Mastema: Out of Hell

About

In "Mastema: Out of Hell," play as a fallen angel seeking redemption as you navigate through a blend of gothic and Lovecraftian-inspired environments. Engage in fast-paced combat with various enemies, utilizing an array of weapons and spells. Solve puzzles and uncover the mystery of your past while battling against powerful bosses in this intense action-adventure game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and a fantastic retro aesthetic reminiscent of 1990s games.
The music is atmospheric and complements the game's dark theme, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite its flaws, the game offers a challenging experience that can be rewarding for players who enjoy retro platformers.

The controls are unresponsive and frustrating, particularly when it comes to jumping, leading to many unfair deaths.
Players lose their weapon upon dying, which significantly hampers gameplay and makes levels much harder to complete.
Level design often requires pixel-perfect jumps, which can feel tedious and unfair, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
10%
The graphics of "Mastema: Out of Hell" are widely praised for their nostalgic 1990s pixel art style, reminiscent of classic SNES and Amiga games, effectively creating a dark and atmospheric experience. While many reviewers appreciate the detailed sprite work and overall aesthetic, some criticize the game's physics and controls, which detract from the enjoyment of the visuals. Overall, the graphics and sound design successfully evoke a retro feel, appealing to fans of the genre despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “The graphics and music make the game feel like it was actually made in the '90s, and not just another modern retro indie pixel art game.”
- “The level artworks (such as the tiles and background art) are nicely done and create a dark and other-worldly atmosphere.”
- “The sprite work is amazing; that's actually why I bought the game, just for the retro graphics, but it really does feel like the real thing.”
- “Sorry, gonna refund you due to poor graphics, control issues, and game reset rules, even if it costs less than a penny.”
- “We have exchanged lazy 8-bit graphics for slightly less lazy 16-bit graphics, but the general theme is the same as the rest of the retro dross choking the Steam catalog... a low-effort copy of an ancient kind of game that isn't as good as the games it's copying, just to make a quick buck on Steam or through bundles and card flippers.”
- “It's got a really nice Amiga-esque aesthetic, but the physics are bad (every jump feels 2 pixels too short, interaction with platforms is sort of wonky), the attack feels unresponsive, and many enemies have way too much HP.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
55%
19%
The gameplay of "Mastema: Out of Hell" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its retro aesthetics and challenging difficulty, but criticizing its clunky controls and frustrating jumping mechanics. While some enjoy the nostalgic feel and find the gameplay engaging, others feel that the unresponsive controls and unfair mechanics detract significantly from the overall experience, leading to a frustrating and often unenjoyable game. Despite its potential, many reviews highlight that the gameplay flaws overshadow its visual and auditory appeal.
- “Mastema Out of Hell is a side scroller that has something special about it, making me want to consider it one of my favorite games. The game features awesome animations and amazing old-school gameplay, with high difficulty and powerful power-ups. It reminds me of Pitfall for NES, but with Mega Drive graphics and a lot more action. The sound effects are fantastic, and I think this is really great for the side scroller genre.”
- “The gameplay is simplistic but challenging enough to where you can enjoy it without wanting to break your controller.”
- “The jump mechanics are a little rigid, but this is in line with the old-school type of gaming.”
- “Well, just like pretty much everyone else says, this is a title that nails the looks and sound aspect of games of yesteryear, but is ultimately ruined by unresponsive controls and weird gameplay choices.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it is only a frustrating game with abysmal controls.”
- “The gameplay on the other hand is awful; the jumping mechanic is very bad and sometimes I even fail to do some simple jumps because you have to be pixel perfect every time.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
36%
12%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fantastic, moody quality that complements the retro art style and overall theme, evoking a strong '90s vibe. Reviewers appreciate the nostalgic 16-bit and arcade influences, noting that the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience and satisfies retro cravings. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere.
- “The game's music is fantastic and moody and goes well with the art and the overall theme of the game.”
- “Good art style, excellent music, and difficulty right on point.”
- “Little, but pretty awesome old school game with a great retro soundtrack.”
- “The music is almost like some crazy Halloween-themed keygen music.”
- “The music is alright in dense straightforward clenched roared netting fanning in the closet!!!”
- “The graphics and music make the game feel like it was actually made in the '90s, and not just another modern retro indie pixel art game.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The story is characterized by a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, resonating with a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of classic games. While the visuals and music are praised, some reviewers feel the narrative serves merely as a vehicle to progress through the game rather than being a compelling element in its own right.
- “Epic story.”
- “It has a very strong Amiga/SNES vibe, the visuals are nice, the music is great, and the story is charming.”
- “The story is just there to get you from start to finish.”
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique and well-executed dark and other-worldly aesthetic, enhanced by impressive level artwork and background design. However, some players feel that gameplay mechanics, particularly jumping, detract from fully enjoying this atmospheric experience. Overall, the visual style contributes positively to the game's immersive quality.
- “Let me talk about the positives first: the game has quite a unique and very well done atmosphere.”
- “First, I'll say that the artwork and overall style/atmosphere is quite good.”
- “The level artworks, such as the tiles and background art, are nicely done and create a dark and other-worldly atmosphere.”
- “Which wouldn't be bad at all (maybe even adding to the atmosphere) but it's made near impossible due to the terrible jumping.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character design and aesthetics, noting a nostalgic SNES style that enhances the overall experience. However, while the visuals and music receive praise, the gameplay itself is criticized, suggesting that character development may not be fully realized in the context of gameplay mechanics.
- “The character designs are cool, as are the monsters.”
- “Really nice SNES-style art and character design, especially watching the cutscenes is nostalgic.”
- “The music is really cool, the aesthetics are awesome, and the character design is also nice.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game has mixed reviews regarding replayability; while some users find it infinitely replayable, others feel it lacks replay value despite its appealing pixel art and trading cards.
- “The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
- “Every run feels fresh and exciting, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “It has no replay value, but it has cool pixel art and trading cards.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the tension and anticipation players feel as they navigate through challenging environments, requiring patience and careful timing to avoid obstacles. This creates a sense of immersion and investment in the gameplay experience.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be boring and tedious, often describing it as a chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “It would be boring, tedious, and an absolute chore.”
- “The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward.”
- “I find myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over without any sense of progress.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by a playful mockery from the game designer, suggesting that while the gameplay may be straightforward, there's an underlying comedic tone that pokes fun at the player's experience.
- “The humor in this game is top-notch; the game designer really knows how to poke fun at the genre.”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
- “The comedic timing in the game is perfect, making even the simplest tasks entertaining.”