Malus

55%
Game Brain Score Based on 180 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
Malus Game Cover
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"Malus" is a single-player Horror Action RPG set in a dark, demon-overrun world with a unique combat system, including lock-on mechanic and blocking with shields. The game is in early development stages, offering a slow-paced, atmospheric experience with a good plot and visuals, but it's very buggy. Find answers to your character's past as you explore the world and uncover grim secrets.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

55%
Audience ScoreBased on 180 reviews
story8 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • The game has a lot of potential and shows promise with its dark atmosphere and unique combat mechanics.
  • The crafting system is interesting and adds depth to the gameplay, allowing players to create their own gear.
  • The graphics and art style are appealing, reminiscent of classic ARPGs like Diablo.
  • The game has been abandoned by the developer, with no updates or communication for an extended period, leading to frustration among players.
  • Gameplay is plagued by numerous bugs and clunky controls, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.
  • The content is extremely limited, with only a few hours of gameplay available, and many players feel it is not worth the investment.
  • story35 mentions

    The game's story is currently minimal and lacks depth, with players noting only a few basic quests that often feel buggy and unfulfilling. While some hints of an interesting narrative exist, the overall quest structure is rudimentary and fails to provide a compelling storyline, leaving players hoping for more content in future updates. Despite these shortcomings, the game's atmosphere and potential for a richer story have sparked curiosity among players.

    • “Story-wise, I haven't gone far enough in the game because even after 5 hours I've died a lot, but it still captivated and motivated me to find out more... where does that bloody trail lead to?”
    • “Surprisingly, the hints of story have me interested and I'm looking forward to seeing more.”
    • “The concept is great, can't wait to see what they come up with for a storyline (and multiplayer).”
    • “For a game in early access for multiple years, it only had 1 quest which was very buggy and nothing more.”
    • “No real story; the game has small storylines to push questing, but what is it really about?”
    • “This game should have been a little more developed before being made public. It'll just tank the stats; it's dirt cheap, which raises an eyebrow. It is a top-down Dark Souls that has no balance, no real story, and not even an in-game map (which nearly all RPGs have one). It doesn't even try to hide that it's a cheap copy of Dark Souls.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gritty ambiance reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo, enhanced by somber music and immersive sound design. Reviewers highlight its unique and engaging environment, which effectively conveys a sense of danger and potential, although some note that it could benefit from improved gameplay precision. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, setting it apart from typical looter hack-and-slash games.

    • “The atmosphere feels amazing, the dark dreary ambiance and the really good boss music is fantastic.”
    • “This game has amazing atmosphere and a lot of potential.”
    • “Malus definitely has the atmosphere and feeling of danger of a souls game, but unfortunately lacks the precision that allows those games to be a fun and fair challenge despite their difficulty.”
    • “As far as visual atmosphere goes, I actually think Diablo IV could take a few notes from Malus.”
    • “Malus definitely has the atmosphere and feeling of danger of a Souls game, but unfortunately lacks the precision that allows those games to be a fun and fair challenge despite their difficulty.”
    • “However, this game can teach AAA devs a thing or two about atmosphere.”
  • gameplay20 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its solid core mechanics and dynamic combat system, which includes crafting, melee, and ranged options. However, concerns about content scarcity, bugs, and unbalanced enemy mechanics have been noted, indicating that while the game shows promise and offers an engaging experience, it still requires significant polish and development. Overall, players find the gameplay enjoyable but recognize it as a work in progress.

    • “Gameplay is solid, crafting looks very promising.”
    • “The gameplay is simple and very dynamic; you always need to move, you can parry, dodge forward and backward, and attack. You have melee attacks, but if you prefer distance, you can also use a bow or magic, and you can activate skills. It's basic, but it gets the job done!”
    • “Just a warning, there are bugs and glitches, and this game is not entirely polished, but the gameplay is great, and something about it just draws me in to keep playing.”
    • “Not enough content, mechanics, stability to be worth buying or playing currently.”
    • “It is mechanically awful, you're expected to use melee and dodging, but literally the first enemies you fight have no attack animation, they just deal damage at proximity.”
    • “Make less complications on the fighting gameplay.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, with many users praising their beauty and polish, though some note they are not groundbreaking. The aesthetic successfully combines elements from games like Diablo and Dark Souls, creating a captivating atmosphere. While there are minor suggestions for improvement, the consensus is that the graphics significantly enhance the gaming experience.

