Maniac

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 785 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • humor
Maniac Game Cover
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"Maniac" is a single-player Role Playing game that promises a hilarious and chaotic experience, reminiscent of classic GTA games. With six unlockable characters, including a murderous Clown and an inebriated Santa Claus, and a vast open world with destructible environments, the game offers stellar replayability. The unlockable weapons, gear, and vehicular upgrades, along with the built-in map editor, ensure endless mayhem and fun.

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Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 785 reviews
gameplay18 positive mentions
story7 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun and chaotic experience reminiscent of classic GTA games, allowing players to indulge in mindless destruction.
  • Great value for the price, providing hours of entertainment with a simple yet addictive gameplay loop.
  • The variety of characters and upgrades adds replayability, making it enjoyable to unlock and experiment with different playstyles.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, lacking depth and variety in missions and objectives.
  • Some players have reported bugs and issues with controls, particularly with aiming and vehicle handling.
  • The game may feel shallow to some, as the rogue-lite elements do not significantly change the core experience across different runs.
  • gameplay48 mentions

    The gameplay is widely praised for its engaging blend of old-school GTA mechanics and rogue-lite elements, offering a chaotic yet strategic experience filled with destruction and mayhem. Players appreciate the variety of characters and abilities, which enhance replayability, while the intuitive controls and satisfying mechanics contribute to a fun, arcade-style atmosphere. However, some reviewers noted that the core gameplay loop can become repetitive and lacks depth, despite the overall enjoyment derived from the game's chaotic nature.

    • “Great gameplay, great visuals, contains a level editor and workshop.”
    • “In the ever-evolving landscape of action arcade games, Maniac stands out as a thrilling top-down adventure that combines high-speed chases, strategic gameplay, and a dash of chaos that keeps you glued to the screen.”
    • “This clever mechanic adds a layer of strategy to the mayhem, pushing you to plan your sprees of destruction with just a bit more thought.”
    • “My second biggest problem is that the game is technically a bit of a mess which makes for frustrating gameplay.”
    • “While the concept is fun, the core gameplay loop got boring pretty quickly.”
    • “The most effective way to gain cash (required to buy gameplay upgrades) is to drive around in a small circle blowing up everything that comes at you and then waiting for the cash to spawn, grabbing it, and driving back around in a circle again.”
  • story38 mentions

    The game's story aspect is virtually non-existent, with players emphasizing a lack of missions or narrative depth, focusing instead on chaotic gameplay and destruction. While some express a desire for a minimal storyline or random missions to enhance the experience, the overall sentiment is that the game thrives on its simplicity and allows players to indulge in mayhem without the constraints of traditional storytelling. Essentially, it offers a nostalgic return to the original GTA's rampage mechanics, prioritizing fun over narrative complexity.

    • “Each mission, lasting around 20 minutes, is a meticulously crafted episode of chaos and fun that never feels repetitive or tedious.”
    • “It’s not just a game; it’s a high-speed joyride through a world where chaos reigns supreme, and every mission is an invitation to indulge in your wildest gaming fantasies.”
    • “Each character brings a unique flavor to the table, enriching the gameplay experience and offering varied approaches to missions.”
    • “If you are looking for depth, innovation, or some form of story then stop right now, don't buy this.”
    • “The objective of the game is to murder as many innocent people as possible; there are no missions or objectives other than this.”
    • “No story, just mindless fun.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with absurd situations that evoke laughter, reminiscent of classic titles like GTA. Players appreciate the colorful characters and ridiculous physics, which enhance the overall fun and chaotic experience. With achievements and scenarios that push the boundaries of humor, the game delivers a memorable and entertaining ride.

    • “This game is good fun, love the dark humor.”
    • “Gotta love the babies crying over Santa slaying and the clown laughing!”
    • “Not only is Maniac absolutely hilarious, it is a joy to play.”
  • graphics20 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as simple yet crisp, with a nostalgic art style reminiscent of older games like GTA and Newgrounds titles. While some players appreciate the bright visuals and detailed environments, others feel the graphics can become repetitive over time. Overall, the visuals are considered good, complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience, despite some concerns about graphic violence.

