Noct
- October 21, 2015
- C3SK
- 6h median play time
"Noct is a horror shooter game with both multiplayer and single-player modes, set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with terrors. The 2D top-down game features spectacular visuals, an excellent soundtrack, and a fabulous atmosphere. Players must scavenge for supplies, combat enemies, and survive in this persistent online world."
Reviews
- The game has a unique and interesting concept, combining drone surveillance with survival horror elements.
- The atmosphere and soundtrack are praised for creating a tense and immersive experience.
- There is a dedicated developer actively working on updates and improvements, showing potential for future growth.
- The game has been largely abandoned, with no updates or significant content added for years, leading to a feeling of being a cash grab.
- Gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with many players reporting that they can exhaust all content in a very short time.
- Multiplayer functionality is severely lacking, with few players online and connection issues making it difficult to enjoy the intended experience.
- gameplay40 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of depth and content, often feeling that the gameplay loop becomes repetitive after a short time. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and unique mechanics, others criticize the limited multiplayer experience and the overall brevity of gameplay, suggesting that it lacks sufficient variety and engagement to justify its current price. Overall, there is potential for improvement, but many feel the game is currently unfinished and in need of more substantial content.
“Its music is great as it's dynamically paired with the gameplay.”
“The sounds are amazing, the gameplay is unique, and the game is just overall very fleshed out.”
“I played a little bit, by far Noct gave me the best sense of atmospheric gameplay.”
“It features a 5-6 minute gameplay loop that gets old after the first 1-2 repetitions.”
“It's not like the gameplay itself is terrible, but it's been abandoned and what little there is (or was, when I played it) is done in under an hour.”
“Unfortunately, the interest stops there because the actual gameplay is lacking in actual content at the present time.”
- story33 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being extremely lacking and generic, with players noting that it consists mainly of short fetch quests and minimal narrative content, leading to a sense of emptiness after completing the brief campaign. While there are intriguing elements involving Lovecraftian horrors and survival themes, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, with many players expressing hope for future updates to enhance the storytelling and gameplay experience.
“I cried at the thought of this game: an exploration and player-story driven drama where the odds are stacked against you, you are surrounded by unspeakably and realistically scary monsters of immense variety who relentlessly haunt you in a sort of cat-and-mouse situation, each with different tactics, all under the veil of a deep and interesting backstory involving ancient monsters and sadness and hopelessness.”
“A story of pure survival with a heaping helping of horror and open worldly goodness.”
“The story mode that was there was great, my group of friends and I had a lot of fun!”
“Not only that, but as far as the 'story' goes (I say 'story' because there's no actual story in the game itself), you're fighting ancient Lovecraftian horrors.”
“The background story of this game is a total mystery.”
“The story is extremely lacking.”
- music24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience with a dynamic and haunting soundtrack. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke strong emotions and create a sense of tension, with comparisons to classic horror soundtracks. While the music is a standout feature, some note that the overall game experience may feel lacking despite its strong auditory elements.
“Its music is great as it's dynamically paired with the gameplay.”
“Atmospheric music and sound effects that match the action well.”
“The music sets an unsettling mood, which makes the game all the better!”
“The scares are non-existent because the moment a monster gets within shouting distance, the music changes and all you have to do to avoid them is to run away or turn in the opposite direction and walk.”
“Launched the game, noted that there wasn't any title screen music.”
“The music in this game is contemplative, moody, dark, and thoughtful...not unlike Boards of Canada's more minimalistic stuff.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of horror, suspense, and immersive sound design, creating a deeply unsettling experience that keeps players on edge. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music and sound effects, which enhance the game's eerie aesthetic and contribute to a sense of loneliness and foreboding. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, drawing comparisons to other notable titles in the genre.
“Atmospheric music and sound effects that match the action well.”
“The music is good, the atmosphere is even better; it makes you feel lonely and creepy at the same time.”
“I've gone back at it for a half hour or so now because the atmosphere is so well done, but to be honest, I'm not an unintelligent person or an inexperienced gamer, but I have absolutely no idea if I'm making any progress or not, and that's a pretty serious design problem.”
“The atmosphere, the sound, the foreboding, the anxiety of the next corner having a nightmarish worm creature...”
