Mortal Sin
- March 15, 2023
- Nikola Todorovic
- 7h median play time
"Mortal Sin" is a roguelike game with brutal, fluid melee combat where attacks cause devastating wounds and limbs fly. Procedurally generated levels, loot, and quests ensure endless replayability, and unique playstyles can be unlocked through special classes like the Mage, Monk, or Berserker. The game's combat system is deeply rewarding and easy to get into, with 4k gameplay offering greater detail and clarity.
Reviews
- Incredibly satisfying melee combat that feels weighty and impactful.
- Unique and vibrant art style that enhances the overall experience.
- Great variety of classes and weapons, allowing for diverse playstyles and replayability.
- Visual style can be overwhelming and may cause eye strain for some players.
- Some mechanics, like traps and scares, can feel unfair and lead to frustrating deaths.
- Limited enemy variety and repetitive dungeon layouts may lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
- graphics892 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly polarizing, with many players praising its unique, psychedelic art style that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some find the visuals stunning and engaging, others report issues such as eye strain and difficulty adjusting to the intense aesthetic, leading to mixed feelings about its impact on gameplay. Customization options are available to help players tailor the visual experience to their preferences, making it a distinctive yet divisive aspect of the game.
“The art style is unique and adds great atmosphere to the game.”
“In motion, Mortal Sin looks really good and actually makes a lot more aesthetic sense than you'd ever expect looking at the aesthetic acid trip fever dream of screenshots and pre-recorded video.”
“The graphics match the theme very well in a very unique way that I can't help but love, honestly my advice is get this game and try it for yourself.”
“Beneath the very, very, very ugly visuals, and the difficult-to-comprehend combat mechanics, there should be a fantastic game under the hood of Mortal Sin.”
“Unfortunately, those hideous graphics make me not want to play long enough to learn the combat mechanics, which prevents me from wanting to play the game further.”
“I really wanted to like this game but unfortunately no matter what I do the graphics make me feel sick and give me quite a bad headache, I've tried every setting I can with no luck.”
- gameplay602 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is widely praised for its addictive and satisfying mechanics, featuring a robust combat system that encourages players to master combos and utilize various classes for diverse playstyles. While many players appreciate the depth and fluidity of the combat, some express frustration with certain mechanics, such as durability and poorly explained features, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a compelling roguelike experience with a strong emphasis on skill and strategy, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
“Came back one day and realized this game is insanely fun and addictive, once you pick up on more of the mechanics, nuances, and abilities.”
“Great hack and slash mechanics, solid skill curve, and fun class mechanics to keep things interesting.”
“The gameplay is a ton of fun and the game gets better the more you master the combat system.”
“Unfortunately, those hideous graphics make me not want to play long enough to learn the combat mechanics, which prevents me from wanting to play the game further.”
“It's a brutally punishing mechanic for a supposed fast-paced arena combat game where taking damage is extremely hard to avoid, at least for new players.”
“The game in general is frustratingly vague about its mechanics.”
- music274 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful composition and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many praising its heavy metal influences and emotional depth. While the soundtrack is often described as immersive and fitting, some players expressed a desire for more variety and intensity in the music. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay and a captivating soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The music and narrative writing is some of the most beautiful.”
“This game has such an original medieval aesthetic combined with a gripping heavy metal soundtrack.”
“The music is beautiful, with nice mournful acoustic guitar reminiscent of Diablo 1 or Dwarf Fortress.”
“A completely standard FPS roguelite time waster, but with unfitting music and, in my personal opinion, a really ugly art style.”
“Most of the music I experienced was just a handful of notes repeating over and over on 3 second loops.”
“This game is visually begging for a more chaotic and metal soundtrack, or even something psychedelic.”
- replayability98 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse selection of classes, procedurally generated levels, and satisfying progression systems. Many players appreciate the unique playstyles and challenges available, although some express a desire for additional content to enhance the experience further. Despite being in early access, the game is praised for its polish and significant replay value, making it a compelling choice for fans of rogue-like games.
“Probably my all-time favorite rogue-like game, such a fun selection of classes to play, easy to unlock, along with tons of replayability.”
“The randomized layout and rogue-like elements make the game have great replay value, and we love good replay value.”
“Great replayability, with procedurally generated levels in three environments, numerous classes sporting distinct playstyles, and a collection of enchanted weapons and armor to boot.”
“The game would be more playable if the scares didn't take half your health and lead to something else killing you quickly, just straight up bad design.”
“Currently in early access, but is decently replayable thanks to the variety of classes, weaponry, and armor stats.”
“Though it's in early access, the sheer polish it has and the overall replayability already gives me a very 'complete' feeling, even though I am far from actually unlocking and doing everything yet.”
- atmosphere76 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique art style, haunting music, and immersive, nightmarish environments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of oppressive visuals and engaging gameplay, noting that the atmosphere effectively complements the combat mechanics. While some may find the graphics jarring, many agree that they contribute positively to the game's distinct vibe, making it a standout in the rogue-lite genre.
“Mortal Sin is one of those games that I occasionally come back to and play a run or two; its beautifully nightmarish atmosphere along with its unforgiving combat never disappoints, and it has only been getting better with updates.”
“From the very beginning, I was immersed in the game's haunting atmosphere.”
“This is a pretty unique first-person brawler with good music, great gameplay that is constantly improving, and an excellent art style that helps create an isolated, nightmarish dungeon-crawling atmosphere.”
