Overclocked: A History of Violence

About

In Overclocked: A History of Violence, players assume the role of a detective investigating a series of gruesome murders in a futuristic, rain-soaked metropolis. The game combines point-and-click mechanics with a psychological thriller narrative, delving into the minds of victims and perpetrators alike. Through interrogations, evidence collection, and puzzle-solving, uncover the truth behind the violence and confront the ultimate horror.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Overclocked: A History of Violence screenshot

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews

story38 positive mentions

gameplay16 negative mentions

The game features a gripping narrative with strong character development and an inventive premise that keeps players engaged.
The atmospheric graphics and sound design contribute to an immersive experience, enhancing the overall storytelling.
Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique psychological thriller experience that appeals to fans of the genre.

The gameplay is often tedious and repetitive, with many puzzles being either too easy or frustratingly unclear, leading to reliance on walkthroughs.
Voice acting quality is inconsistent, with some performances feeling wooden and detracting from the immersion.
The pacing is uneven, with a slow start that can make the overall experience feel drawn out and unsatisfying, especially towards the ending.

story
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The story of "Overclocked" is a central highlight, featuring an intriguing narrative that unfolds through the perspectives of mental patients and incorporates a unique non-linear storytelling approach. While the plot is engaging and filled with twists, some players find it slow-paced and ultimately anticlimactic, with gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, many reviewers recommend the game for its compelling story and character development, especially for those who appreciate narrative-driven experiences.
- “You basically play the story of the patients and see their past trauma and slowly collect the pieces.”
- “Honestly, the story has a good buildup, the mystery is solvable and it just flows nicely into the gameplay.”
- “The gimmick to the story is that it is told out of order through flashbacks by a group of mental patients, and from a storytelling perspective that is done well.”
- “But the story is the worst part, even up to the sci-fi quality ending (you know, the endings that just end with little to no resolution).”
- “Really the main problem and where most of the negative votes come in I think is the storyline.”
- “No puzzles, poorly written story, bland uninterested voice actors, and your usual cast of Scooby-Doo/Scream characters.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
49%
41%
The gameplay of "Overclocked: A History of Violence" is criticized for its repetitive and tedious mechanics, which detract from the overall experience despite a compelling narrative and strong character development. Many players found the puzzle design frustrating and the game overly reliant on cutscenes, leading to a lack of engagement in the gameplay itself. While the story and atmosphere are praised, the gameplay is seen as one of the weakest aspects of the game, making it less appealing for those seeking a robust adventure experience.
- “Honestly, the story has a good buildup, the mystery is solvable and it just flows nicely into the gameplay.”
- “Despite some gameplay issues, this is a really interesting and engaging story with some well thought out characters.”
- “[serviceable point-and-click mechanic, inventive premise, strong story].”
- “Overclocked: an awkward subtitle has a history of being a frustrating adventure with tedious mechanics.”
- “The repetitive and underwhelming nature of the gameplay hurts the game a lot.”
- “All of which is ruined by tedious, repetitive gameplay.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
58%
12%
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some praising the detailed 3D visuals and beautiful pre-rendered scenes, while others found them dull and lacking in character animation. Many noted that the graphics were acceptable for the game's time period, contributing positively to the overall atmosphere, despite some technical flaws. Overall, while not groundbreaking, the graphics were deemed sufficient to support the story and gameplay experience.
- “Despite our preliminary fears to the contrary, only the briefest of glances at the cinematics proves necessary to recognize their quality: as ever, no graphical work was shirked in the interest of advancing the text during development.”
- “+ Great looking and detailed 3D graphics and beautiful pre-rendered scenes.”
- “The graphics were very good too; not just the incessant rain, but other details, such as the water at the ferry dock and the landscapes.”
- “The graphics are dull and boring.”
- “You can look past the average graphics in adventure games, but poor character animations can ruin all your attempts at immersion.”
- “What you wouldn't guess from the product summary is that the characterization is, within the limits of the terrible graphics and voice acting, surprisingly good at times.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its cinematic quality and emotional depth, particularly during key segments, while others criticize it as lackluster and insufficient for enhancing the overall experience. The soundtrack features a range of styles, from orchestral to industrial rock, but is often described as sparse, leading some players to feel that it fails to create a compelling atmosphere. Overall, while there are moments of strong musical composition, many feel it does not consistently elevate the gameplay.
- “The music and animations were done very well considering the age of the game.”
- “The music varies from top-tier cinematic and emotive pianos with strings to a more distorted and industrial rock during the patient recollection segments.”
- “Music is stripped back for most of the game where the good sound design peaks through.”
- “The music is bad.”
- “You get some ambient sounds now and then and a mildly tense music playing in tense scenes, but that's it.”
- “You might as well put on your own music.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a consistently gloomy and rainy backdrop that enhances its noir thriller elements, creating a bleak yet intriguing environment. While the atmosphere is praised for its depth and alignment with the story, some players feel it lacks excitement and can lead to moments of boredom. Overall, it effectively sets the tone for a narrative-driven experience, despite some mechanical shortcomings.
- “Gloomy and atmospheric environments and lots of rain on the city streets make for a great backdrop to this noir thriller.”
- “Gloomy atmosphere.”
- “Not for graphics or intense gaming, but for a story, atmosphere, and puzzles.”
- “In short, an intriguing story with good acting and excellent atmosphere, only mildly hampered by a clunky mechanic.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that "grinding" in "Overclocked: A History of Violence" is characterized by tedious and repetitive gameplay, particularly after the second chapter. Players find the mechanical design and puzzle elements frustrating, detracting from the otherwise engaging narrative and cinematic experience.
- “All of which is ruined by tedious, repetitive gameplay.”
- “It gets tedious after the second chapter of the game.”
- “Overclocked: an awkward subtitle has a history of being a frustrating adventure with tedious mechanics.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its classic game jankiness, including awkward camera angles and poorly delivered lines, which contribute to its charm. Players find the experience enjoyable and amusing, with moments that can be easily overlooked, adding to the overall fun of the adventure.
- “Funny thing, I missed the first playthrough... keep an eye on the car in front of Dave's hotel!”
- “10 hours to complete, has some classic game jankiness such as weird camera angles and hilariously bad line readings, but overall a fun adventure game that covers some interesting topics and was very enjoyable to play through.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as a heartwarming experience reminiscent of classic gaming, evoking feelings of nostalgia and comfort while playing alone. Reviewers strongly recommend it for those seeking a sentimental connection through gameplay.
- “Hard recommend for anyone who enjoys this heartwarming old-school gaming experience of just sitting alone in your room and playing a good game.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for misleading advertising, as users noted that the game featured censored nudity despite promotional screenshots on Steam suggesting otherwise. This discrepancy has led to dissatisfaction among players who feel misled at the time of purchase.
- “The game, at the time of purchase (July 2022), has censored nudity despite the Steam screenshots advertising nudity.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is generally solid, but some users have noted issues with character models, particularly mentioning odd features like "buggy eyes" on certain characters.
- “Some of the character models look a bit weird, like David's buggy eyes.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide any specific insights into the game's optimization, focusing instead on the performance of the lead character, Dave McNamara. As such, there is no information available regarding the game's optimization.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers highlight that the game features a significant and impressive shift in the narrative, particularly noting strong character development that emerges around the midway point. This transformation enhances the overall storytelling experience.
- “I think the sharp turn in the story and strong character development from the midway point of the game really impressed me.”