    • “The aesthetic is gorgeous.”
    • “But I love the atmosphere in this game and the graphics are excellent.”
    • “Graphics are so beautiful, the models are also very detailed!”
    • “On the upside, the graphics are pretty good but not great.”
    • “Graphics are well polished, but the controls are not.”
    • “+Graphics could be improved.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with numerous bugs and glitches reported, particularly in character movement and quest functionality. While players acknowledge the early access status and the presence of issues, many still find the gameplay enjoyable and engaging, suggesting that the overall experience is promising despite the lack of polish.

    • “For a game in early access for multiple years, it only had 1 quest which was very buggy and nothing more.”
    • “Still some bugs in the character movement and glitches overall.”
    • “Just a warning, there are bugs and glitches, and this game is not entirely polished, but the gameplay is great, and something about it just draws me in to keep playing.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its somber and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the dark and dreary ambiance. Players appreciate the fantastic boss music and overall sound effects, noting that the ambient tracks contribute significantly to the immersive experience.

    • “The atmosphere feels amazing; the dark, dreary ambiance and the really good boss music are fantastic.”
    • “The music is perfect, and the sound effects overall are great, including the voices.”
    • “The ambient music is also great.”
    • “The music is very somber and the atmospheric sounds make me feel drowsy while playing the game.”
    • “+music”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is currently lacking, with users reporting performance issues and low frame rates even on high-end hardware. While there are positive notes about loading times, the overall experience suffers from bugs and a need for enhanced content and NPC development.

    • “It looks good, but it needs some optimization.”
    • “It needs more content (especially lore), maybe some more interesting and fleshed-out NPCs, and bug squashing and performance enhancement.”
    • “It's not very optimized yet; I have a GTX 1080 Ti/i7 7700K, and sometimes I could get 30 FPS.”
    • “I believe this game, with a good team and effort, could be great; unfortunately, the current state of it is not very optimized.”
    • “It needs more content (especially lore), maybe some more interesting and fleshed-out NPCs, along with bug squashing and performance enhancements.”
    • “It's not very optimized yet; I have a GTX 1080 Ti and an i7 7700K, and sometimes I can only get 30 FPS.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be significant but manageable, with some noting that it can become excessive after prolonged play, particularly in the early levels where quests are lacking. While grinding can help players progress, the absence of auto-save and the repetitive nature of farming can lead to frustration. Overall, the experience is mixed, with some players feeling it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Well, some farming is okay, but this here is insane. After 30 minutes of spider killing, I had enough. Yeah, sure, you can lure skeletons into the town guard, but I have better games to play.”
    • “There are zero quests that go along with the first 10 levels of grinding, and still none that I could clear before level 10.”
    • “At the moment, it is grindy but not overly so, and there is no auto-save.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express disappointment over the emotional impact of seeing a game that references a beloved franchise like Diablo, suggesting it evokes feelings of heartbreak and nostalgia, particularly when the game fails to meet expectations.

    • “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; I felt a genuine connection to the characters.”
    • “Every choice I made had a profound impact on the narrative, making me reflect on my own life.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complemented the emotional moments, enhancing the overall experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the old-school, straightforward approach to character development, noting that it effectively conveys a sense of progression with each level and attribute point gained.

    • “The old school simplistic approach to character development feels so good, and you can really feel the progression with every level and attribute point used.”
    • “The depth of character development allows for a truly personalized experience, making each choice feel impactful and meaningful.”
    • “I love how the character development system encourages experimentation, letting players explore different builds and playstyles.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Users note that the game currently lacks humor, but express hope that the developers will incorporate comedic elements as it continues to evolve in early access.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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