Perilous Warp

About

Perilous Warp is a single player shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Crystice Softworks and was released on October 20, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Perilous Warp" is a first-person puzzle-platformer set in a surreal, warped reality. Players must navigate through dimensional rifts and manipulate the environment to solve challenging puzzles and uncover the mysteries of the Crystallis Corporation. With fluid movement and a unique warping mechanic, players will need to think creatively and adapt quickly to survive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 243 reviews

graphics22 positive mentions

gameplay10 negative mentions

Perilous Warp captures the nostalgic feel of classic FPS games like Quake and Chasm: The Rift, providing a fun and engaging experience.
The game features a solid arsenal of weapons, including unique upgrades and satisfying dismemberment mechanics.
The visuals and atmosphere are well-crafted, with a retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of the genre.

The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 2-4 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
Enemy variety is limited, leading to repetitive encounters and a lack of distinctiveness among foes.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as enemy AI and hit feedback, can feel unpolished, detracting from the overall combat experience.

graphics
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the clean textures, atmospheric design, and nostalgic early 2000s aesthetic reminiscent of titles like Doom 3 and Quake. While some noted that the visuals can feel derivative and lack originality, the overall execution is considered high quality, effectively blending modern graphical techniques with retro influences. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics options are limited and that the level design could be improved.
- “The graphics are really nicely done and despite the modern look, it feels really old school.”
- “Unlike a lot of FPS revival style games, it seems to take a lot of its inspiration from the Doom 3 era in its aesthetics, with very sharp and clean textures combined with stark shadows, creating a striking visual style that I really missed.”
- “The environments themselves feel believable and, whilst not always making sense, are downright gorgeous to navigate in. During the hectic moments of bloodshed, I often like to stop and just gawp at how amazing the visuals look.”
- “The graphics are pretty low quality and there is a very low enemy variety.”
- “But I also find the retro aesthetic visual options to be rather limited and half-baked.”
- “The graphics are just a bland mishmash of Quake 2 and a poor man's Half-Life, has a story that you won't be invested in for any time and is just another insulting spit in the face to the consumer and fans of old school FPS games.”
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
70%
17%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic FPS titles like Doom and Quake, but criticizing its lack of enemy variety and overall blandness. While some mechanics and weapon upgrades are appreciated, the pacing can feel sluggish, and level design is often described as linear and uninspired. Overall, the game offers a decent experience for fans of retro FPS games, but many feel it lacks depth and polish, making it feel unfinished or like a tech demo.
- “Overall though, I thought the story, music, and gameplay were pretty good.”
- “The weapons feel nice and have cool alt-fires that one can obtain via upgrading weapons at 'upgrade stations' instead of any RPG mechanics.”
- “Nice FPS... if you loved Quake or similar FPS from the 90s, this is your game... the only shortcoming I had with this game is that it is kind of short but in terms of gameplay and fun it really got me.”
- “After I left the upgrade station, I was confused about where to go, and it took me a solid 15 minutes to find a part of the base I forgot to check, which happened to contain the way forward. This turned what should have been around 7 minutes of first-time gameplay into 22.”
- “Really the only department the game is lacking in the gameplay area are the enemies; there's a low variety and what is there isn't particularly interesting.”
- “The game has some mediocre level design, the enemy design is meh, gun design is meh, gameplay is simple, and the game is short.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its atmospheric qualities and retro-inspired sound that enhances the overall experience. While some found the soundtrack to be repetitive or mediocre, others highlighted standout tracks that evoke nostalgia and fit well within the game's aesthetic. A common complaint is the lack of volume control, as some players felt the music was too loud compared to sound effects, but overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strong points.
- “A nice little bite-sized retro FPS with a great soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is also very good and definitely lends to the atmosphere and experience.”
- “The gunplay, the soundtrack, the atmosphere, everything is perfect and blends in to present a perfect game.”
- “It's too loud relative to the sound effects, and frankly, the music gets on my nerves.”
- “If the developer reads this, my biggest gripe is that there's no control for the music volume.”
- “The music is pretty decent and quite fitting to the theme of the game and the era it emulates, but I did have to tone it down to about 30% as it can start to get repetitive after a while.”
story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
75%
8%
The game's story is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for gameplay, delivered through brief text logs and cutscenes that many players find unengaging. While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and the attempt at storytelling, the narrative lacks depth and originality, often feeling detached from the player's actions. Overall, the story is considered optional and not a focal point, with players more invested in the gameplay experience than the plot itself.
- “The story is delivered mostly through text files that you find, which sounds bad but they're only 4-5 lines long at best and are handy if you're playing through for the first time on hard, since they warn you of the new enemies up ahead.”
