MERCY CO.

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 12,893 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
MERCY CO. Game Cover
Play in Arcadia
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*PHOTOSENSITIVITY WARNING*  Bright colors, Motion sickness, Mild flashing lights This game is a tribute to Cruelty Squad, an immersive power fantasy simulator with tactical stealth elements set in a sewage infused garbage world. You can buy Cruelty Squad on Steam here. * Mercy Co. is not affiliated with the developers of Cruelty Squad, opinions/ideas expressed in Mercy Co. are not meant re…

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Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,893 reviews
graphics255 positive mentions
optimization12 negative mentions
  • graphics1,144 mentions

    The graphics of "Cruelty Squad" are intentionally jarring and abrasive, often described as a chaotic blend of retro aesthetics reminiscent of early 3D games, which can induce discomfort or even headaches for some players. However, many reviewers appreciate this unique art style as a deliberate choice that enhances the game's themes of dystopia and capitalism, ultimately growing on players as they immerse themselves in the gameplay. While the visuals may initially seem off-putting, they are integral to the game's identity, creating a surreal and engaging experience that challenges conventional design norms.

    • “The menus, the atmosphere, the visuals, the sound design, the textures, it all fits well to what this game's identity is.”
    • “The garish, almost nauseating color palette combined with primitive 3D models creates a unique aesthetic that's strangely mesmerizing.”
    • “The graphics are intentionally off-putting, the sound is discordant and deeply uncomfortable, and at first glance it appears to be a game which was made to troll the audience.”
    • “The graphics give me a skull-splitting headache.”
    • “The graphics are ugly as hell, sure, but I get the feeling it's very deliberate and carefully done, since it very effectively invokes feelings of discomfort and disgust which accurately conveys the state of this horrible world.”
    • “The visuals are a hurdle but have their purpose.”
  • gameplay1,128 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cruelty Squad" is a unique blend of tactical shooting and immersive sim elements, drawing comparisons to titles like "Deus Ex" and "Hitman." Players navigate complex levels with a variety of approaches, utilizing an unconventional control scheme and mechanics such as a bizarre reloading system and a stock market for organ trading. While the visuals may be off-putting, the gameplay is praised for its depth, freedom, and rewarding exploration, making it a compelling experience for those willing to embrace its chaotic design.

    • “The gameplay is so open-ended that there are multiple ways of finding a solution for each level, multiple approaches, multiple outcomes.”
    • “The gameplay is slick, slimy even.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is more enticing than I thought.”
    • “No idea why this is so popular, the 'art' style is hideous and the core gameplay loop is very basic and gets boring quickly.”
    • “The gameplay design is just obnoxious as some maps have inescapable pits, and moving through the map after eating pills causes you to get stuck in doorways and portholes; there's no limit to the damage you can take in a short space of time leading to instant deaths.”
    • “The gameplay itself also becomes a grind, late game levels introducing things like increasingly difficult to avoid toxic damage that cannot be reduced by defense and enemies hidden in increasingly obscure spots, all culminating in a final level that made me want to tear my hair out.”
  • story1,087 mentions

    The story of "Cruelty Squad" is a surreal and often absurd exploration of a dystopian world dominated by corporate greed and violence, where players assume the role of a hitman navigating through bizarre missions. While the narrative is cryptic and requires players to piece together details through environmental storytelling and dialogue, it effectively critiques capitalism and societal decay, often blending dark humor with unsettling themes. Overall, the game offers a unique storytelling experience that, despite its chaotic presentation, invites deeper reflection on its underlying messages.

    • “One of the most intriguing aspects of Cruelty Squad is its approach to storytelling; the game doesn't just end; it morphs and twists based on your actions and discoveries.”
    • “The story and social commentary is sensational and told in a way that will leave you thinking about it for weeks afterward.”
    • “The bits and pieces of flavor text, dialogue, and mission briefings weave an extremely bizarre but also coherent and fleshed-out cyberpunk world.”
    • “The story is an enigma.”
    • “Sort of like modern-day archeologists uncovered the ruins of a lost civilization but the only ancient text they found were little Timmy's dream journal and little Suzie's short story she wrote in elementary school.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent; you get a level and your handler will somewhat give you the background of the level.”
  • music458 mentions

    The music in "Cruelty Squad" is a polarizing aspect, often described as dissonant, chaotic, and intentionally abrasive, with some tracks featuring unconventional sounds like toilet noises and industrial beats. While many players find the soundtrack to be a unique and fitting complement to the game's surreal aesthetic, others report it can be grating and headache-inducing, leading to mixed feelings about its overall quality. Ultimately, the music serves to enhance the game's unsettling atmosphere, making it a memorable, if not universally appealing, experience.

