Quadrant
- May 26, 2015
- HKFiftyOne Games
- 7h median play time
"Quadrant" is a single-player game with a good story that takes about 7 hours to beat. In the year 1979, a haz-mat team responds to a distress signal from the Aether Research Facility on the moon, where they encounter deadly forces after retrieving moon rocks and conducting experiments. The game is very atmospheric and draws players into the panic and fear of the secret base's escape attempt.
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and sound design that effectively builds tension and fear.
- Interesting story with engaging puzzles and stealth mechanics that keep players on their toes.
- Good voice acting and a solid horror experience, especially for an indie game at a low price.
- The final chapter is poorly executed, with bugs and a lack of coherent plot, leaving players feeling disappointed.
- Repetitive level design and some gameplay mechanics can feel tedious and unpolished.
- Technical issues such as frame drops and glitches detract from the overall experience.
- story30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as having an interesting premise with a mix of horror and adventure elements, but its execution is often criticized for being inconsistent and lacking depth, particularly in later chapters. While some players appreciate the atmosphere and initial plot twists, many feel that the narrative becomes convoluted and unsatisfying, especially with an open-ended conclusion that leaves much unresolved. Overall, the story garners mixed reviews, with some finding it enjoyable and engaging, while others deem it lackluster and poorly developed.
“Quadrant sets some serious mood up with its ambient music and slowly revealed story.”
“Great gaming experience, seamlessly combining horror, survival and adventure elements with an interesting, suspenseful story and an intuitively responsive FPS interface.”
“It's atmospheric, super-scary, has excellent sound design, some challenging puzzles, and looks like it may actually have a genuinely interesting storyline.”
“On a more shameful note, the execution of the story is incompetent; from impassive character deaths all the way to the unavailing end.”
“If you were like me and thought that chapter 1 was really good but needed work and expected the following chapters to improve on what they had established story-wise and design-wise, well, you will be disappointed; that is why I do not recommend it.”
“Chapter 3 has the same terrible alien animation, some good additions to the story until the stupid open-ended ending which brings no closure to the story as a whole and rehashed puzzles and level design from the first two chapters.”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension throughout. Reviewers highlight the strong sound design, including music and ambient effects, which enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding graphics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to evoke a thrilling and creepy environment, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.
“There are not so many indie horrors I know that are as thrilling, atmospheric, and interesting to dive into as this game.”
“Great claustrophobic atmosphere, great sound, and a good plot!”
“This game is by no means outstanding; overall, it's quite a simple horror game based on atmosphere and some stealth.”
“The atmosphere of each area was very eerie, always keeping you on edge.”
“The sound design is creepy, the atmosphere is creepy, the 'melted mannequins' are creepy... uh... the game is creepy... especially for an individual title.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of stealth mechanics, puzzles, and horror elements, providing a solid foundation for tension and exploration. However, players note that it can become tedious due to simplistic plotlines and occasionally buggy mechanics, with some puzzles feeling lackluster. While the game offers a satisfying experience for fans of the genre, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking more depth and challenge.
“Solid horror adventure gameplay sprinkled with small bits of action, stealth, puzzling, and limited exploration.”
“I enjoyed the story concept and general gameplay.”
“It's been a satisfying gameplay experience.”
“There's enough of a spark to keep you interested to begin with, but it quickly becomes a slog, with a simplistic plot, boring puzzles, and tedious gameplay.”
“If you know what you're getting into with these types of games, then have at it, and get ready for some clunky gameplay with a fairly solid story. But anyone on the fence, your $5 is better spent on a better game on sale.”
“Chapter 2 has buggy gameplay (at least when I first played it), terrible alien animation, and a so-so story.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered subpar, reminiscent of a Half-Life mod, with mixed reviews highlighting both their limitations and occasional improvements. While some players appreciate the atmospheric sound design and variety, the visuals are seen as a significant drawback, with criticisms pointing to the removal of shadows to mask animation quality. Overall, the graphics do not meet the expectations for a top-tier survival horror experience.
“Were the graphics just slightly better, Quadrant might be called the best 'survival horror' game since Outlast... bravo, all the same!”
“Graphically, it's a mixed bag.”
“I find that this game is well developed despite having subpar graphics.”
“I find that this game is well developed despite having sub par graphics.”
“Graphically it's a mixed bag.”
“Graphics are still poor; they actually removed shadows to conceal animations, but they are slightly improved.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous glitches, framerate drops, and gameplay interruptions that hinder progress. Players report encountering stuck enemies and falling through the world, which detracts from the overall experience and raises concerns about its value for the price.
“While the game has a solid premise, its many glitches, slow pacing, and short length (roughly 1 hour) do not warrant the $5.00 price tag.”
“In my playthrough, I also encountered glitches in which enemies got stuck in a walking animation on the path I needed to take, preventing me from progressing forward.”
“Buggy; framerates drop randomly, and sometimes I find myself falling through the world until I relaunch the save.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with ambient tracks effectively setting the mood and complementing the narrative. However, some users feel that while the music is fine, it may not stand out significantly, resulting in an average overall rating.
“Great music and overall decent sound design helps cement the atmosphere.”
“Quadrant sets some serious mood up with its ambient music and slowly revealed story.”
“Fine music.”
“Music 6/10”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed experiences with the game's optimization, noting good lighting and strong voice acting, particularly from the character Jamie. However, many users report performance issues that need addressing, suggesting that while the developers have made a commendable effort for a startup game, improvements are necessary for future titles.
“On reading in the forums, I discovered that everyone is having a different experience in terms of performance in this game.”
“For a startup game, the developers did a good job, and I hope that in their next game, they are able to improve it by fixing the performance issues and lowering the predictability of enemy encounters.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players initially find the grinding aspect engaging, but it soon devolves into a tedious experience marked by a simplistic plot, uninteresting puzzles, and repetitive gameplay.
“There's enough of a spark to keep you interested to begin with, but it quickly becomes a slog, with a simplistic plot, boring puzzles, and tedious gameplay.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“After a while, the grind becomes more of a chore than a fun challenge, draining the enjoyment out of the experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for having no replay value, indicating that players do not find incentives to revisit it after completing it.
“There is no replay value.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its unintentional comedic moments, such as the amusingly awkward animations of characters, like an alien monster walking on two legs, which players find hilariously entertaining.
“I wish I had taken a video of the alien monster walking on two legs; it is hilariously bad.”