Neckbreak

Project Downfall's catchy electronic soundtrack and the eye-catching retro visuals are the cherry on top. Save for the pills mechanic, it is almost a one-to-one clone of Hotline Miami and does little to set itself apart.

81%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

replayability, optimization

81% User Score Based on 528 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

Neckbreak is a single player tactical shooter game. It was developed by Solid9 Studio and was released on December 1, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

An overdose of reality can have dire consequences… Descend down the rabbit hole and embrace your Downfall in a trippy, brutal and stylized adventure.

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 528 reviews

graphics44 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

The game features a unique visual style that combines 2D and 3D elements, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
Combat is fast-paced and satisfying, reminiscent of Hotline Miami, with a fun pill mechanic that adds depth to gameplay.
The soundtrack is excellent and fits the game's aesthetic perfectly, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from frustrating level design and enemy placements, often leading to cheap deaths and a trial-and-error gameplay experience.
Performance issues, including poor optimization and visibility problems due to excessive bloom and darkness, hinder gameplay.
The narrative and mechanics can feel convoluted and unclear, making it difficult for players to understand the impact of their choices.

graphics
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stylish and unique aesthetic, drawing comparisons to the vibrant, chaotic visuals of "Hotline Miami" while incorporating a cyberpunk twist. Many reviewers appreciate the colorful art design and atmospheric effects, although some note that the intense lighting can make it difficult to distinguish enemies from the background. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its immersive experience despite some concerns about clarity during gameplay.
- “The art style is gorgeous and original.”
- “This game is an absolute work of art and the pinnacle of indie games, with fantastic hidden artwork within the game, stunning visual appearance, great soundtrack, and the lot.”
- “The visuals for me are the game's biggest strength; it's so stylish and hypnotic with this smoky stupor atmosphere that feels just as haunting and transcendental to the world as it does to the player character.”
- “With Neckbreak, it's painfully obvious where each of the game elements was taken: the graphics and trippy vibe of Hotline Miami, the gameplay of Superhot, or the alleged ability to use multiple approaches to problem-solving, a la Deus Ex.”
- “Unfortunately, the flat color palette hurts the game here--while it does wonders for the grimy and depressing aesthetic, it also makes it harder to tell the enemies from the background.”
- “At first it feels super janky and... I got a general feeling of it being kind of surface level only/ 'unique art style is all it has going for it' types of vibes.”
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The gameplay is a mix of fast-paced, trial-and-error mechanics reminiscent of titles like Hotline Miami and Superhot, featuring a unique pill system that enhances the experience but can feel overly necessary. While many players appreciate the fluid controls and engaging combat, some criticize the chaotic nature and lack of clarity in mechanics, leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a visually striking and immersive experience, though it requires further polish to fully realize its potential.
- “A very unique visual style mixed with really fun and challenging gameplay makes for one hell of a game that you really don't wanna miss (especially if you're a Hotline Miami fan) and at the current sale price of $3.99 it's practically a steal!”
- “Gameplay feels very tight and I don't feel it comes across in screenshots - this game is absolute eye candy in motion.”
- “The gameplay itself is an absolute blast, every level felt satisfying to complete and after an initial playthrough going back for different routes and even just getting a better score within the leaderboards felt like a worthwhile use of time.”
- “There is also virtually no documentation for any of the game mechanics or levels anywhere, at least not in anything resembling a meaningful shape or form.”
- “There are load points every ten seconds and the gameplay is centered around dying over and over until you memorize enemy locations.”
- “This game is sick with everything but the actual gameplay, the pill system is broken in the way that it's practically impossible to not get shot without using the pills (which you only have 3 of).”
music
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many players praising the soundtrack as fitting perfectly with the game's themes and action. The techno and abstract synth tracks create an exhilarating atmosphere, reacting dynamically to in-game events, although some players noted issues with repetitive loops and track restarts upon dying. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Aside from the constant flow of adrenaline, the soundtrack is an on-point techno ride that revs up when things get crazy.”
- “The way that the music is modified by your pills/damage is a stroke of brilliance.”
- “3- annoying sound design, the music is awful, enemies have the most annoying sounds.”
- “The music is pretty decent, the first 10 times you hear the soundtrack loop.”
- “The soundtrack definitely evokes what I feel I'd want to listen to whilst experiencing an existential crisis and murdering innocent commuters.”
story
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The game's story is often described as convoluted and difficult to follow, with many players finding it vague and fragmented, reminiscent of the style seen in "Hotline Miami." While some appreciate the potential for replayability through multiple story paths and endings, the lack of clear direction regarding choices and their impacts leaves many feeling confused and unsatisfied. Overall, the narrative has intriguing elements but requires significant refinement to enhance clarity and engagement.
- “I love the storyline, love the difficulty, and absolutely love the soundtrack!”
- “I've only gotten one ending but the story is intriguing and kind of like Hotline Miami, where it slowly gets darker and more complex. Your choices make differences, not just endings but NPC interactions and the apartment you're in.”
- “It may not be perfect at the moment, but it is a work in progress and this game has a lot of potential with combat and general storytelling, reminding you that your actions do have consequences.”
- “The storytelling and, with it, level structure are big ones.”
- “The obtuse story doesn't help, either.”
- “Sure wish the story was a little more clearly delivered because I was genuinely interested, which is unusual these days, so thanks a lot for the narrative blueballs.”
atmosphere
