Payroll
- November 10, 2015
- GZ Storm
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PC
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and nostalgic game that captures the essence of a mundane office life with humor and creativity.
- Short gameplay (2-3 hours) that is enjoyable and worth the low price, making it a great option for casual gamers.
- Multiple endings and hidden secrets add replay value, and the graphics and sound design are well-executed for a retro aesthetic.
- Gameplay can feel frustrating and lacks clear objectives, leading to confusion about what to do next.
- The game is very short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
- Some players experienced technical issues, including glitches and lack of dialogue, which detracted from the overall experience.
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are intentionally designed to evoke nostalgia for the Windows 95 era, featuring simple mechanics and a 256-color palette that successfully captures the spirit of that time. Reviewers appreciate the aesthetic as a charming throwback, likening it to classic titles like "The Stanley Parable," while noting that the retro style is a key selling point for the game. Overall, the graphics are well-received, with many describing them as beautiful and interesting in their simplicity.
“The art style and graphics are very nostalgic in my opinion, since the aim was to look like a game from the 95/98 era; the devs totally nailed it.”
“The game is meant to feel like a Windows 95 era throwback and captures the spirit of the era with its simple mechanics and 256-color graphics.”
“Graphically, while The Stanley Parable is more impressive, Payroll has a fun style that I haven't seen in a while.”
“Payroll is basically a poor man's Stanley Parable with a Windows 95 graphics touch!”
“The game is meant to feel like a Windows 95 era throwback, and captures the spirit of the era with its simple mechanics and 256-color graphics.”
“It is old school Windows graphics.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it catchy and fitting for the game's environment, contributing to a relaxing experience. However, some users feel that certain tracks are too generic, indicating a mixed reception in terms of originality. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, enhancing its appeal.
“Short and sweet, pulls off the software rendered/win16 look excellently, with a banging MIDI soundtrack.”
“The build is solid, the music is catchy and fitting for the environment you're in.”
“The music is too generic for me.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth and moral lessons, emphasizing resilience and the unpredictability of life. Players appreciate the engaging narrative and the inclusion of multiple secret endings, contributing to a fantastic overall story quality.
“Great game for the price, great story and a lot of secret endings.”
“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.”
“You can also do drugs and jump from a 10-story window.”
“[b]Story quality:[/b] ☐ n/a - ☐ bad - ☐ average - ☐ good - ☑ fantastic”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a nostalgic throwback to the Windows 95 era, featuring simple mechanics and 256-color graphics, which some players appreciate. However, it has been criticized for its frustrating elements and lack of clear guidance, making it feel inferior to other games in terms of user experience. Overall, while it stands out from typical cash-grab titles, it may not satisfy all players.
“The gameplay is certainly far superior to most cash-grab achievement-based games.”
“The gameplay is frustrating, and you are only given the most cryptic of indications of what you are supposed to be doing.”
“As for the gameplay, the mechanics are most definitely inferior.”
“The game is meant to feel like a Windows 95 era throwback, and captures the spirit of the era with its simple mechanics and 256-color graphics.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smart and witty humor, providing a hilarious experience that resonates well with players.
“What a smart, witty, hilarious game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is generally perceived as "almost perfect," with only minor non-game breaking bugs reported by users. There are no significant stability issues noted, indicating a solid performance overall.
“Stability: almost perfect”
“The game is a buggy mess, making it frustrating to play.”
“There are some non-game breaking bugs, but they still detract from the overall experience.”
“The stability is almost perfect, but there are still a few issues that need addressing.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The presence of multiple endings enhances the game's replayability, allowing players to explore different outcomes without requiring a significant time investment.
“The multiple endings are a nice touch; I finished them all in a reasonable amount of time, but it still added to the replay value.”
“Each playthrough offers new choices and experiences, making it hard to put down.”
“The game encourages you to explore different strategies, ensuring that no two runs feel the same.”
“Multiple endings are a nice touch; I finished them all in not too much time. However, it still added to the replay value.”
“Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to go back. The story doesn't change much on subsequent playthroughs.”
“The gameplay mechanics are repetitive, making it hard to find motivation for a second run.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as a compelling and powerful narrative that deeply engages players, elevating the experience beyond typical gaming standards. Reviewers suggest that this emotional depth is a defining feature that resonates strongly with gamers.
“If you've never wondered just how high (or low) of a score you can rack up in a simulated 3D role-playing environment, while being involved in a powerful emotional narrative that makes other games look trivial, can you really call yourself a gamer?”
