Nether
- June 5, 2014
- Nether Productions, LLC
- 8h median play time
"Nether" is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic urban environment, where players must make quick decisions to stay alive. The game has been rolled back to 2014, with single-player mode, no micro-transactions, and multiplayer on player-hosted servers. Custom server settings and modding tools are in development. Bug fixes, including for the Nether character, are also planned.
Reviews
- gameplay633 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Nether" has received mixed reviews, with many players highlighting its potential but criticizing its execution. While some appreciate the game's unique mechanics and intense atmosphere, others point to clunky controls, frequent bugs, and a lack of engaging content, leading to a repetitive experience. The PvP focus often detracts from the survival aspect, resulting in a frustrating environment for new players, compounded by issues like hackers and poor optimization. Overall, while the game has interesting concepts, it struggles with fundamental gameplay flaws that hinder enjoyment.
“If you take a few minutes to really understand the core gameplay loop, you'll realize that there is a solid game here.”
“The gameplay is fun, and the PvP is great when you win the fight and lose the fight, due to the high tension of the fight.”
“The gameplay is nice and the overall stuff you can do makes it worth it.”
“The gameplay is very boring which consists of just grabbing boxes from town and bringing them to another town to get money to buy weapons, equipment, supplies, etc. Very little to do in the game and the single player is just the solo version of the multiplayer.”
“The gameplay is garbage, slow and sorely responsive.”
“The gameplay is not as complex as it is in DayZ - Nether is not based on a simulation, as you should notice after a few moments and it feels like a straight-line shooter.”
- stability589 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that render it nearly unplayable. Many reviews describe it as a "buggy mess" that feels unfinished and abandoned by its developers, leading to a frustrating experience for players. While some find enjoyment in the game despite its flaws, the overwhelming consensus is that it requires significant improvements to reach a stable and enjoyable state.
“Runs great, even use AA and motion blur.”
“Although the game is still in an 'early access' state, it feels solid and runs great.”
“The game is a great experience in its alpha stage and runs well.”
“I'm doubtful that any meaningful updates will occur that will fix the plethora of bugs and glitches in it, not to mention that in its current state (tried about a year ago) it still felt as undeveloped as when I played in early alpha.”
“Don't buy this buggy mess, it has not been finished, won't be either and is ill functioning.”
“This game is a buggy piece of trash.”
- graphics579 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the aesthetic quality and atmospheric design, noting that it looks good for its time and has aged well. However, many others criticize the graphics as outdated, glitchy, and poorly optimized, often comparing them unfavorably to more modern titles. Overall, while the visuals can be appealing in certain contexts, they are frequently marred by performance issues and graphical bugs, leading to a consensus that the game needs significant improvements in this area.
“The graphics are amazing and the environment you are set in will make you feel afraid, especially when all you have is a butter knife.”
“The graphics are stunning.”
“The graphics are great and you have this dark atmosphere in the destroyed city where mutants are lurking around every corner.”
“The graphics are abysmal; actually worse, by far, than graphics in games 10 years ago.”
“This game runs embarrassingly bad for its graphics.”
“The graphics look dated to me; I don't know why people think the graphics are pretty good.”
- story359 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely criticized for being virtually nonexistent, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a compelling narrative or engaging quests. While there are some missions, such as courier tasks and escort missions, they are often described as repetitive and uninspired, failing to provide meaningful context or character development. Overall, players feel that the game has potential but suffers from a significant lack of depth in its storytelling and world-building.
“The atmosphere and graphics are spooky, the creatures/monsters are nightmarishly creepy, the story behind it is awesome.”
“Every now and again you'll find little 'examine' areas that allow you to get backstory of the game and world, and this, in conjunction with the many different hostiles, make this game enjoyable for anyone.”
“Nether had a lot of promise, a load of ideas that sounded like a solid plan, such as quest moments to really get players to aggro to one area and make things more exciting, and enemies apart from zombies.”
