Mortal Manor
- January 15, 2018
- Dogless Head Games
Get on Steam"Mortal Manor" is a challenging 2D Metroidvania game with a focus on platforming. Explore a large game world while fighting or avoiding numerous enemies, collecting 40 weapons and 35 relics. Master the character movement system to discover secrets and complete the quest to find the source of consuming fog. Controller recommended.
Reviews
- Mortal Manor offers a vast world to explore, filled with secrets and a rewarding sense of progression as players master their skills.
- The game features tight and responsive controls, allowing for fluid movement and satisfying gameplay once players overcome the initial difficulty.
- Despite its flaws, Mortal Manor is praised for its homage to classic Metroidvania titles, providing a challenging experience that can be immensely satisfying for dedicated players.
- The game suffers from a steep difficulty curve, especially in the early stages, which can be frustrating and may deter players from continuing.
- Many players found the combat repetitive and unbalanced, with enemies taking too long to defeat while the player character feels weak and vulnerable.
- The music and overall presentation are considered lackluster, with some players describing the soundtrack as irritating and the graphics as bland.
- music14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it irritating and bland, detracting from the overall experience. Some reviewers noted that while there are a few standout tracks, such as the one from tornado man’s stage, the soundtrack lacks the quality needed for broader appeal. Overall, the consensus suggests that a more engaging and varied soundtrack could significantly enhance the game's enjoyment.
“However, tornado man's stage has one of the best soundtracks in the game, and in the midst of my frustrations, my foot was always tapping to that 8-bit beat.”
“First things first, this game was done entirely by one person - coding, graphics, music, everything.”
“It's a game that's impressive in scale, but I find my favorite way to play this is to make a playlist of my favorite classic Castlevania music and put those on repeat while I retry the same section 20 times but finally get past it.”
“The music is abysmal and will irritate you.”
“In order for this game to gain wider recognition, it needed a proper soundtrack.”
“It was so much not to my tastes, I had to turn the music off.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a vast castle to explore with challenging platforming mechanics and instant death elements reminiscent of classic titles like Ghosts 'n Goblins and Castlevania. However, the experience can become repetitive due to a lack of creativity in boss mechanics and the punishing nature of the instant death system, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the platforming is satisfying, the game struggles to balance its linear challenge with metroidvania elements, leaving it feeling less polished compared to similar titles.
“High fit – there’s a vast castle to explore, with a dash of instant death mechanics that makes it feel a little closer to Ghosts 'n Goblins, some of the harder Mega Man stages, or perhaps similar to the original Castlevania.”
“I’ve always been an advocate of mechanics and level design being the primary force that makes a game great.”
“The stage's gimmicks included new platforming mechanics in tandem with the usual death spikes and bottomless pits, meaning that an error often sent you back to the last checkpoint to replay the section, or the whole stage from the beginning when you ran out of lives.”
“Furthermore, and unfortunately, the gameplay that I've praised up until this point started to feel the same way, boring.”
“This lack of variety is exacerbated by the instant death mechanics.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews, with some players finding them bland and unappealing, while others appreciated the well-executed backgrounds and overall aesthetic that fit the game's theme. The subjective nature of graphics means that while some players enjoyed the visual presentation, others felt it fell short, particularly in comparison to gameplay and narrative elements. Overall, the graphics were seen as a secondary aspect, with varying opinions on their quality and impact.
“The graphics and use of backgrounds are well done and fit the overall theme nicely.”
“The graphics are nice, the sound is nice, the controls are nice; I really liked this game.”
“First things first, this game was done entirely by one person - coding, graphics, music, everything.”
“Had to get a refund on this one, because of some serious game design flaws, bland artwork, bland music, sloppy controls, etc.”
“But the graphics and sound did absolutely nothing for me.”
“Style is something that is completely subjective – I’m sure that some people will dig the graphics and sound of Mortal Manor.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a strong appreciation for the storytelling in several games, particularly highlighting titles like "Animal Well," "Alwa’s Legacy," and "SteamWorld Dig 2," which are noted for their engaging narratives. Conversely, games such as "Worldless" and "Garm Ruins" received criticism for their lackluster stories, with "Mortal Manor" specifically mentioned for failing to maintain the narrative promise established in its introduction. Overall, the effectiveness of storytelling varies significantly across the reviewed titles, with some successfully creating immersive worlds while others fall short.
“Hollow Knight takes every opportunity to use its environment to tell a story, creating a rich world that I wanted to see more of.”
“Mortal Manor has a great introduction to its story, but the game as a whole does little to hold up that narrative promise.”
“The story felt disjointed and lacked a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development was minimal, leaving me feeling disconnected from their journeys.”
“The plot twists were predictable and failed to deliver any real surprises.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the game becomes grindy as leveling up requires significant experience points, which can lead to repetitive gameplay in order to increase damage output.
“Then it turned grindy as you literally need experience to level up to do more damage.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over just to progress, which became incredibly frustrating.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a variety of tongue-in-cheek moments and subtle humor throughout, enhancing the overall experience with lightheartedness.
“There's plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments and little pieces of humor sprinkled throughout too.”
“The witty dialogue and clever puns kept me laughing throughout the entire game.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, making every encounter a hilarious experience.”
