P.A.M.E.L.A
- June 18, 2020
- NVYVE® Studios
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"P.A.M.E.L.A. is a single-player, open-world horror game set in the decaying utopian city of Eden. As a Sleeper, scavenge for resources, build and upgrade equipment, and navigate relationships with various factions to survive. Experience a dense atmosphere, stunning graphics, and a good plot, but be prepared for numerous bugs, grinding, and subpar optimization."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted world with stunning graphics and a captivating atmosphere.
- The survival mechanics and crafting system provide a rewarding experience for players who enjoy exploration and resource management.
- The game has a unique premise that combines elements of horror and sci-fi, creating an intriguing narrative that encourages players to uncover the story.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes, memory leaks, and poor AI pathfinding.
- There is a lack of direction and guidance for players, making it easy to get lost and confused about objectives.
- Combat feels clunky and unsatisfying, with many players reporting issues with hit detection and enemy behavior.
- story293 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as intriguing yet underdeveloped, with many players noting a lack of clear direction and a reliance on fetch quests that detract from the overall narrative experience. While the lore and atmosphere are praised, the execution of the main storyline feels rushed and disjointed, leaving players feeling aimless and unsatisfied. Overall, the potential for a compelling narrative exists, but it is hampered by technical issues and a lack of engaging quest design.
“The story itself, found through the various recordings and such, offers a lovely glimpse into a controlled utopia turned calamity.”
“The atmosphere, lore, and storytelling (visual and not) are intriguing and it'd be a sad waste to not share that.”
“The story is very well fleshed out, lots of lore and deeper details within the game, it was very interesting to explore.”
“The story, while not detailed or present in every aspect of the game, was emotive and interesting.”
“The main questline is horribly put together as from the first mission you'll be stuck hiding/running from some of the worst mobs available.”
“The finishing touch to this half-baked story is the lazy and uninspiring ending which will leave anyone disappointed on what the game could have been.”
- gameplay192 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the innovative mechanics and exploration aspects, while others criticize it for being clunky, poorly optimized, and filled with bugs. Many appreciate the survival elements and base-building features, but find the combat and overall mechanics lacking depth and polish. Overall, while the game shows potential with its unique ideas and beautiful graphics, it suffers from significant gameplay issues that detract from the experience.
“Hugely fun to play, gorgeous, smooth gameplay, 10/10 would recommend.”
“The gameplay is innovative, with layouts and controls I've never seen but really enjoyed.”
“The concept, story, setting, and gameplay are all very fun and interesting.”
“This is a fine example of a game that looks decent, but its gameplay is a dumpster fire.”
“The game mechanics are poor and frustrating - it looks beautiful but you end up wandering around aimlessly and occasionally fighting some pretty poor enemies in the dark and in a fairly clunky way.”
“Extremely clunky controls and combat, bad graphics, and poor gameplay.”
- graphics154 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style and visual aesthetics as stunning and immersive, particularly in creating a captivating atmosphere. However, several users report performance issues, including graphical glitches, stuttering, and poor optimization, which detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are often described as beautiful, they can be demanding on hardware, leading to inconsistent gameplay for some players.
“The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, and the 'no-loading screens' concept of loading the whole city, which is massive and detailed, is brilliant.”
“This game is a work of art with incredible visuals and immersion.”
“The graphics are beautiful; I feel like I'm actually there!”
“The graphics optimization is the lowest I've seen for any early access game.”
“I straight up can't play the game; the graphics are so buggy.”
“The game needs 4K optimization badly; you can't play on high resolutions; it keeps lagging and stuttering.”
- optimization130 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues, frequent crashes, and significant frame rate drops over time. Many players note that despite having capable hardware, they experience overheating and stuttering, particularly in demanding areas, leading to an overall frustrating experience. While some updates have aimed to improve performance, the consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and not recommended for play until substantial fixes are implemented.
“The optimization could be better, but updates are constant, and the developers are very responsive to the community's feedback.”
“They just released a patch to optimize performance, and it's been really successful.”
“Buyer beware: at present state it's a bit buggy, but when it does work it works well, and the devs are hard at work on optimization and bug fixes.”
“The optimization is terrible to put it nicely; it crashes every time I play at different times.”
“This game has so much potential, but is unfortunately riddled with crashes and bugs, has absolutely abysmal performance that gets worse the longer the game is open, and it seems to have just been abandoned in this state.”
“I hoped that by the time this game reached launch, the performance issues would have improved, but it hasn't, and until it does, you should not buy this game.”
- stability95 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches, bugs, and crashes that hinder gameplay. While some users acknowledge the game's potential and appreciate its atmosphere, many describe it as a "buggy mess" that feels unfinished and poorly optimized. Despite ongoing updates from the developers, the overall consensus is that the game remains unstable and often unplayable, particularly in its current early access state.
“It is so buggy that it's kind of unplayable.”
“A buggy, unfinished and unpolished mess that was quickly 'released' in order to abandon the game in its current state with all of its animation clipping, poor world layout, and sloppy mechanics tacked in simply to make the game feel more interesting.”
“When this game first released it was a buggy, unplayable mess that was deservedly review bombed.”
