Monstrum 2 Beta
- January 22, 2021
- Team Junkfish
- 5h median play time
Monstrum 2 is an asymmetric multiplayer game for those looking to take survival horror to the next level. Pit yourself against a terrifying monster as a team of up to 4 human prisoners, locked in a tactical struggle to escape a decrepit sea fortress, or play as one of the many horrifying monstrosities hunting them down. Use your wits and cunning to navigate a complex, procedurally generated meta…
Reviews
- The game has a fun concept and can be enjoyable, especially when played with friends.
- The graphics and atmosphere are appreciated, with some players noting the potential for a great experience once polished.
- The gameplay mechanics are unique for each monster, providing variety and keeping the game interesting.
- The game is riddled with bugs, crashes, and performance issues, making it feel unpolished and frustrating to play.
- Many players feel the game lacks balance, with certain monsters being overpowered and gameplay mechanics being confusing.
- The overall experience is compared unfavorably to other games in the genre, with some reviewers expressing disappointment in its departure from the original Monstrum's atmosphere.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a repetitive loop, but varied layouts and objectives help maintain interest. While some mechanics are seen as uninspiring, the unique abilities of each monster and the incorporation of familiar elements from previous games enhance enjoyment. However, players note issues with clunky animations and a steep learning curve for beginners, particularly when playing as prisoners.
“The monsters are very well designed and they have interesting mechanics.”
“The gameplay mechanics are unique for each of the monsters, which I like. Including mechanics from the previous game such as hiding in lockers and using welding kits and fuses makes the game more enjoyable and takes you back to that original gameplay experience.”
“As a beginner, it will take you a while to properly get into playing as the prisoner, as the learning curve can feel steeper than the monsters. However, the tutorials explain all mechanics quite well and should get you ready to jump in and play.”
“Game mechanics are boring and uninspiring.”
“Very clunky; animations and gameplay make you feel sick. It won't be on my radar.”
“Graphics were a mixed bag; animations were janky as hell and the gameplay was boring.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful atmosphere and aesthetics, while others criticize the unpolished animations and clunky character designs. Many users note that the visuals do not meet expectations set by promotional materials, often comparing them unfavorably to older console graphics. Overall, while the game has potential in its graphical presentation, it suffers from significant technical issues that detract from the experience.
“The atmosphere and aesthetics are absolutely beautiful in some ways.”
“Especially compared to the first one, the graphics are great and the mechanics are an upgrade!”
“The graphics look very good, especially for an indie team.”
“The animations are clunky, visuals lack a layer of polish, and the game is unbalanced.”
“Talking about the game itself, the movement feels clunky and unresponsive, the animations are hilariously bad and the graphics do not reflect what's shown in the screenshots at all.”
“Graphically the game looks like a PS3 game with animations that look like they belong on the PS1.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including low frame rates, long loading times, and stuttering, even on lower settings. While some improvements have been noted since the last beta, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization before its full release. Players with higher-end PCs report better performance, but the game still struggles to run smoothly for those with lower specifications.
“First things first: keep in mind that this is a beta and that the game will enter early access on the 28th; it is not the full game, and it will obviously be further optimized.”
“You might get tiny lag spikes, but as said, the overall performance has been drastically improved from the last beta.”
“The optimization is garbage: at medium settings I get around 40 fps with an RTX 2070 Super and the loading times are way too long, if the lobby even finishes loading, that is.”
“The optimization needs to be improved for smoother gameplay, nuff' said.”
“Has potential but at current state everything is bad: movement, leaning, crouching, sliding, jumping, sound, poorly optimized.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting various bugs and glitches, including camera issues, pop-ins, and problems with ladder mechanics. While some acknowledge that these issues are typical for an early access title, many express frustration over the game's current state, deeming it unplayable and in need of substantial fixes. Overall, the stability is described as poor, with a pressing need for improvements.
“Absolutely horrendous, bug-ridden, disgusting game.”
“So buggy, nowhere near playable.”
“The game is a bit buggy and laggy, which is to be expected from a beta.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has been criticized for being unengaging and lacking depth, with players expressing a desire for a more developed co-op story mode. Overall, the narrative experience appears to be underwhelming and uninspired.
“The missions you have to do are boring and dumb.”
“[Co-op story mode, maybe?... any kind of story mode possibly?]”
“[Co-op story mode, maybe?... any kind of story mode possibly?]”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, particularly when played with friends, leading to repeated enjoyment despite its beta status and bugs. However, some players find the gameplay itself lacking in tension and engaging content, with clunky movement and poor animations detracting from the overall experience.
“Yes, it is in beta and will be in early access in a few days and has a lot of bugs, but the game is really funny.”
“When you play this game with your friends, it's really funny and you will play it again and again.”
“Talking about the game itself, the movement feels clunky and unresponsive, the animations are hilariously bad.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its beauty and depth, creating a tense and immersive experience; however, some users feel it has been diminished by a shift towards a more superficial and quirky tone, likening it to a less impactful version of "Dead by Daylight."
“The atmosphere and aesthetics are absolutely beautiful in some ways.”
“What was an atmospheric, lonely, tense, fleshed-out masterpiece is now a hollow, dead by daylight rip-off that tries to be quirky by saying people 'get whomped' when they die.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game currently has minimal music, primarily relying on ambient sounds, which detracts from the overall immersive experience. They suggest that adding music to various game elements, such as the title screen and in-game moments, would significantly enhance the atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is absolutely mesmerizing, perfectly complementing the game's atmosphere.”
“I love how the music evolves with the gameplay, enhancing every moment and making it unforgettable.”
“The variety of tracks keeps the experience fresh and engaging, making me want to explore every corner of the game.”
“I feel like the game currently lacks music and only has a small amount of ambience. Adding music to the title screen, store, customization, matchmaking, and even in-game would enhance the immersive aspects of the experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is overwhelmingly negative, with one user expressing a strong aversion to the experience, suggesting it was so unpleasant that they would prefer a humiliating situation over engaging with it again.