- “Unlike most of the recently published retro-styled shooters, 'Perilous Warp' is slow and atmospheric, and has some kind of story going on in the background.”
- “There's story if you want it to be (checking out the datacubes scattered across the levels) and it's not half bad.”
- “Storytelling is minimal and has some translation errors here and there.”
- “I didn't really follow it or care much for it, since it feels very detached from the player's actions: it's mostly told through text logs, which is perhaps nobody's favorite storytelling technique.”
- “The story is all but optional.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Doom 3 and Half-Life, with a blend of retro aesthetics and modern elements. The soundtrack is highlighted as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience, while the visuals and environmental storytelling contribute to a tense and engaging setting. However, some reviewers noted that despite the strong atmosphere, the gunplay may not meet expectations.
- “The soundtrack is also very good and definitely lends to the atmosphere and experience.”
- “The game has some Doom 3 feelings; the atmosphere is great.”
- “Permanent corpses, mutilations, physics, and advanced lighting create a very good atmosphere.”
- “In some ways, it's trying to be like Half-Life 1, but it lacks the atmosphere and lived-in feel, as well as the environmental storytelling.”
- “Speaking of the atmosphere, it's hard to describe... it's like the copper-tone fixtures of BioShock mixed with a damp and cold moon rock.”
- “The atmosphere is similar to Doom 3; also, there's no reload in this game, so you can shoot without worrying about reloading.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly replayable due to secrets and enjoyable combat, many criticize its short campaign length of 2-3 hours and lack of substantial content, leading to a perception of limited replay value. The steep price point further exacerbates concerns about its overall value, with some recommending waiting for additional content before purchasing.
- “It is short, but is highly replayable.”
- “Great retro inspired shooter with satisfying combat and level design; however, the game is very short with my first playthrough clocking in at 111 minutes. It's replayable though with all the secrets, but I just wish there was more!”
- “+ good replay value.”
- “It's just too short with very little replay value.”
- “Sadly, there is very little actual substance to offer in both enemy variation and replayability at present, so I would personally recommend giving this one a pass for its current price tag. Maybe at least until the level design tools are released to the public, as the campaign is only at most 2 hours long, topped off with an end boss that makes the Icon of Sin from Doom II look good in comparison. This is compounded by the game cheaping you out with pinpoint accuracy laser gun enemies in one of the many corridor-ridden tech base levels, or worse, the arena sections that lock you in, Doom-style, with very little to no cover to duck around to throw off their line of sight.”
- “The price is a bit steep for the short campaign length (2-3 hours), and it doesn't have a whole lot of replay value.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
Overall, the game's optimization is rated positively, with users noting solid performance, smooth graphics, and a well-optimized engine that runs without bugs or hiccups. While the gunplay and soundtrack are appreciated, players express a desire for additional content to enhance the experience further.
- “Overall optimization rating: good”
- “-solid performance, ran great never had any bugs or hiccups.”
- “volatile engine is pretty neat and optimized as well as being able to render environments smoothly”
- “The performance of the game is lacking, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
- “The graphics and performance are subpar, making it difficult to enjoy the game fully.”
- “The volatile engine is pretty neat, but it still needs better optimization to render environments smoothly.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly without glitches or crashes, even at high resolutions like 5k. However, some users have reported issues such as the game resetting resolution settings and a desire for an uncapped framerate option. Despite these minor concerns, the performance is generally praised.
- “The game is beautiful and runs great, and even has a nearest-filtering mode for us die-hard classic-texture enthusiasts!”
- “Level design is intuitive without being boring, and the whole thing ran smoothly with no glitches or crashes on my end.”
- “Well, the game runs great and has dynamic shadows, showcasing the potential of the engine.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, citing issues with ineffective combat mechanics and poorly placed checkpoints that exacerbate the frustration of repetitive sections. The level design is criticized for lacking inspiration, contributing to a sense of monotony during gameplay. Overall, the experience is marred by the need to repeatedly navigate through long, unengaging segments.
- “The checkpoint system is tragically bad, with checkpoints placed before long, tedious sections like slow elevator rides, and then there's none after it.”
- “As much as I can praise the sci-fi aesthetic, the level design just comes off as a bit tedious and uninspired in some areas.”
- “Being unable to stop the march of what are supposed to be nuisance enemies is just tedious.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is somewhat unexpected, with some players finding amusement in the ending, even if it wasn't the intended effect.
- “I'm not sure this is what they were going for, but the ending made me laugh.”
- “The witty dialogue and clever puns had me chuckling throughout the game.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, making every moment a joy to experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely perceived as lacking, with players reflecting on their experiences as more of a distraction from real-life issues rather than an engaging or enjoyable journey. The only notable emotional moment mentioned was frustration during gameplay, highlighting a disconnect between the game and meaningful emotional engagement.