    • “It's an addictive amalgamation of uncanny and nostalgic vibes (big part of that is the music).”
    • “The dissonant soundtrack adds another layer to the overall atmospheric experience, immersing players in a phantasmagoric descent that is as haunting as it is exhilarating.”
    • “The soundtrack is a mix of unnerving chip tunes, ambient sounds, incoherent murmurs, and droning electronic.”
    • “Everything about this game should not work; the game is horrendous, it's unappealing to look at for long periods of time, the control layout is bad, the soundtrack is painful, playing this game for the first time gave me a headache and motion sickness.”
    • “The music is an assault on both my eyes and ears; I know the textures are meant to be ugly and that's completely fine, but the music makes it feel like I have a tumor.”
    • “The graphics are ugly, the colors burn your retinas, and the music/sounds are viscerally disgusting.”
  • humor282 mentions

    The humor in "Cruelty Squad" is characterized by its dark, absurd, and satirical elements, often poking fun at capitalism and consumer culture. Players appreciate the game's unique blend of grotesque visuals, hilarious dialogue, and bizarre mechanics, which create a chaotic yet entertaining experience. While some find the humor to be a refreshing take on serious themes, others note that it can become overwhelming or lose its novelty over time.

    • “The unique visual style, the community, the sound design, and the humor all blend into this amazing melting pot of just... amazing things overall.”
    • “It's hitman meets quake meets ps1 horror games meets irreverent shit post half life mod meets laughing at the shortcomings and inherent insanity that capitalism permits, and at the truly deluded people that have taken it to its absolute extremes.”
    • “The game satirizes corporate greed, consumer culture, and the dehumanization of workers in a darkly humorous and thought-provoking way.”
    • “I didn't know Pyrocynical fans were this unfunny; I'd rather watch Civvie11's video.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and felt forced, lacking any real wit or charm.”
    • “I expected clever humor, but instead, it was just a series of tired clichés.”
  • replayability136 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with numerous secrets, unlockable weapons, and diverse gameplay mechanics that encourage exploration and experimentation. Players can approach levels in various ways, enhancing the experience and providing ample opportunities for mastery and discovery. Despite its challenging nature and unconventional aesthetic, many reviewers highlight the game's depth and replay value, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy immersive sims and tactical shooters.

    • “This design choice adds tremendous replay value and encourages exploration and experimentation.”
    • “The game fundamentally is a very well made, extremely replayable immersive sim.”
    • “So many different ways to complete each level leads to a surprising amount of replayability, and every time I play a level I discover something new.”
    • “The gunplay sucks (every playstyle feels the same), enemy AI is braindead, there's no replay value, the maps are empty aside from the hidden items.”
    • “I like the messy, nostalgic, surreal and uncomfortable art style, the general concept is a good one, but due to constant, unfixable performance issues, juvenile political message, little to zero replayability, and the fact the game would be easy to expand upon but hasn't been whatsoever, I'm giving it a thumbs down.”
    • “While some may not be able to get past the surreal style of Cruelty Squad, those who learn to love the nightmarish aesthetic will be treated to a wonderful little immersive sim that encourages experimentation & replayability.”
  • atmosphere69 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Cruelty Squad" is a striking blend of surrealism and horror, characterized by its lo-fi graphics, discordant soundtrack, and unsettling environments that evoke a sense of nostalgia and dread. Players describe it as both immersive and oppressive, with a unique aesthetic that combines dark humor and biting satire, creating a nightmarish yet captivating experience. The game's atmosphere is further enhanced by its innovative sound design and grotesque visuals, making it a memorable and thought-provoking journey through a dystopian world.

    • “The dissonant soundtrack adds another layer to the overall atmospheric experience, immersing players in a phantasmagoric descent that is as haunting as it is exhilarating.”
    • “The game's haunting atmosphere is accentuated by its surreal landscapes, hauntingly beautiful yet unnerving in their implications.”
    • “The attention to detail in the game's environments, character designs, and visual effects is simply mesmerizing, creating a truly immersive and atmospheric experience that draws players into its bizarre world.”
    • “The game employs a lo-fi graphics style reminiscent of early 3D gaming, deliberately evoking nostalgia while creating a surreal and unsettling atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are hellish, the sounds are disgusting, the music sounds either broken or highly abrasive, but all of these elements combined just work really well to create this foreboding and nightmarish atmosphere.”
    • “The drab, uncomfortable atmosphere of Cruelty Squad truly makes you feel as though you are in the end times of humanity, a society that has far surpassed the brink of capitalist extinction.”
  • emotional59 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game "Cruelty Squad" elicits a wide range of intense feelings, from discomfort and nausea to moments of genuine connection and humor. Players report being profoundly affected by its chaotic narrative and unsettling themes, often experiencing emotional highs and lows that challenge their perceptions of morality and existence. Despite its grotesque premise, many find the game to be a unique exploration of emotional depth, leaving them with a mix of exhilaration and existential dread.

