Nuclear Contingency
- January 1, 2017
- Amaterasu Software
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Nuclear Contingency" , players step into the shoes of CIA operative Jack MacArthur in 1959, tasked with investigating and sabotaging the nuclear capabilities of communist terrorists in Southeast Asia. The game offers a top-down stealth experience, drawing inspiration from classic spy titles. With a focus on stealth and strategy, players must infiltrate enemy camps, gather intel, and disable nuclear threats to protect the world from the dangers of nuclear proliferation.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique top-down stealth shooter experience with a retro feel that some players found enjoyable.
- Despite its flaws, the game can provide a couple of hours of entertainment and has a story reminiscent of 90s action movies.
- For its low price, some players felt it was worth the experience, especially if they enjoy challenging gameplay.
- The game lacks basic features such as an options menu, fullscreen mode, and customizable controls, making it frustrating to play.
- Many players found the stealth mechanics to be poorly implemented, with enemies easily detecting the player and spawning unexpectedly.
- The overall quality of the game is criticized as being low, with numerous bugs, repetitive levels, and a lack of engaging gameplay.
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story is generally viewed as underwhelming and derivative, often compared to clichéd action films, with a simplistic plot that fails to engage players. While some appreciate its nostalgic, retro feel reminiscent of 90s movies, many criticize its lack of depth and poor integration with gameplay mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a weak point, overshadowed by gameplay flaws and a limited mission structure.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“I liked the story a lot because it reminded me of trash movies in the 90s and I liked the retro stealth feel.”
“Gameplay is rewarding, the story seems like a ripoff from most action counter-terrorist attack movies, but it kept me going.”
“Gameplay is rewarding, but the story seems like a ripoff from most action counter-terrorist movies.”
“The story isn't interesting.”
“In the end, the story is almost decent, just ruined by the flawed gameplay execution.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a mixed bag, with many players noting its lack of true stealth mechanics despite being marketed as a stealth game. While some find the core gameplay gripping and rewarding, others criticize it for being buggy, frustratingly difficult, and poorly executed, leading to an overall experience that can be both enjoyable and infuriating. Despite its flaws, players appreciate the fun factor and the challenge it presents, making it a decent option for a short gaming session.
“Overall, for its cheap price, on sale or not, it's pretty decent. It is a little buggy, but hey, it's about an hour's worth of gameplay and it is quite fun!”
“This game has its technical difficulties (enemy AI is too good at noticing you, making melee hits almost useless, locked to 22 fps, etc.), but the core gameplay is actually pretty gripping.”
“This game is as unpolished as games can be, but don't let that take you away from the amount of fun and great gameplay it has to offer. It's insanely difficult, challenging, and all in all frustrating at times, but it'll keep you going until you finally manage to finish it.”
“This is absolutely not a 'stealth game' - there are no stealth mechanics to speak of.”
“Worst of all, the stealth-themed game prevents stealth gameplay because if you successfully sneak your way to the waypoint to complete a mission, 3 enemies suddenly spawn at that point and kill you.”
“In the end, the story is almost decent, just ruined by the flawed gameplay execution.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are criticized for relying on outdated retro pixel art, lacking options for resolution adjustment or customization, which limits players' ability to enhance the low-quality visuals. While some users find the graphics acceptable, they feel they do not compensate for the overall subpar gameplay experience.
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no option to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally criticized, with users noting it is buggy and prone to issues, particularly with AI behavior and gameplay mechanics. While some find it enjoyable for its low price and short playtime, others express frustration over its numerous glitches and difficulty spikes.
“Overall, for its cheap price, on sale or not, it's pretty decent, but it is a little buggy.”
“F yourself dev for making this piece of trash, buggy game; it is harder than any game I have ever played.”
“The AI is fairly buggy, too easy to manipulate in some ways and far too intelligent in others, which makes it boring honestly.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players find it relaxing and soothing, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety, with a limited loop that detracts from the overall experience.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The music is lame, with the same 20-second loop being played over and over.”
“[0.3] Sound & music”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of retro-style games that are perceived as low-effort cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices within the gaming community.
“Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to create retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is considered short and lacks replayability, which may limit its long-term appeal; however, its low price of $1 makes it a decent option for casual players.
“Not the best game out there since it's a bit short and it has no replayability, but for the price of $1, it's quite decent.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's pulp aesthetic effectively contributes to its humor, eliciting genuine laughter from players on multiple occasions.
“The pulp feeling of the game even made me laugh a few times.”
“The humor is spot-on, with clever jokes that kept me chuckling throughout.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations.”
