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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Mortal Manor offers a vast world to explore, filled with secrets and rewarding progression, reminiscent of classic Metroidvania titles.
- The game features tight and responsive controls, allowing for fluid movement and satisfying gameplay once players overcome the initial difficulty.
- Despite its flaws, the game has a lot of content, including multiple weapons, relics, and customization options that enhance replayability.
- The game is brutally difficult, especially at the beginning, which can be frustrating for players and may deter them from continuing.
- The music and sound design are often criticized as being subpar, with repetitive loops that can become irritating over time.
- There is a lack of enemy variety and creativity in boss design, leading to a feeling of monotony in combat and exploration.
- music15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it irritating and below par, detracting from the overall experience. While some tracks, like the one from tornado man's stage, stand out positively, the general consensus is that a more engaging soundtrack was needed for the game to gain wider recognition. Overall, the music is considered mediocre, with players often opting to listen to their own playlists instead.
“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.”
“Had to get a refund on this one, because of some serious game design flaws, bland artwork, bland music, sloppy controls, etc.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Mortal Manor offers a challenging experience with a vast castle to explore, featuring platforming mechanics and instant death elements reminiscent of classic titles like Ghosts 'n Goblins and Castlevania. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in creativity, particularly in boss mechanics, suggesting that it struggles to balance linear challenges with Metroidvania elements. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its polished mechanics and the sense of triumph it provides to players who enjoy a demanding challenge.
“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 and Goblins, some of the harder Mega Man stages, or perhaps similar to the original Castlevania.”
“Strenuous, enraging, and spirit-smashing, Mortal Manor provides the ultimate feeling of triumph for lovers of challenge, which doesn't lie in the hands of chance, simply pure, polished gameplay skills.”
“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.”
“Even the boss mechanics showed little creativity; the first frog boss alternated between a single shot directed at the hero and a spreadshot in 8 directions, which is similar to the pattern the final boss uses.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews, with some players finding them bland and unappealing, while others appreciated the thematic fit and overall quality, especially considering it was developed by a single individual. While some users felt that the visuals and sound were secondary to gameplay and narrative, others enjoyed the aesthetic and found it well-executed. Overall, opinions on the graphics vary significantly, reflecting a subjective experience among players.
“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.”
“But the graphics and sound did absolutely nothing for me.”
“Had to get a refund on this one, because of some serious game design flaws, bland artwork, bland music, sloppy controls, etc.”
“But the game is a true hidden gem for those who don't mind if it's not the flashiest visuals and can handle some challenge.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the reviewed games shows a clear divide, with titles like "Animal Well," "SteamWorld Dig 2," and "Blasphemous" receiving praise for their engaging narratives, while others such as "Worldless" and "Dandara" are criticized for lacking depth and coherence. Notably, "Mortal Manor" is highlighted for its promising introduction but ultimately fails to deliver a compelling narrative throughout. In contrast, "Hollow Knight" excels in environmental storytelling, enriching its world and captivating players.
“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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through multiple combat options, various endings, a New Game+ mode, and built-in randomizer features, making it appealing for players willing to invest time beyond the initial challenges.
“Multiple means of combat improve replayability.”
“This game isn't for everyone, but for those willing to hang on past the early rough hours, you will find a hidden gem with great replayability, featuring multiple endings, New Game+, and randomizer options built into the game after you beat it once.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The limited variety in missions and environments really hampers replayability.”
- 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 feel tedious and hinder progression in dealing more damage.
“Then it turned grindy as you literally need experience to level up to do more damage.”
“The grinding feels endless, making progress feel more like a chore than an achievement.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over just to keep up with the level requirements.”
- 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 its 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.”