- atmosphere95 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, combining beautiful graphics with eerie sound design that enhances the sense of exploration and tension. Many players appreciate the intricate world-building and lore, which contribute to a captivating and unsettling environment reminiscent of titles like Dead Space and Dead Island. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance and attention to detail create a memorable experience that keeps players engaged and on edge.
“The atmosphere, lore, and storytelling (visual and not) are intriguing and it'd be a sad waste to not share that.”
“The lighting and shadows are well done and create an eerie and haunted atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is perfect in line with the storyline, you'll be introduced to the game by an AI which provides a very brief objective.”
“Lack of music and sound undermines the atmosphere on the opening level.”
“I had high hopes for this game; I really hope that they fix and optimize this game and pull a No Man's Sky out of this because the premise and atmosphere of the game is the only part of this game that feels like they put any work into.”
“It's still just so boring...the whole game; the atmosphere, the combat, the crafting, and material collection.”
- grinding25 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring extensive resource farming and repetitive combat encounters. Many reviews highlight the lack of a well-defined difficulty curve and the cumbersome crafting system, which adds to the grind. While some appreciate the game's atmosphere and overall experience, the grind-heavy mechanics can detract from enjoyment, especially for those who prefer a more streamlined gameplay experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Looting is kind of tedious, where you will press a lot of buttons for minor gain, spam the 'hold R' to ping loot so you aren't looking at lots of empty containers.”
“Grinding for loot, running from or killing the same enemies, permadeath, rinse and repeat.”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the solid sound design and atmospheric tracks that enhance the experience, while others criticize the limited soundtrack and repetitive looping of a few tracks. Although the ambient sounds contribute to the game's tension, many feel that a lack of variety in the music undermines the overall atmosphere. Overall, while some find the music effective and fitting, others believe it could benefit from more depth and diversity.
“As for sound design, I thought it was pretty decent in that the sounds were solid and the music was pretty good.”
“Great music & sound effects.”
“Not only is the game visually stunning, but the sound design is superlative; the background music reminds me of Deus Ex: Human Revolution or Blade Runner, and does not intrude on the player's experience, and the voice acting is top notch.”
“There is also barely any music playing, so the game is quiet at times.”
“Not much in music; it's the same couple of tracks on a loop, some random ambient noise, and monsters moaning.”
“Lack of music and sound undermines the atmosphere on the opening level.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its random loot system, skill trees, and various difficulty settings, which encourage players to explore different playstyles. However, some users express concerns about the lack of a clear endgame, which may affect long-term engagement. The resurrection mechanic and permadeath mode also contribute to its replay value, offering opportunities for learning and experimentation.
“The concept of resurrection makes for an interesting chance to learn the game, and it is immensely replayable in that regard.”
“Tons of skill trees and upgrades make this game highly replayable.”
“No replayability!”
“The lack of an apparent endgame is also concerning for me. I am currently 14 hours in and I expect I have another 20-30 hours of 'first time' experience left in this game, along with a form of replayability with the permadeath mode. However, I feel like the 'endgame' needs to be clearer or dismissed altogether.”
“There's decent replay value with the style variance or difficulty settings.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from its technical flaws, such as the hilariously poor AI pathfinding and the absurd behavior of zombies, which leads to comical situations during gameplay. Players find amusement in the contrast between the game's serious themes and the ridiculousness of its combat mechanics, creating a lighthearted take on an otherwise chaotic environment. Overall, the humor serves as a coping mechanism for the game's shortcomings, making for an entertaining experience.
“It's funny that I'm here admiring the architecture and interior designs while others are out there slaying the infected and surviving.”
“AI pathfinding is hilariously bad.”
“When you have a zombie walking sideways almost towards you, it’s a weird fear of 'are they actually coming towards me, looking at something else, or just walking funny?'”
- emotional5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; some players find the protagonist's inconsistent emotional portrayal frustrating, while others appreciate the profound sense of loneliness evoked by the game's environment. The narrative's lack of engagement is criticized, yet the emotional weight of the setting and themes resonates deeply with certain players, drawing comparisons to other impactful AI-driven stories.
“Never has a game made me feel so lonely; walking around the once beautiful city with only hints of its glory remaining just tugs on the heartstrings.”
“I want to be overly careful about comparing this game to System Shock, but I think it's worth noting that SHODAN, and AI in general, carry increased emotional impact when their human qualities and morality are nebulous, alien, and possibly threatening.”
“Simply put, the storyline is incredibly boring.”
“The core gameplay is cool, but the story is boring.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game features a complex and well-integrated character development system that enhances the overall experience, allowing players to explore a vast world filled with mysteries while engaging in base building and survival elements. Reviewers appreciate the effective RPG mechanics that contribute to a satisfying progression.
“A true exploration game with a big and well-designed world, lots of mysteries to uncover, a complex system of character development and upgrades, base building, survival... and it all works together pretty well, resulting in a very good experience.”
“The game does some things right in terms of the RPG mechanics of character development.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices that impact the gameplay.”
“I found the character progression to be uninspired and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Despite the game's potential, the character development system is poorly implemented and fails to offer any real depth.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization model has been positively received, as the developers have consistently provided fixes and new content updates over nearly two years, demonstrating a commitment to the game rather than exploiting early access for quick profits.
