Quasimorph
- August 16, 2023
- Magnum Scriptum
- 15h median play time
"Quasimorph is a single-player Sci-Fi RPG with unique turn-based roguelike gameplay - survive each mission to keep your loot, or lose everything at death. In a privatized future, uncover humanity's dark secrets as you command your own Private Military Company, completing orders for corporations and discovering new technologies in your quest to level the playing field and explore new worlds."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique blend of extraction shooter and roguelike mechanics, providing a fresh experience.
- The atmosphere and art style are engaging, with a compelling sci-fi setting and interesting lore.
- The core gameplay loop is addictive, with satisfying combat and a variety of weapons and items to discover.
- The difficulty can be frustratingly high, with many instances of one-shot deaths that feel unfair.
- The inventory management is cumbersome, with limited space making it difficult to carry essential items.
- There is a lack of clear guidance on mechanics, leading to confusion for new players.
- story424 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is currently underdeveloped, with many players noting a lack of engaging narrative or progression, leading to repetitive mission types that feel disconnected from a larger plot. While the sci-fi setting and lore have potential, the absence of a cohesive storyline and the grindy nature of missions detract from the overall experience. Players express hope for future updates to introduce more narrative depth and variety in missions, as the current gameplay loop often feels aimless and frustrating.
“The world of Quasimorph is very interesting, with an intriguing plot and amazing sci-fi inspired lore.”
“I love the permadeath aspect for each raid, and how that's explained in the story with the mothership that has a fully functional clone-bay to pump out your player characters.”
“I'm super excited to see this game develop and I hope the loot, missions, and story get much deeper.”
“Overall, it has good potential; however, playing it right now until the end doesn't make sense due to plot absence or balance issues.”
“It's absolutely fun for a little while if you like roguelikes, but there's not much variety, and there's no story whatsoever.”
“The game desperately needs a 'quick evac' button; give me a 50% loss of loot at random or rep loss with the faction, but just give me the ability to leave a godforsaken mission that has its quasimorph meter already maxed out.”
- gameplay220 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Quasimorph is characterized by a challenging and engaging core loop that combines extraction shooter mechanics with roguelike elements, offering depth through various unique mechanics. However, many players find the game punishing, with unbalanced mechanics and a steep learning curve that can lead to frustration, particularly due to one-hit kill scenarios and poorly explained systems. While the potential for a rewarding experience exists, the current state of the game requires refinement and better tutorialization to enhance accessibility and enjoyment.
“All of these mechanics crammed into the game make for an intriguing extraction shooter, with a lot of depth.”
“The core gameplay loop is great.”
“The gameplay loop is satisfying and the payoff between risk and reward always leads to interesting decisions.”
“The game has an awful combination of extremely punishing gameplay mixed with very janky mechanics.”
“The core gameplay loop is fun, but the game lacks content and has balance issues.”
“The actual core of the gameplay is what's here and the current fluff is very flavorful.”
- music35 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its heavy metal soundtrack that enhances the intense atmosphere and gameplay experience. Reviewers noted that the dynamic tracks effectively build tension during combat, although some expressed a desire for more variety in mission music. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature that elevates the game's immersive qualities and complements its dark themes.
“The OST is amazing, and as the quasimorphosis rises, the slow heavy metal does as well.”
“The music tracks currently in the game are excellent and fit the style of the game perfectly.”
“The soundtrack (and its escalation as threat levels increase) combined with tense turn-based mechanics helps to create an atmosphere of urgency and dread unlike other roguelike/lites.”
“The music is not worth mentioning or listening to.”
“I'm sure the developers are planning on more music tracks in the future, since many stages have the same music at the moment.”
“In menus the music is only serviceable, but the dynamic track in missions builds constant tension and effectively follows the tone of combat.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have received high praise for their fantastic art style and atmospheric design, particularly in space environments. While some players appreciate the pixel art and lively visuals, others note that the simplistic graphics can lead to repetitive experiences over time. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals, sound, and gameplay creates a compelling atmosphere that enhances the gaming experience.