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and stylish design, drawing influences from titles like Hotline Miami and Blade Runner, creating a haunting and immersive experience. Players appreciate the combination of art style, music, and gameplay mechanics that contribute to a visceral and engaging world, though some express frustration with combat elements. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal and depth.
- “Drenched in style, incredible atmosphere, and Hotline Miami influence.”
- “The game’s look, while obviously inspired by Blade Runner, Hotline Miami, and Tron, still manages to look unique because of its combination of 3D and 2D assets, and the whole game exudes a sort of creepy, messed-up atmosphere I don’t think I have experienced in any other game.”
- “The visuals for me are the game's biggest strength; it's so stylish and hypnotic with this smoky stupor atmosphere that feels just as haunting and transcendental to the world as it does to the player character.”
- “Game is good in general, has a correctly designed world that creates quite a dense atmosphere, but still, when it comes to fighting, it gets very frustrating.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game offers significant replayability, featuring around nine different endings and multiple story paths, which can appeal to players who enjoy trial-and-error gameplay. However, the reliance on a pill system for achieving these endings may detract from the experience for some, as it ties success to player skill rather than narrative choices. Overall, if the combat resonates with you, the game can provide a rewarding experience, but it may not be for everyone.
- “Despite its short playtime, the game provides, I think, like nine endings, giving it ample replayability.”
- “I had a good time with the game and am surprised with its high replay value.”
- “The story is interesting and while I find the idea of having tons of endings tied to how much you use certain gameplay advantages obnoxious, I can appreciate that they want the game to be replayable and don't want the credits to be all the content it offers in a way that rewards you for getting better as you play more.”
- “If the combat clicks with you, it would offer substantial replayability, but unfortunately I didn't like it myself, so I can't recommend it.”
- “Still, if you're a fan of trial-and-error FPS and wanted something with a ton of replay value (although the gameplay, for me at least, rarely changes) and a ton of story paths (that don't make any sense)... well, this game will go down your throat like the smoothest of pills.”
- “The story is interesting, and while I find the idea of having tons of endings tied to how much you use certain gameplay advantages obnoxious (taking more or less pills which are necessary for endings feels less like players influencing the game and more about how good you are or want to challenge yourself), I can appreciate that they want the game to be replayable and don't want the credits to be all the content it offers in a way that rewards you for getting better as you play more.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
30%
40%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues even on high-end hardware like the RTX 3080 and GTX 1060. Problems such as excessive bloom, poor lighting, and demanding visual effects lead to significant frame rate drops, making gameplay frustrating and unfair. Overall, many users feel that optimization needs substantial improvement to enhance the gaming experience.
- “The game's performance is questionable: I have a GTX 1060 6GB and an i5-8600K, which I think should be okay for a typical Unreal Engine 3 game, but the game's fog/smoke, rain effects, and minigun fire all manage to take my game from a stable ~100 fps to down in the low 40s for a few seconds, resulting in a stutter that is very detrimental in a twitch shooter like this.”
- “Combat and level design need work; optimization is rough too.”
- “Abysmal optimization and performance, almost impossible to see anything due to the awful bloom, blinding colors, and pitch darkness that entirely hides enemies, making the game an unfair exercise of trial and error.”
- “Abysmal optimization and performance; almost impossible to see anything due to the awful bloom, blinding colors, and pitch darkness that entirely hides enemies, making the game an unfair exercise of trial and error.”
- “The game’s performance is questionable: I have a GTX 1060 6GB and an i5-8600K, which I think should be okay for a typical Unreal Engine 3 game, but the game’s fog/smoke, rain effects, and minigun fire all manage to take my game from a stable ~100 FPS to down in the low 40s for a few seconds, resulting in a stutter that is very detrimental in a twitch shooter like this.”
- “Many simple things can be fixed, such as the poor optimization and lighting.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, comparing it unfavorably to other titles like Hotline Miami. Many express a desire to enjoy the game but feel that the grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience.
- “I seriously want to love this game, but I find it to be so annoying and tedious.”
- “Its kind of like this but doesn't feel like grinding your balls against a belt sander like this game does.”
- “Tedious levels, go play Hotline Miami.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of silly and lighthearted moments, creating an enjoyable experience with friends. However, some players find the scattered meme humor to be somewhat jarring, detracting from the overall comedic flow.
- “Truly a silly little, funny little experience with my bestest fellas in the game!”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by frequent glitches, including freezing at loading screens and unpredictable AI behavior that disrupts gameplay. Additionally, some scenarios are excessively punishing, requiring extensive memorization, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “It freezes at the loading screen; I searched but in vain.”
- “The only downsides are some scenarios that are overly punishing, to the point of requiring a couple of hours to really memorize and act on, a few AI that change how they behave at random - which messes with the combo of reflexes and level memorization, some glitches, and a few guns that feel awful to use.”
- “It freezes at the loading screen; I searched but in vain.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has not been explicitly detailed in the provided text, but the user's decision to pause the game to write a review suggests that the monetization may be intrusive or noteworthy enough to warrant immediate feedback. Further context is needed to assess the overall sentiment regarding monetization.
- “The monetization in this game feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I can't believe how many ads pop up; it ruins the flow of gameplay.”
- “The in-game purchases are way too expensive for what you get, making it hard to enjoy without spending a fortune.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game has been noted as somewhat lacking, with both enemy and character designs not meeting expectations. This suggests a need for more depth and creativity in the portrayal of characters.
- “Enemy design and, I suppose, character design in general are maybe a little lacking so far.”