    • “But Gorbino also caught me off guard with a relevant and emotional story about the pressures of modern life.”
    • “This game pulled me away from being emotionally dead for a few minutes.”
    • “It made me feel very strange emotions, and unsettled me to no end, but to me, that is what art is all about.”
  • optimization39 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and long load times, particularly in combat-heavy scenarios. While some users noted improvements following recent patches, others still reported that the game struggles to run smoothly even on capable hardware. Despite these challenges, many players found the gameplay enjoyable enough to overlook the optimization shortcomings.

    • “Despite all the jank, the game runs smoothly.”
    • “The old version of this review had a long section where I complained about performance problems; however, these seem to have been fixed by the recent patches.”
    • “About the only bad thing I can say is that I wish it ran better, but it's constantly being optimized, so there's that.”
    • “My only major criticism is that the game is occasionally poorly optimized -- the necromech enemy causes a colossal amount of lag when firing or being hit by a rapid-fire weapon, which is quite a problem when their introductory stage heavily utilizes both them and their machine gun weaponry in most combat encounters.”
    • “The performance is atrocious; my PC is more than beyond the specs, and despite trying everything to remedy this, it lags constantly, particularly frame dropping right when you shoot, which for a shooter, is shameful.”
    • “It's a bit unoptimized; a lot of times if you're looking at a large, active section of the map, you'll lose a lot of frames. I have plenty of power to run the game, but still find myself lagging.”
  • grinding35 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it offers replay value due to quick level completion, while others describe it as tedious and a primary source of income that detracts from enjoyment. Many users express frustration with the repetitive nature of grinding for cash and upgrades, particularly in missions that feel unnecessarily drawn out or empty. However, a few players appreciate that the grinding is not overly burdensome and can lead to mastery of levels.

    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Of course, in the early game, you won't have enough money to afford most of the expensive implants, but the game isn't that grindy either.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This is a game where the most interesting mechanics are gated behind grinding for money on tedious fishing and stock market minigames, where levels could be made a third of the size and lose none of their interesting elements, and where extensive parts of the game are spent roaming around mostly empty maps looking for targets or combing for secrets while banal music loops endlessly.”
    • “There's a method to the madness, but unfortunately it's tied to a tedious game that I lost patience for.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with frequent crashes, freezes, and performance issues reported by users. Many players experience frustrating stutters and lag, particularly during critical moments, which detracts from gameplay. While some appreciate the intentional roughness as part of the game's aesthetic, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from serious stability problems, especially in larger levels.

    • “It crashes and freezes frequently for no reason.”
    • “Massive gripe: the game engine sucks hard, and you do get regular small hitches and freezes at the beginning of levels when you shoot, move in a way the game doesn't like, or receive damage.”
    • “Takes 30 seconds to load in, game freezes and crashes constantly.”
  • monetization14 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players highlighting a lack of microtransactions despite the presence of a pay-to-win weapon, and expressing frustration over aggressive advertising tactics that detract from the gaming experience. Many feel the game's pricing does not reflect its value, suggesting it should be cheaper, and criticize the overall consumerist approach, which they perceive as a cash grab. Additionally, the shift towards games as a service and the influence of mobile gaming on monetization strategies are noted as concerning trends in the industry.

    • “The emerging Asian markets and mobile games on smartphones in particular are altering player demographics towards casual gaming and increasing monetization by incorporating games as a service.”
    • “The only game with a pay-to-win weapon that doesn't have microtransactions.”
    • “The anti-capitalist political message of this game is stale, childish, and ironic considering how it's $20 but feels like it should be $10 at most, as well as how good the game could be if the devs didn't completely abandon it after cash grabbing.”
    • “30593750937509353 microtransactions per second.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in "Cruelty Squad: The Dating Sim" is marked by its unconventional and grotesque character designs, which reflect the dark and absurd nature of the game's society. The NPCs are portrayed as deformed and humorous figures, enhancing the immersive experience with witty dialogue and a rebellious aesthetic that challenges traditional visual norms. Overall, the game's unique approach to character design contributes to its bizarre and atmospheric world, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “At first glance, one might mistake Cruelty Squad: The Dating Sim for a run-of-the-mill visual novel, with its charming character designs and seemingly innocent introductions.”
    • “The attention to detail in the game's environments, character designs, and visual effects is simply mesmerizing, creating a truly immersive and atmospheric experience that draws players into its bizarre world.”
    • “I find the tongue-in-cheek NPC dialogue witty, and the nonsensical environment and character designs really charming.”
    • “Character designs for NPCs look like gross, polygonal monstrosities because it reflects the only state in which their society allows them to exist in: monsters who are willing to sell their friends' and loved ones' organs on the stock market.”
    • “At first glance, one might mistake 'Cruelty Squad: The Dating Sim' for a run-of-the-mill visual novel, with its charming character designs and seemingly innocent introductions.”
    • “Character designs are equally unusual, with grotesque, deformed, and sometimes even humorous appearances.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

15hMedian play time
80hAverage play time
8-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 29 analyzed playthroughs

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