No Sun To Worship

No Sun to Worship is a fun little exercise in retro stealth, but there’s not much here for anyone looking for a deeper adventure.

80%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, stability

84% User Score Based on 258 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

No Sun To Worship is a single player shooter game with horror and violence themes. It was developed by Merlino Games and was released on September 15, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Sneak into enemy bases, rescue hostages, hack computers and play your own way while you uncover a conspiracy to unearth unspeakable horrors. Stick to the shadows and stop an ancient curse in this mission-based stealth adventure!

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84%Audience ScoreBased on 258 reviews

gameplay34 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic stealth titles like Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell, with a unique minimalist design.
The atmosphere and aesthetics are well-crafted, featuring a gritty, PS1-era style that enhances the overall experience.
Gameplay mechanics are engaging, with a solid balance of stealth and action, allowing for various approaches to completing missions.

The game is very short, with only six levels, which may leave players wanting more content.
There are no checkpoints or quick saves, making it frustrating to restart entire levels after dying.
Enemy AI can be erratic, leading to unpredictable detection that can disrupt stealth gameplay.

gameplay
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by minimalist mechanics that draw inspiration from classic stealth titles like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid, offering a blend of stealth, resource management, and risk-reward dynamics. While the core mechanics, such as silencing footsteps at the cost of health and absorbing enemies for regeneration, are engaging, many players find them unpolished and lacking depth, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the game presents a solid foundation for stealth gameplay with a nostalgic aesthetic, but it requires refinement and expansion to reach its full potential.
- “The gameplay hits all the appropriate stealth landmarks: advanced AI, careful maneuvers, intense encounters, and tension-filled environment traversal.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, a simple handful of mechanics to master, and very strong level design make for a great stealth experience.”
- “The game is simple: sneak around in the shadows avoiding being seen by enemies, eliminate (or punish, as the game says) the targets, and get out of the area at the end. The mechanics are there; you need to take the slow approach at the game, staying in the shadows, moving slowly to avoid making too much noise, and managing ammo and health. The game is simple in mechanics but yet so fun and well implemented, plus the aesthetic is really well done with this grim PS1 era style of graphics.”
- “The game is short yet still manages to become repetitive; the mechanics are minimal yet unpolished. The one original addition is the ability to move silently at the cost of draining your health, and that's half-assed too (your footsteps still play their usual audio effects, your health drains even when you're not moving...). Hard mode just reduces variety even further and makes several mechanics irrelevant.”
- “But it is bare bones Splinter Cell/MGS gameplay with nearly no mechanics, no story, no characters, etc. Pure distilled stealth is all you're getting.”
- “The gameplay is lackluster to say the least... even early PS1 games had more mechanics and better AI compared to what has been done here.”
story
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
77%
9%
The game's story is largely minimal and cryptic, with players noting a lack of narrative depth and character development across its six missions. While some appreciate the atmospheric setting and vague themes, many feel that the gameplay is disconnected from any meaningful story, leading to a repetitive experience focused primarily on stealth mechanics rather than a compelling plot. Overall, the consensus is that the game would benefit from a more fleshed-out narrative and additional lore to enhance player engagement.
- “The gist of it is that you are what appears to be an assassin robot, and your mission is to punish.”
- “I think the 'story' (or metaphor for a story, maybe?) just passed me by, but I still enjoyed the loneliness of the setting and overall weirdness that permeated the world.”
- “Now the positives, the game shines in its art style and soundscape; it really is unique combined with the vague story that leaves you wondering what the lore is.”
- “The game is short and there's almost no story.”
- “The story is absolutely nothing to write home about, and it seems the developer has a problem writing themes in their games.”
- “There is barely any story, just some vague musings of a plot, which is fine for the mood of the game, but FYI.”
graphics
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic PS1-era aesthetic, combining pixelated visuals with modern lighting effects to create a unique atmosphere reminiscent of classic stealth titles like Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell. While many reviewers appreciate the art style and overall visual presentation, some note that the graphics can feel outdated or simplistic, leading to a mixed reception regarding their execution. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm, appealing to fans of retro gaming while also providing a solid gameplay experience.
- “The visuals and audio especially nail that gritty, crunchy PS1 aesthetic.”
- “The graphics are a mix of PS1 style but very sharp and with modern technology.”
- “Stunning PS1-esque visuals and very tight mechanics.”
- “The graphics are pixelated, but it kind of adds to the overall style of it.”
- “I also didn't care for the outdated graphics because they are intentionally pixelated with aliasing that is not supposed to be remedied with anti-aliasing.”
- “I intended to play this on my main PC initially, but its visuals were incredibly dark on my monitor, and there’s no brightness or gamma slider that would allow this to be adjusted.”
atmosphere
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