“Of note is the game's atmosphere and minimalist approach to survival horror.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as aesthetically pleasing and unique, with a strong atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, there are mixed opinions on their execution, with some players noting that the visuals can be unclear and taxing on lower-end hardware. While the art style is appreciated for its potential and mood, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking high-resolution graphics or seamless integration.
“A very aesthetically pleasing game about fighting to survive on Earth after an apocalyptic purge.”
“[u] Aesthetically, it's absolutely beautiful.”
“With music that sounds like it was inspired by the original Silent Hill games, a graphic style that adds to the tension and horror that is one part Lovecraftian, one part Resident Evil style perversion of nature, I have no issues recommending this game even at its current state.”
“It's a good concept and idea for a game, but I would say the only thing that they need to improve is the visuals. Yes, I know it's intentional, but it needs to be clearer because, to be honest, it's pretty hard to see anything besides the enemies.”
“The graphics and mood are really well done, but you also find your character bumping into invisible walls and boundaries at times, and the scratchiness of the overall look can make it tough to realize you're not actually moving anywhere for a second or two.”
“The amount of pixels is not incredibly high, but it is easily overlooked since you concentrate less on visuals and more on the sound.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its stability, particularly in its early access phase, with users reporting numerous bugs and multiplayer issues, such as disappearing waypoints. Despite owning the game for several years, some players have found it unplayable due to these ongoing stability concerns.
“I've owned this game for 4 years and have only played it for 4 hours. While that isn't a lot, I've been waiting for more releases and a non-buggy game since I last played it.”
“Very buggy for early access - lots of multiplayer issues with waypoints disappearing and so on.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, leaving players feeling scammed and dissatisfied with the value they receive.
“If there was ever an instance of a cash grab, it's here.”
“Unless something is officially said, we've all been scammed and this was a cash grab.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional connection to characters, often feeling grief and sadness, particularly when faced with loss. The game's exploration of deep themes, combined with a haunting atmosphere and diverse, menacing monsters, enhances the emotional weight of the narrative, leading to moments of genuine tears and reflection.
“I cried at the thought of this game: an exploration and player-story driven drama where the odds are stacked against you. You are surrounded by unspeakably and realistically scary monsters of immense variety who relentlessly haunt you in a sort of cat-and-mouse situation, each with different tactics, all under the veil of a deep and interesting backstory involving ancient monsters and sadness and hopelessness.”
“9/10 felt an emotional bond to a random person and felt grief after learning they died.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features a promising 'continued-replay' mechanic that enhances its replayability, with potential for future updates to add depth and features. While currently enjoyable, players hope for improvements, particularly for solo play, to further enhance the experience.
“They've incorporated an interesting 'continued-replay' as the core design, which adds depth to the game and keeps players engaged.”
“This is a positive for me because I can see this game going places and I hope that it can become more playable in a solo setting.”
“Looks like it plays, and it currently plays decent - they've incorporated an interesting 'continued-replay' as the core design, so maybe they continue to add in features that complement and add more depth to the game, (hopefully not just lazily stop at the clever replayability mechanic of the game).”
“This is a positive for me because I can see this game going places and I hope that it can get a bit more playable in a solo setting.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's humor to be highly enjoyable, making it a fun experience both solo and with friends. Many recommend it for its comedic elements, contributing to its overall appeal.
“Very good game! I've been playing it since the first release, and I really recommend it. It's very, very funny both alone and with friends.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to frequent deaths caused by enemy spawn mechanics that feel unfair. This frustration detracts from the overall experience, leading some to consider putting the game down until improvements are made.
“Don't get me wrong, the game is good, but dying five times to the same enemy because it spawns about three meters in front of you (or jumps around a corner) and insta-kills you is tedious. Ultimately, the horror just isn't there for me. With improved sound design, I can see the horror picking up, but until then, I'm going to have to pass on this, probably to pick it up in the future, but who knows?”
“The grinding in this game is unbearable. It feels like I'm just repeating the same tasks over and over without any real progress. It's frustrating and takes away from the enjoyment.”
“I love the concept of the game, but the amount of grinding required to level up is excessive. It feels like a chore rather than a fun experience.”