“The story is total crap, and the character abilities are minimal.”
“There is absolutely no story whatsoever.”
“This game sucks, no missions, bad interface, no chat, no teamwork, no clear direction, bad tutorial, no way to figure out exactly how to play or what to do, and bad controls, such a waste of time and money....”
- atmosphere223 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting post-apocalyptic setting, effectively capturing a sense of tension and fear through its graphics, sound design, and environmental storytelling. Players appreciate the unique enemy designs and the overall ambiance that keeps them on edge, although some note that the atmosphere can become less impactful over time. Despite its flaws, many reviewers consider the atmosphere to be the game's strongest aspect, making it a compelling experience for survival horror enthusiasts.
“This game has the most brutal post-apocalyptic atmosphere I have ever seen.”
“The atmosphere is breathtaking and the creatures are horrifying.”
“The atmosphere of the game directly relates to its servers and support: a post-apocalyptic wasteland that was previously full of hope and promise.”
“However, eventually the atmosphere gets dull and you adjust to the sounds of the monsters and it becomes less scary/creepy.”
“I have yet to level up at all and the atmosphere has gone from lonesome and foreboding to just plain boring.”
“The game, despite how inviting the atmosphere and concept, is completely unforgiving.”
- optimization150 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues, low frame rates, and numerous bugs, making it difficult to play even on high-end systems. Many reviewers express disappointment over the lack of developer support for optimization, suggesting that the game feels unfinished and unpolished. Despite some potential in its mechanics, the overall consensus is that the game is a "poorly optimized mess" that detracts significantly from the player experience.
“Though they should prioritize optimization, I know most games normally wait on that, but in this case I really think it's needed. Plus, that would greatly enhance the current player experience, especially since servers have to dumb down the settings a bit.”
“The game has countless bugs, lag issues, performance issues, and it is very unpolished. However, I hope to see some optimizations and bug fixes in the future, and from what I can see from the patch notes, they have already been working on that.”
“I hope this game will get more helpful updates (fix bugs, better optimization for low performance) and this game will be one of the best games I could play.”
“The optimization is as bad as they say.”
“The game is not optimized at all and it was dropped once.”
“It is a poorly optimized mess in its current state and I do not recommend it whatsoever.”
- monetization95 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the presence of microtransactions that detract from the overall experience. Although some reviews note that recent updates have removed these microtransactions, the game's history of early access and in-game purchases has left a negative impression on players, leading to calls for the game to be removed from platforms like Steam. Overall, the monetization strategy has been seen as exploitative, overshadowing any potential enjoyment of the game.
“Microtransactions have been removed and DLC are being refunded with game keys, so I gotta say, good on the devs!”
“The microtransactions are easily ignored and only for cosmetic items.”
“All of the microtransactions and just pointless things have been removed, and the game is going in a positive direction.”
“This game is the embodiment of a cash grab and should be completely removed from Steam.”
“They cash grabbed the shit outta this game then left it broken and bloody in the corner while they went off to make another 'game'.”
“Please dear god don't even consider buying this, I so badly hoped that this would become both good and big, but it just ended up being a disgusting cash grab on the side of the devs.”
- humor55 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, which players find amusing despite the game's overall poor quality. Many users report enjoying the goofiness and unexpected moments that arise during gameplay, often sharing laughs with friends or other players. While some aspects of the game can be frustrating, the chaotic and sometimes absurd nature of the glitches adds a layer of humor that keeps players entertained.
“I wanted to write something funny here, but honestly, I got a sincere little joy out of the goofiness of this game.”
“It's kinda funny that people take the game so seriously though; they actually role play!”
“Also, the game has quite a lot of glitches and bugs still, but they sometimes make for hilarious moments.”
“1) You start off not knowing what to do. As you explore, you figure out - hey, I need food... except the whole world is so empty it's not funny. There's a big focus on PvP, but after killing a few mobs, you realize... what's the point of this?”
