimized, there are calls for more creativity and variety in visual design.
“The graphics are sharp and immersive, making every environment feel gritty and alive, which is perfect for the game’s themes of survival and strategy.”
“The game boasts stunning graphics, detailed environments, and impressive sound design, creating an engaging and tense experience.”
“I really can't stress this enough: this game is very well-polished and optimized with an amazing art style and direction, and in my eyes has a chance to dethrone Among Us.”
“Subpar graphics and visual design.”
“For a game released in 2024, 'Lockdown Protocol' features visuals that feel outdated.”
“Graphics are okay, I guess - nothing diabolically bad, but nothing noteworthy either.”
- story66 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The reviews for the game's story aspect are mixed, with many players noting a lack of a coherent narrative or engaging plot. While some appreciate the potential for storytelling through missions and character interactions, others criticize the game for its repetitive tasks and minimal story development, leading to a perception that it is more of a party game than one with a substantial narrative. Overall, the game's storytelling elements are seen as underdeveloped, with calls for more creative mission design to enhance the narrative experience.
“The story draws you in with its intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters.”
“I found myself invested in the mission and the fate of the characters, with the voice acting enhancing the emotional weight of the journey.”
“The world-building is immersive, with a rich backstory that explores themes of authority, ethics, and survival in a crisis.”
“The gameplay and art style is actually really good, and I wish I could like this game, but I just found it too boring. Basically, you do missions and nothing happens, and you would usually get killed really fast and probably by trolls.”
“An early access game with barely any content in it: one map and very few missions.”
“The game devolves into find weapons and rush tasks, which takes a lot of the accusing, storytelling, and defending you and your partner away.”
- stability39 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it is still quite buggy, especially given its early access status. While some report significant glitches, crashes, and issues with hackers, others highlight that the game runs smoothly and is enjoyable when functioning properly. Overall, players acknowledge the potential of the game but emphasize the need for further bug fixes and improvements.
“Also notably runs great, very polished experience already, and the voice chat works perfectly.”
“Looks great, runs great and from my 4 hours in the game so far we faced very little bugs/issues.”
“Easily the best 'early access' game I have played in a long time, plays smoothly and runs great.”
“Sadly, what we got instead is an unfinished, buggy mess with paywalls tacked on.”
“This game crashes and freezes once every match.”
“Needs a lot of work to be done as it's extremely buggy at this point and already has hackers.”
- music37 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its engaging and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with a mix of licensed tracks and original compositions. Players enjoy the ability to blast music during gameplay, although some express frustration with others overpowering the audio or using it excessively. Overall, the sound design is considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's fun and immersive vibe.
“The retro-style visuals are charming, and the atmospheric soundtrack adds tension to every moment.”
“Sound design: 10/10 (while there is some licensed music, the game soundtrack, misc sounds, bloops and beeps and clicks and clacks are an absolute eargasm. All the sounds just make you feel completing a task is utterly satisfying as it is accomplishing. Personally, the sound design is fantastic.)”
“Genuinely well developed, looks beautiful, great sound design, and a brilliant varied soundtrack on the cassette tapes!”
“Music copies Stranger Things (not original by the sounds of it)”
“Also can't turn down effects, very annoying to get blasted for trying to turn down the music machines so I don't go deaf early.”
“[*] Audio tapes/boom boxes can get annoying when people just constantly blast the music (at max volume).”
- replayability33 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its captivating nature and potential for fun with friends, while others criticize the repetitive tasks and limited mechanics that hinder long-term engagement. Titles like "Lockdown Protocol" are noted for their high replayability due to adjustable difficulty and immersive gameplay, but many agree that additional content and variety are essential for enhancing replay value. Overall, while some find the game endlessly replayable, others feel it lacks sufficient depth to maintain interest over time.
“The game was insanely captivating and there was some kind of replayability so you could keep playing and waiting for updates with friends.”
“With its rich lore and high replayability, Lockdown Protocol promises hours of engaging gameplay and thought-provoking scenarios.”
“There's so much replayability here because of the unique experiences you can have with friends and randoms.”
“Players often find the tasks repetitive, offering little variety or challenge, which quickly diminishes replayability.”
