Pyramis
- March 29, 2023
- BG Productions
Pyramis is a H.R Giger & retro-scifi-inspired survival horror game, that will bring back the genre to its roots and modernize it in the process. The game is driven by its story, beautiful environments, exploration, and horrific themes. Pyramis contains non-linear exploration of most levels but mainly focuses on completing the central narrative. The game combines the combat of hardcore survival…
Reviews
- The game features a captivating atmosphere and an interesting lore that enhances the overall experience.
- It was developed by a single person, showcasing a commendable effort and creativity despite its shortcomings.
- The game offers a fair amount of scares and tension, reminiscent of classic survival horror experiences.
- The performance is poor, with significant frame rate issues even on capable hardware, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
- The save system is problematic, as it only saves progress and not resources like ammo, which can lead to impossible situations.
- Gameplay mechanics, such as combat and weapon handling, are clunky and inconsistent, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a tense and immersive environment that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note the effective use of darkness and subtle design elements that contribute to a sense of dread and tension, making it a standout feature alongside the puzzles.
“This game has some nice atmosphere and presentation.”
“It has some good scares and is soaked with atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is there, the puzzles too, I guess.”
“The atmosphere, puzzles, and overall idea were fantastic.”
“The atmosphere is tense; the darkness is dark, and you can sneak past enemies.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is noted for its intriguing lore, though some reviewers caution against revealing too much to avoid spoilers. However, the overall presentation, including voice acting and cut scenes, received mixed to negative feedback, suggesting that while the narrative has potential, its execution may detract from the experience.
“Especially the lore behind it; it's got a very interesting story!”
“I won’t say much about the story because it might end up being spoilers, but there is a story, let's say.”
“The gunplay was lacking, the enemies ran in straight lines, the voice acting was hilarious, the story panels were mostly fine or bad, and the cutscenes were awful.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its interesting concept but criticized for shortcomings, including a nauseating camera and overall boredom, leading to mixed recommendations despite the effort of a single developer.
“I love the concept of the game; it has some gameplay shortcomings, but it was made by just one developer, and it's a very solid work.”
“Combine that with a nauseating camera and generally boring gameplay, and I just can't find myself recommending this game, despite its interesting premise.”
“Love the concept for the game; it has some gameplay shortcomings, but it was made all by one developer and it's a very solid work.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics are criticized for being outdated, reminiscent of designs from 20 years ago, and failing to achieve 144fps at 1080p resolution. While the atmosphere is appreciated, the overall visual quality leaves much to be desired.
“The atmosphere is nice, and the visuals are okay.”
“The graphics have a unique charm that adds to the overall experience.”
“The vibrant colors and detailed environments really bring the game to life.”
“And... the 20-year-old graphics, too.”
“Can't even hit 144fps at 1080p despite the graphics looking as outdated as they do.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, being both scary and breathtaking, which complements the game's setting. However, some users expressed disappointment over the lack of separate audio sliders for sound effects and dialogue, limiting control over the overall audio experience.
“It is a great shame because it has an awesome setting and music, both scary and breathtaking.”
“One thing I did actually enjoy was the general sound design and music.”
“There are no separate audio sliders for sound effects and dialogue; we only have a master volume and music control.”
“The lack of individual audio controls for sound effects and dialogue is frustrating.”
“I wish there were separate audio sliders for sound effects and dialogue instead of just a master volume and music option.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, especially in demanding modes like survivor mode and when attempting to achieve high kill counts. The requirement for managing numerous AI characters simultaneously further exacerbates these performance problems, making it challenging for many PCs to run the game smoothly.
“For completionists: Survivor mode and the 1000 kills achievement (must be done in one try, not cumulative) will test your PC to the limit. You have to exploit AI, and the game is not really optimized to handle 80+ AI pathing to your location while still running smoothly. I'm not sure why there is such an absurd number of kills for the achievement, but I got it.”
“Really awful performance.”
“For completionists: the survivor mode and 1000 kills achievement (must be done in one try, not cumulative) will test your PC to the limit. You have to abuse AI, and the game is not really optimized to handle 80+ AI pathing to your location and still run smoothly. I'm not sure why there is such an absurd number of kills for the achievement.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily highlighted through its voice acting, which users found to be hilarious, despite criticisms of the gunplay and enemy behavior. However, the overall storytelling, including story panels and cut scenes, received mixed to negative feedback, suggesting that while some comedic elements shine, they are overshadowed by other gameplay shortcomings.
“The voice acting was hilarious, adding a delightful layer of humor to the experience.”
“The story panels had their moments, but the humor really shone through in the dialogue.”
“Even when the gameplay faltered, the comedic elements kept me entertained throughout.”