- grinding46 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant point of contention, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating, especially when progress can be easily lost due to death or poor game mechanics. While some appreciate the need for grinding to enhance character strength and enjoy the gameplay, the repetitive nature and lack of meaningful progression often lead to boredom and dissatisfaction. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a double-edged sword, where it can provide a sense of achievement but frequently devolves into monotony and frustration.
“There is no grinding or running all over the map to get things done, day in and day out.”
“To lose everything creates no progression, makes it terribly grindy, and gets boring very quickly.”
“Very frustrating when you have spent the last 2 hours farming to get a weapon and lose it the next minute.”
“As soon as you die, you're back to level 1, all that grinding for nothing; I can understand losing loot on your person when you die as long as you could store provisions in a safe zone, but losing levels only feeds PvP camping and defeats the purpose of having a leveling system.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a range of emotional responses to the game, from guilt and helplessness during intense moments to frustration and disappointment due to bugs and gameplay mechanics. While some find the emotional impact of survival elements and character loss compelling, others feel overwhelmed by the game's technical issues and the emotional toll of negative experiences, leading to a mixed overall sentiment. Despite its potential, many reviewers suggest that the game's emotional depth is undermined by its flaws.
“Having a flashlight click on and off behind me in the sewers never made me feel so helpless.”
“I just want to cry.... game's idea and aspect is amazing.”
“Death results in the loss of everything; all your items and experience drop to the ground as your claim to them is lost, resulting in some emotional gameplay.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with players enjoying the challenge of survival and the variety of gameplay modes. While some users note that the content may lead to a grind over time, the mechanics of losing items upon death and the engaging gameplay keep players coming back for more. Many find it more enjoyable and replayable than similar titles, indicating a strong potential for longevity.
“This game has a decent amount of replayability, from getting ATVs off a territory to scavenging for high-tier gear, such as a completely silent and long-range semi-automatic sniper rifle.”
“It's okay to lose all my items and levels when I die as a punishment for getting killed; this aspect of the game creates an early to mid to late game feel, giving the game a great degree of replay value.”
“Through and through, this game has a very high replay value even though it is a single death elimination game mode.”
“Unless you are a pro survival game player, it will take you upwards of ten or so hours to get to grips with the early game, and 40 hours to become self-sufficient if you're like me.”
“However, I can see that because of the current content, you can end up feeling like it's a grind - and replayability is not virtually unlimited.”
“I want to somehow see replay value!”
- music15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting the absence of a traditional soundtrack and instead highlighting a continuous, haunting hum that enhances the gritty atmosphere of the post-apocalyptic setting. While some find the eerie and aggrieving sounds effective in creating tension, others express a desire for more varied music tracks to accompany gameplay. Overall, the audio design contributes to the game's immersive experience, though it may not satisfy those looking for a more dynamic musical score.
“There is no real soundtrack, but a low continuous haunting humming sound provides a constant companion as you trek through the post-apocalyptic environment that perfectly adds to the gritty atmosphere.”
“Everything is dark so that you can barely see; the music is aggrieving, you hear nether screaming from above you and maybe gunshots from other people defending themselves against other nether.”
“It needs some music tracks.”
“The soundtrack and ambient noises will keep you alert forever.”
“Everything is dark so that you can barely see, the music is aggravating, you hear nether screaming from above you and maybe gunshots from other people defending themselves against other nether.”
- character development5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being superficial and lacking depth, with limited customization options and minimal RPG elements that fail to create a lasting impact. While the graphics are noted as satisfactory, the character designs are described as one-dimensional and not as impressive as advertised. Overall, players feel that there is significant room for improvement in this aspect.
“Satisfyingly good graphics, lens flare, textures, and character design.”
“Character design is very one-dimensional: pick 1 of 3 races, pick 1 of 4 shirts and pants, play the game.”
“The only element of RPG that exists is a slight level of character development, which is quickly overshadowed by the lack of permanence.”
“The character designs/models are okay, though there is room for improvement.”