Operation: Matriarchy
- January 29, 2016
- Madia Entertainment
Get on Steam"Operation: Matriarchy" is a real-time strategy game where players must build and manage their own base while battling against alien forces. Players can choose to play as one of several factions, each with their own unique units, abilities, and playstyles. The game features a singleplayer campaign, online multiplayer, and modding support, allowing for endless replayability.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has interesting enemy designs and some creative level architecture.
- It can provide a nostalgic experience for fans of old-school FPS games.
- With the right patches, the game can be enjoyable and fast-paced, offering a casual playthrough.
- The second half of the game is significantly worse than the first, leading to a disappointing experience.
- Technical issues abound, including poor sound design, HUD problems, and amateurish graphics.
- The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with dumb AI and uninspired level design.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as linear and monotonous, featuring large numbers of enemies in confined spaces reminiscent of old-school FPS games. While some players find it frenetic and fun, many criticize the lack of depth, poor weapon mechanics, and repetitive level design, leading to an overall outdated experience. Despite its flaws, a few players note that with unofficial patches, the game can become more enjoyable.
“Gameplay is frenetic.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's an old-school FPS whose main defining feature is that it crams Serious Sam levels of enemies into Half-Life sized corridors, especially in the first few levels.”
“The game is kinda janky, as the HUD doesn't work in widescreen, all maps look almost the same, the plot is questionable at best and the gameplay is really outdated for its time, but at the same time it works quite well once you patch it with an unofficial patch; the maps are barely confusing at all and seem quite well-paced, and despite its repetitive gameplay, it is decently fun.”
“Gameplay is pretty linear, with some decent-sized but not that big levels for you to explore.”
“Really, there is nothing special about the gameplay; you run through levels killing aliens with a range of guns.”
“Gameplay is also very bad; developers preferred quantity over quality. Mostly, you will have to face a horde of cloned mutated female warriors with terribly made weapons that are often very weak and have absolutely no recoil.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many reviewers noting that it feels basic and underdeveloped. While some hint at a potentially richer narrative in the broader universe, the game itself offers minimal plot and character development, leaving players with a sense of disappointment. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a weak point, overshadowed by simplistic gameplay and uninspired execution.
“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've read that the manual and the other games set in this universe tell a larger and more interesting story, but only the basics make it into the game.”
“There is one fun detail in that the bland-white-guy protagonist has nobody to talk to and thus gives himself all his mission briefings, using information that he's somehow divined from thin air.”
“The game is pretty basic, no real story; it's a meh game.”
“There isn't that detailed of a story.”
“The plot and characters are basically nonexistent, as you'd expect.”
- music6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is largely criticized for being non-functional or minimal, with players noting that it only plays in the main menu and is often described as broken or bare-bones. Many reviewers recommend using an unofficial fan-made patch to experience any music at all, as the original state of the game feels unfinished and lacks overall audio quality.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Just make sure you play it with the unofficial fan-made patch; otherwise, there is no music and the game looks pretty unfinished in its original state.”
“The sound is bare-bones and most of the music is broken.”
“Music does not work; the game has really bad voice acting and other sounds are not any better.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing the models, animations, and level design as outdated and unattractive, reminiscent of budget titles from the Doom 3 era. Others note that while the graphics are acceptable for a fast-paced shooter, they do not compensate for the poor sound and gameplay quality. Overall, the visual presentation is seen as a weak point in the game's overall experience.
“Fast-paced game with modern-day graphics and easy controls that seamlessly transition from location A to B to C and so on.”
“The graphics are quite impressive for a budget shooter reminiscent of the Doom 3 era.”
“The visuals are engaging and enhance the overall experience of the game.”
“Non-accelerated graphics, ugly models and animations, poor bare nonsensical levels and design.”
“Graphics are all right for a budget Doom 3-era shooter.”
“Fast game with modern-day graphics, but it feels like it moves from location A to B to C and so on.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game appears to rely on provocative advertising featuring attractive characters, which some users find off-putting or manipulative.
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report a high level of stability, with no glitches encountered during gameplay.
“No glitches encountered.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or freezes.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often characterized by encounters with bullet-sponge enemies that prolong gameplay unnecessarily.
“There's a good chance most of them will be absurd bullet sponges, too, so the entire game is just one big tedious chore.”
