Paranormal Cleanup
- February 15, 2023
- Manic Mice
Get on Steam"Paranormal Cleanup" is a first-person shooter game where players take on the role of a paranormal cleanup technician, tasked with exterminating supernatural creatures in various haunted locations. Utilize a range of equipment and weapons to battle against ghosts, ghouls, and other spectral enemies. Advance through levels, upgrading your arsenal and skills to face increasingly challenging foes and uncover the mysteries behind the hauntings.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is fun and entertaining, especially when played with friends, providing a mix of horror and humor.
- The concept of cleaning a haunted house while avoiding a ghost is unique and adds a fresh twist to the genre.
- The developers are active in updating the game, and there is potential for more content and improvements in the future.
- The game suffers from bugs and glitches, including issues with ghost AI and difficulty in finding keys, which can hinder gameplay.
- There is a lack of variety with only three maps and the same enemy, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- The mechanics can feel unrefined, with hiding spots not always being effective and the ghost being overly aggressive.
- gameplay20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players praising the fun and solid core mechanics, while others criticize the lack of engaging features and the need for improvements in AI and game systems. Many feel that the mechanics are either too simplistic or flawed, leading to a repetitive experience that lacks depth. Suggestions for enhancement include adding more diverse gameplay elements and refining existing mechanics to create a more engaging experience.
“Amazing gameplay”
“The gameplay is very fun.”
“The core mechanics and gameplay loop is solid, though!”
“Not gonna reinstall or play until these mechanics are fixed.”
“It just doesn't have anything to it; the mechanics are all boring and unengaging. Having perks cost as much as they do to simply speed up gameplay is a bit silly, and being downed has no weight to it, as you can still finish the level in the downed position.”
“That's why I wrote this review after just half an hour of gameplay, and basically you've already seen everything the game has to offer - so far.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, with players appreciating the detailed maps and hidden lore that enhance the experience. While some players found the narrative elements, such as the neglected child storyline, to be highlights, others noted a lack of a cohesive overarching story, with gameplay often feeling more like a scavenger hunt than a narrative-driven mission. Overall, the environmental details and backstory of the locations are praised, but the traditional story elements are seen as lacking.
“However, I do want to say the environmental storytelling is very good!”
“I think the maps all have a really neat story element to them, and being able to discover the 'hidden' rooms and lore bits was really cool, especially in a genre with a lot of weak story points.”
“The backstory behind the houses is a feature I particularly enjoy.”
“How was the story? I asked, and my friend replied that the kid getting neglected was a high point for the story.”
“Fun concept, but the large maps turn more into a hunt for room keys than a cleanup mission.”
“☑ no story”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the premise of cleaning up a haunted house amusing and enjoying the comedic moments, such as dealing with messy situations while avoiding ghosts. While the initial concept and interactions can elicit laughter, others feel that the humor doesn't consistently land, and the gameplay mechanics need improvement. Overall, the game is best enjoyed with friends for a more entertaining experience.
“The cleanup jobs were for the most part pretty funny, and my friend and I were screaming 'ew' while I was plunging a toilet with poop water splashing back at me, all while hoping the ghost didn't find me.”
“Despite all this, I think the game has some great potential; the ghost is creepy, the sounds are pretty good, and the novel idea of cleaning trash up in a haunted house is hilarious.”
“I find it to be funny actually all of the little bugs - and a camping AI lol - no complaints as it's just too new.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that the game is enjoyable but plagued by various bugs and glitches, particularly with monster behavior and graphical issues. While these stability problems can detract from the experience, many users remain optimistic for future updates and patches to address these concerns.
“There are a lot of bugs, though, where the monster glitches and stays in one place; this needs to be fixed.”
“Definitely makes a change from Phasmophobia, Demonologist, etc., but it's very buggy.”
“Graphic glitches - not a major issue, but I did notice a couple of times when the ghost was hunting and it was right in front of my hiding place that there were big white squares/rectangles going across the hands, face, and part of the body.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their quality and effective ambiance, contributing to a terrifying experience. However, some users reported graphic glitches, such as visual artifacts during ghost encounters, and noted issues with optimization leading to lower frame rates. Overall, while the visuals are impressive, there are areas that could benefit from improvement.
“The graphics are great, the levels are well done.”
“The graphics are good quality and so are the scares.”
“The graphics were great, the ambiance was unsettling and the monster was absolutely terrifying.”
“Graphic glitches - not a major issue, but I did notice a couple of times when the ghost was hunting and it was right in front of my hiding place that there were big white squares/rectangles going across the hands, face, and part of the body.”
“The ghost visuals are kind of muddy.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game currently offers limited replayability due to its minimal content, featuring only three levels with varying difficulty that primarily increase task complexity rather than introducing new experiences. Reviewers express concern that this lack of variety detracts from overall enjoyment, though there is hope for future updates to enhance replay value.
“With only 3 levels and 3 difficulty settings that merely add more tasks to complete in each level, I don't think it has much replayability at the moment. Hopefully, they will add more content later.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game faces notable optimization issues, with players reporting lower-than-expected frame rates and discrepancies in character design, particularly the ghost, which does not match promotional images. While the graphics are visually appealing, the overall performance detracts from the experience.
“In regards to graphics, the appearance is good but unoptimized - I was seeing far lower FPS than I'm used to in similar games at similar settings.”
“One map, four characters, optimization issues, and the ghost doesn't look like the actual picture for the game, which is kind of odd and misleading.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a second life to complete it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding for minimal rewards.”