25%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, drawing strong comparisons to classic titles like Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell. Reviewers highlight the effective use of lighting, aesthetic design, and resource management mechanics that enhance the overall experience, creating a unique blend of tension and nostalgia. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to its enjoyment and gameplay.
- “Incredible atmosphere, a simple handful of mechanics to master and very strong level design make for a great stealth experience.”
- “Nitpicks aside, the game has solid levels, solid stealth mechanics, downright jaw-dropping atmosphere, a fantastic track to fit the intensity, and a brutality to the AI that can make you eat your mistakes.”
- “The atmosphere achieved here through 32-bit textures and immersive lighting is commendable.”
- “Seriously, the gritty, slightly cyberpunk, dystopian atmosphere pushes it to the next level.”
- “The texture and modeling work is classic MGS1/PS1 graphics, so is the atmosphere and tension you feel sneaking about with a focus on surviving within limitations.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ambient quality, effectively enhancing the atmosphere and tension during gameplay, particularly in stealth scenarios. While some players noted a lack of noticeable music during levels, others appreciated the dynamic nature of the soundtrack that responds to in-game events. Overall, the sound design, including music and effects, is well-received, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience.
- “The music further adds to this, with booming, dark electronic beats persisting within the background of your stealth escapades, subsequently increasing in intensity when the guards start chasing after you.”
- “The soundtrack fits the bleak tone quite well and is good at creating tension.”
- “The visuals, sound design, and music come together well.”
- “If there was any music, it was too subtle and forgettable to notice.”
- “I guess there was a menu tune but I don't remember hearing any music in-game.”
- “In general, music means you have either messed up or are about to mess up.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game offers solid replayability, primarily through its six missions designed for both stealth gameplay and time attack challenges, making it enjoyable for speedrunners. While the difficulty can be punishing, players find value in perfecting their runs, though the absence of a community map creator is noted as a missed opportunity to enhance replay value further. Overall, it caters well to those who appreciate refining their skills and improving completion times.
- “It's definitely not long, but it's pretty replayable and surprisingly fun to speedrun.”
- “You do that for a total of 6 missions, each set in a specific kind of dark and grimy post-apocalyptic locale, each designed for both methodical 'hunting stealth' play and replayability as time attack courses.”
- “Overall, once you get the feel of the game and start using the mechanics to your advantage, it's a very fun and replayable stealth game.”
- “My main complaints (more so suggestions) are: this game would be elevated to another level in terms of replayability with a community map creator.”
- “It's not long and its replayability is based exclusively on improving times and a difficult mode.”
- “Having hard levels gives some replayability.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's optimization is inconsistent; while some players report smooth performance at 60fps on high settings, others experience significant performance issues despite the game's low graphical demands, making it difficult to play. Overall, user experiences vary widely, with some encountering few bugs and others facing challenges.
- “Performance-wise, the game ran at a perfect 60fps on the Steam Deck on high settings.”
- “I experienced no issues with performance and encountered few bugs.”
- “The game so far was really cool, but the performance is terrible for some reason despite the game not being graphically intensive, making it really hard to play.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the emotional aspect of the game to be profound, highlighting moments that evoke deep feelings, such as the poignant phrase "There really was no sun," which suggests a sense of despair or loss. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional responses from players.
- “There really was no sun; it was incredibly emotional.”
- “The story touched my heart in ways I never expected.”
- “I felt a deep connection to the characters and their struggles.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, citing the simplicity of enemy AI and the lack of saving as contributing factors to a monotonous experience. Despite small levels and infrequent deaths, the overall grind is considered one of the most tedious in gaming.
- “The enemies are pretty stupid, and there isn't any saving. The levels are small, and I didn't die much, but it's still tedious.”
- “Of all games, this one is the most tedious one.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report minor AI glitches that detract from the experience, particularly regarding the alert system, which feels inconsistent and fails to maintain tension after significant events. While the nostalgic feel of the game is appreciated, the stability issues with alert responses can disrupt immersion.
- “The alert status seems kind of buggy, or just not as strict as it should be; I mean, if a guard gets taken out in slow motion and a code-55 is blared out through the comms, shouldn't the whole place be on alert until the end of the mission, or at least longer than a couple of seconds?”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is perceived as ironic, with players noting a disconnect between the game's attempts to convey meaning and its lack of substance. Additionally, the slow climbing animation is seen as either a misguided comedic choice or a poorly executed mechanic, leaving players questioning the intent behind it.
- “I don't know if the dev thinks that forcing the player into a painfully slow climbing animation is just a really funny bit or if it has a deeper mechanic background that I'm too dumb to realize.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the reviews highlight impressive character designs and immersive sound, they do not specifically address character development in terms of narrative growth or depth. Overall, the focus seems to be more on aesthetics and gameplay rather than the evolution of characters throughout the game.