Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory

32%
Game Brain Score Based on 19 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • gameplay
Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory Game Cover
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"Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory" is a CRPG set in the futuristic Alpha Complex, where citizens live under the rule of the all-knowing Friend Computer. As a RED security clearance Troubleshooter, your mission is to seek out and eliminate any threats to Alpha Complex while being wary of potential traitors. With a focus on action and intrigue, it's a game of suspicion and survival in a society where treason is punishable by summary execution. Stay alert, trust no one, and keep your laser handy.

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Reviews

32%
Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews
humor4 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game captures the humor and satire of the Paranoia RPG, providing a fun experience for fans of the original tabletop game.
  • There are unique interactions and scenarios based on dialogue decisions, adding depth to the narrative-driven gameplay.
  • The aesthetic of Alpha Complex is bright and colorful, and the game has moments of personality and charm despite its flaws.
  • Gameplay is largely non-existent, with dull combat and a lack of engaging mechanics, making it feel repetitive and tedious.
  • The game is riddled with bugs and technical issues, including game-breaking bugs that hinder progress and a lack of multiple save options.
  • The overall presentation is bland and feels incomplete, with low-quality graphics and limited character animations, leading to a disappointing experience.
  • story17 mentions

    The game's story features a mix of engaging character interactions and unique mission elements, but is marred by technical issues and pacing problems. Players have reported bugs that hinder progression, such as being unable to continue missions due to unresponsive objectives. While some missions offer personality and side quests, the overall narrative experience can feel repetitive and drawn out, particularly towards the end.

    • “That being said, I went in with low expectations and was surprised at the amount of personality and interactions your teammates are given within missions.”
    • “Where bringing certain teammates can activate unique interactions and even side missions.”
    • “I didn't find the two that I saw overly exciting, but it was cool that they approached me for a mission along with the members of the secret society and being part of them unlocked a unique ending.”
    • “The game has returned me to the mission but the door is now closed again and I can no longer interact with the terminal to open it, so I'm stuck and cannot progress.”
    • “During my playthrough, I only experienced one major bug, where I was told to report to the friend computer for debriefing and when arriving, the debriefing wouldn't start and I was unable to continue the mission.”
    • “One thing that did turn me off a bit was towards the end it became mostly long missions of going room to room dealing with combat after combat.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game effectively captures RPG humor and is designed to be narrative-driven and comedic, providing an enjoyable experience for players. However, some users feel that it paradoxically discourages them from engaging in humor, which may detract from the overall comedic experience.

    • “I feel like this game captures the humor of RPGs; I'm having fun playing it.”
    • “The game is meant to be narrative-driven and humorous.”
    • “It's a comedy game that actively steers you away from the funny!”
  • gameplay3 mentions

    The gameplay is largely criticized as lacking, with some users noting that while there are complex mechanics and routing systems in place, the overall experience, particularly in the endgame, is disappointing.

    • “That being said, this game has a lot going on under the hood in terms of mechanics and routing.”
    • “Gameplay is non-existent.”
    • “The endgame, in terms of gameplay, was terrible.”
    • “That being said... this game has a lot going on under the hood in terms of mechanics and routing.”
  • graphics3 mentions

    The graphics are generally considered unremarkable and lackluster, with some users noting that they detract from the overall experience. While the aesthetic is deemed appropriate, issues with camera controls and frustrating gameplay elements, like vending machine hacking, further diminish the visual appeal.

    • “The aesthetic is right.”
    • “The dialogue is the star of this show, not the lackluster graphics.”
    • “Major cons: the graphics are subpar, camera controls are too limited, and the vending machine hacking will make most people quit before the end of the first mission.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is criticized for being significantly compromised, with users reporting numerous frustrating bugs that detract from the overall experience. Many recommend against purchasing it until these issues are resolved.

    • “I don't recommend buying this in its current buggy state.”
    • “It's pretty buggy and some of the bugs are really frustrating.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is criticized for being lifeless and bland, contributing to an overall lack of engagement and enjoyment. Reviewers feel it fails to enhance the gaming experience, which is further diminished by other subpar elements like character design and combat.

    • “The music is lifeless.”
    • “The music is very bland, the characters look cheap and have no real variety in appearance, the combat is subpar with poor AI for the player characters, and it just isn't fun at all to play.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game is perceived as a quick cash grab, with users feeling that it lacks value compared to older titles, suggesting it would have been more appropriately priced at $30 three years ago.

    • “In comparison to that decade-old game, this one looks to be a quick cash grab.”
    • “Three years ago, this game may have been worth $30, but today it is just a cash grab.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the mid-game section, particularly the dungeon crawl in the underplex, to be tedious and overly grindy, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The mid-game section, [spoiler]the Underplex[/spoiler], was mostly just a big tedious dungeon crawl.”
    • “Grinding feels like an endless chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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