“If you’re at all hesitant about the 'horror' label like I was (I’m a scaredy cat), don’t be, it’s not actually scary, it just has a very tastefully curated spooky atmosphere.”
“I can see people being bothered by the color scheme, but I think it overall adds to the sort of bleak atmosphere.”
“The music and atmosphere is creepy.”
- story72 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a mix of intriguing themes, such as masochism and dark fantasy elements, but many reviewers feel it lacks depth and coherence, often relegating it to a minimal role. While some appreciate the unique and creepy narrative aspects that draw them in, others criticize the absence of a fully fleshed-out campaign and the need for better storytelling integration within the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a missed opportunity that could enhance the overall experience if developed further.
“So many classes and weapons, different level layouts, and an intriguing story make this a perfect game for me.”
“One thing that sets Mortal Sin apart from other dark fantasy games is its mature and thought-provoking storyline.”
“It's a perfect blend of action, horror, and dark fantasy elements, with a unique and gripping storyline.”
“Lacks almost any story element; at least I thought it was kind of lame to only have a 'story'.”
“The story and lore could also be explained better, instead of locking it behind tens of hours of playtime.”
“There just isn't enough story or interest along the way to fight through that same 3-level slog anymore.”
- humor20 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its playful absurdity, such as mages engaging in melee combat and the amusing animations of enemies ragdolling from attacks. Players find joy in the exaggerated physical interactions, like roundhouse kicks and quirky character builds, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor feels intentional yet whimsical, enhancing the enjoyment of gameplay without being overly serious.
“The game makes every hit feel like a physical 3-dimensional interaction and it's really satisfying and even humorous to watch the enemies ragdoll from your attacks.”
“When I play this, I feel like that one guy who has a big sword that looks like a slab of iron and makes the funny clanking sound.”
“What's kind of funny is that the game pulls a bit of a fast one on you.”
“I can't tell if they're supposed to be funny or not, but it feels awful to get hit by one because of how much they cost you in equipment and supplies for a dungeon crawler, although they're easy to avoid.”
“I can't tell if they're supposed to be funny or not, but it feels awful to get hit by one because of how much they cost you in equipment and supplies for a dungeon crawler, although they're easy to avoid.”
- stability20 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal issues, especially on the Steam Deck and older hardware. While some minor bugs, such as clipping through terrain and slight navigation issues, have been noted, they are often seen as charming quirks rather than significant detractors. Players appreciate that, despite being in early access, the game runs well without the common pitfalls of framerate drops or crashes found in many AAA titles.
“It runs great on the Steam Deck I own.”
“It also runs great on a Steam Deck, and the 'pick it up, put it down' gameplay loop supports jumping in for 15 minutes at a time, clearing a floor, and then going back to work.”
“Runs great on ultra settings on my old 1070 Ti.”
“The only glitches I experienced were that I fell through the map once and some flooring makes it so that you can't walk on it because it's slightly too high and there isn't any jump button.”
“The game has its issues; it's a little buggy and there are easy ways to clip into the terrain, but the rest of the experience is so well made, with such attention to detail that it doesn't even bother me. It even adds to the charm and helps you remember that the game was made by one person.”
“Oh, and unlike every AAA release these days, this game doesn't have horrible framerate, stuttering, glitches, crashes, bugs, etc. constantly, even though it's early access and a lot of that could be forgiven.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it features a smooth user interface and quality of life improvements often lacking in AAA titles, players report serious performance issues, particularly in forest areas. Despite these concerns, many appreciate the overall performance stability, especially for an early access title, though there are calls for further optimization, particularly regarding weapon mechanics.
“It runs smoothly, has an intuitive UI, useful settings, and tons of quality of life features that AAA games miss out on.”
“Everything from the controls to the UI and performance is perfect.”
“I personally am a huge fan of the art style and graphics, which leave a unique taste in your visual palate, as well as allowing for a good amount of customization, let alone optimization.”
“Performance is terrible.”
“Serious performance issues in the forest.”
“Please fix optimization.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it enjoyable and fitting for rogue-style gameplay, others criticize it for being excessively tedious, particularly with certain achievements requiring long hours of effort. The weapon durability system adds to the frustration, as losing legendary gear can be aggravating. Overall, the grinding experience varies from easy and rewarding to frustratingly long and tedious, depending on the player's goals and playstyle.
“Way too much grinding.”
“Especially not when I have been grinding for 20 minutes in a run to have it suddenly end because of an off-screen attack.”
“Takes a while to get used to the visuals; my only gripe is the annoying weapon durability system. I don't understand why developers like to add this system into games; it makes it tedious and aggravating at times, not to mention you completely lose the piece of gear if it breaks. It's damn annoying if that gear piece is a legendary.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of nostalgia and whimsy, evoking feelings reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo while presenting a unique, stylized experience. Players appreciate the vibrant graphics and engaging audio, which contribute to a wholesome atmosphere, although some report feeling dizzy during gameplay. Overall, the game's charm lies in its creative approach to combat and visual storytelling, despite mixed feelings about the gameplay mechanics.
“This awesome wholesome indie dev just developerino'd a wholesome indie roguelike doomcore hackandslashlike unity game where instead of shooting the demon with a heckin' gun (should be outlawed), you shoot them with a wholesome giant magic sword laser (please legalize).”
“Really love the visuals (although it made me feel a bit dizzy at times) and music but gameplay wasn't for me.”