“Replayability is extremely limited due to the lack of maps and only a handful of mechanics (although the mechanics are solid, there are very few).”
“This game is not a very replayable game.”
- monetization31 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, who describe it as a blatant cash grab, particularly due to the high prices of DLCs and microtransactions that offer minimal content. Many players feel that the developers prioritize profit over gameplay quality, with some expressing frustration over the cost of gender options and cosmetic items in an already paid game. Overall, the sentiment is that the monetization approach detracts from the game's potential and enjoyment.
“$20 of cosmetic microtransactions in a $10 early access game is wild.”
“I could probably list every co-op game I've ever played here and we wouldn't have a single example of monetization anything short of leagues better than this game.”
“But no, they decided to just add microtransactions and DLCs without any actual gameplay content to keep the players interested in the game...”
“It felt like they were prioritizing monetization over fixing their broken product.”
“The game has turned into a cash grab for a game that already costs money to have.”
- grinding26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and frustrating, with many tasks feeling overly complex and time-consuming. Players express that while the game has potential and can be enjoyable, the repetitive nature of the objectives detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than fun gameplay. However, some users note that the game isn't excessively grindy, suggesting a mixed experience depending on individual play styles and group dynamics.
“Isn't grindy, therefore isn't a time sink.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“This is a part game, no grinding needed.”
“Game just feels like if you took the most annoying and tedious Among Us tasks and put them into GMod murder while taking out the detective.”
“Enemies seem impervious to gunfire, reducing combat encounters to prolonged, tedious skirmishes that end in frustration rather than satisfaction.”
“Just another Among Us 3D clone with overly tedious tasks that you need to do that feel more like actual work than fun gameplay.”
- optimization20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and stability, even on lower-end PCs. However, some players have noted the need for further optimization and bug fixes, particularly in early access, where occasional crashes and performance issues have been experienced. Despite these concerns, the visuals and overall polish have received commendation, suggesting a solid foundation for future improvements.
“Additionally, the visuals are stunning, and the game is well optimized for PC.”
“Kudos to the developers on making a fine polished game that is enjoyable, looks beautiful and runs smoothly!”
“I really can't stress this enough: this game is very well-polished and optimized with an amazing art style and direction, and in my eyes has a chance to dethrone Among Us.”
“This should be optimized for better performance.”
“Crashes, some performance issues, some missing settings (no motion blur setting?), however, I don't count that against the game since it is still early access.”
“I log in and the audio starts stuttering, the video keeps freezing, until the game crashes.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a significant highlight, characterized by a tense and immersive environment enhanced by retro-style visuals and a haunting soundtrack that intensifies critical moments. While many players appreciate the compelling narrative and environmental storytelling, some criticize the map's overly sanitized look, which detracts from the intended eerie ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a mix of chaos, humor, and tension, though it can feel lackluster without a supportive multiplayer experience.
“The retro-style visuals are charming, and the atmospheric soundtrack adds tension to every moment.”
“From the moment I entered the game, the intense atmosphere grabbed me.”
“The atmosphere is further enhanced by the game's art style and sound design.”
“Why doesn't the environment have atmosphere?”
“Map doesn't feel spooky or ominous in any way since it's so sanitized and bright, completely ruining the atmosphere for me. I would recommend a more dark and industrial look to it.”
“You’ll often get kicked from games, encounter many non-English speakers, and the overall atmosphere can feel lackluster without friends.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be an emotional roller coaster, balancing lighthearted fun with moments of betrayal and investment in character fates. The strong voice acting significantly enhances the emotional depth of the narrative, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their journeys. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from humor to heartfelt moments, creating a rich emotional experience.
“I found myself invested in the mission and the fate of the characters, with the voice acting enhancing the emotional weight of the journey.”
“Voice acting is solid, with characters delivering performances that enhance the emotional weight of the narrative.”
“Each session of play is like an emotional roller coaster of hilarity, betrayal, and accomplishment.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its depth, with well-crafted background lore that enhances the personal stakes and overall engagement of the narrative.
“The background lore and character development add depth, making the stakes feel personal and engaging.”
“The characters evolve throughout the story, allowing players to form a genuine connection with them.”
“Each character's journey is intricately woven into the narrative, enhancing the overall experience.”