    • “The graphics are nice, and more detailed than first impressions.”
    • “Great gameplay, great visuals, contains a level editor and workshop.”
    • “The bright graphics and the upbeat tunes perfectly balance out the game's bonkers gameplay.”
    • “The controls are far more loosey goosey than GTA and more simplistic graphically as well.”
    • “It's incredibly simple in that regard - run, shoot, with fairly basic (but crisp and clear) graphics and not a huge deal of content.”
    • “Reminds me a little of State of Emergency mixed with the art style of Chinatown Wars.”
  • replayability19 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a mix of opinions on replayability. While some players find it highly entertaining and endlessly replayable due to its diverse characters, upgrades, and engaging gameplay, others feel it lacks depth and can become repetitive over time. The consensus suggests that for its price, the game provides good replay value, especially with potential future content updates.

    • “It's an excellent time and infinitely replayable.”
    • “The upgrade system and unlocks gives fantastic replay value.”
    • “Overall it's brilliant and you get a ton of replayability for the price.”
    • “The game overall feels gimmicky and lacks replay value compared to other roguelikes.”
    • “Yeah, it gets repetitive after a little while, but hey, five bucks... I don't expect a game with 30 hours of replayability for this price.”
    • “Maniac is a very fun, very rewarding burst of dopamine with seemingly very little replay value unless there are some serious plans for content addition on the horizon.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its intensity and fitting atmosphere, with many users enjoying the hard-hitting tracks reminiscent of classic metal bands. While the soundtrack is considered great, some players feel it could benefit from additional tracks and greater diversity. Overall, the music enhances the gaming experience, even if it has some limitations.

    • “The menu music goes so hard.”
    • “The soundtrack is a great fit, although it would be nice if it was a bit longer or had a few more tracks.”
    • “The art style and music are also great in my opinion.”
    • “The soundtrack is okay, but it could use a bit more diversity.”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
    • “This is a game where I feel like blaring Slayer, classic 80s Megadeth, Judas Priest, Rage Against the Machine, Fear Factory, Testament, and other bands that real wild-eyed maniacs listen to.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, particularly due to achievements requiring massive kill counts and vehicle destruction. While some appreciate the chaotic fun of missions, many feel that the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall experience, suggesting a need for more varied content or side missions to alleviate the monotony.

    • “If you want to 100% this game, you have a hell of a grind with the 100,000 kills and especially the destroy 100,000 vehicles achievements. Even with the right strategy, this will take you countless hours of grinding and gets so tedious.”
    • “It's a bit too grindy.”
    • “Too grindy and repetitive even for a roguelike.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is notably poor, with numerous glitches and crashes reported, leading many to feel it resembles an early access title despite its official release. While it runs well on the Steam Deck, the overall experience is marred by unpolished controls and a lack of balance, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, perfect game for it.”
    • “There are a lot of glitches in the level as well.”
    • “However, despite not being in early access, this game feels like it should be in early access, because there's just not a lot of it and what there is, is kind of buggy and unbalanced.”
    • “I encountered a few crashes and stumbled upon glitches that, while not game-breaking, remind you of the title’s imperfections.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised for its smooth performance and minimal bugs, providing a satisfying experience. However, some users report occasional performance dips, particularly after completing a run.

    • “It handles wonderfully, the performance is smooth and rarely hiccups, and the amount of soul-crushing destruction you can cause is quite satisfying.”
    • “Runs smoothly, no noticeable bugs.”
    • “Performance dips from time to time, especially once you finish a run.”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a consistent frame rate, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
    • “Loading times are excessively long, which disrupts the flow of the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a striking contrast, where intense violence is juxtaposed with heartwarming moments, creating a unique and impactful experience for players.

    • “So violent, it's heartwarming.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Users express a desire for more progressive character development and an upgrade menu to enhance engagement and prolong gameplay.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly immersive, allowing players to truly shape their characters' journeys.”
    • “I love how the character development feels organic, with choices that genuinely impact the story and relationships.”
    • “I would prefer a more progressive character development system and a general upgrading menu to keep me engaged.”
    • “The character development feels stagnant and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”
    • “I was hoping for deeper character arcs, but the development is shallow and doesn't offer any real growth.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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