“I absolutely love the visuals in general, the art style, and especially the vision in space when hovering around planets or moons.”
“The aesthetics and design for this world are excellent, to boot.”
“Early impressions are very good, graphics are very detailed with an 80's vibe which I adore.”
“Don't let the graphics fool you!”
“Despite the simplistic graphics reminiscent of a roguelike tileset, I've had some pretty intense moments.”
“Probably one of the most fun games on Steam, I hope they improve the graphics and introduce more mechanics.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many reviewers express dissatisfaction with one-shot kills and the lack of meaningful rewards for their efforts, leading to a sense of wasted time. While some see potential in the endgame farming, the current state of grinding is viewed as unbalanced and overly punishing, with little incentive to continue playing.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“However, one-shot kills by design, after you have already sunk a few hours into a mission, are tedious and frustrating.”
“Frustrating and tedious for absolutely no reason.”
“Makes grinding for late game, and new weapons and armor seem pointless, as by the time you get there anyways there's nothing left to fight for.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of dark sci-fi elements, engaging visuals, and immersive soundtracks that create a sense of urgency and dread. Reviewers appreciate the game's grim and haunting settings, likening it to a mix of tactical RPG and rogue-like mechanics, though some note that the overall pacing could benefit from more variety. While the atmosphere is generally considered a strong point, a few critiques mention that gameplay balance issues detract from the overall experience.
“Quasimorph is a great game, with interesting mechanics and a grim atmosphere of space gone mad, but hard as nails and not for everyone.”
“The setting and atmosphere are mostly well done.”
“This game's terrifying mashup of hard sci-fi and Russian neo-cosmology creates a haunting atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack (and its escalation as threat levels increase) combined with tense turn-based mechanics helps to create an atmosphere of urgency and dread unlike other roguelike/lites.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in chaotic scenarios, such as battling overwhelming enemies while on the brink of defeat. The exaggerated reactions to unexpected deaths and the quirky animations of monsters contribute to a lighthearted yet intense atmosphere, making for a uniquely entertaining experience. However, some players note that the humor can become frustrating when gameplay mechanics lead to frequent, unexpected failures.
“I've never reacted more to a video game; it's tense, it's funny, and it's so damn good.”
“I love this game, it's hilarious trying to keep the quasimorph faction from gaining too much ground.”
“The pixel art graphics are lively, and the monsters amusingly explode into pieces and make funny noises in their gibberish language.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its replayability, with many players enjoying the core gameplay loop and various mechanics such as crafting and mission selection. However, some reviewers note that the replay value may be limited by a lack of variety and meta progression. Despite this, the game is still considered to have more content and replayability compared to similar titles in the genre.
“Lots to get to grips with and understand; it feels very replayable... well, I've died lots and I'm still playing!”
“Replayability: 4/5 - comparable to games like Risk of Rain 2 or The Binding of Isaac, at least in my books.”
“The core gameplay loop is a blast, but the replay value is stunted by a lack of variety and meta progression.”
“I have not gotten to the end game and I do not know how replayable this game is, but I am giving it a thumbs up because I am hoping I do not get to 'the end game'.”
“It feels like it has both more content and more replayability than other Tarkov roguelikes (like Zero Sievert).”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have expressed significant frustration with the game's stability, highlighting that persistent glitches can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
“Most importantly, however, I can't abide by the current run-killing glitches.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I've encountered numerous bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect has been criticized for misleading advertising, as players feel the game does not align with the tactical gameplay suggested in promotional materials.
“The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to progress.”
“It's frustrating how much content is locked behind paywalls; it ruins the overall experience.”
“The constant barrage of ads and in-game purchases makes it hard to enjoy the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the emotional impact of the game is both brilliant and heartfelt, successfully blending different genres to create a resonant experience that exceeds expectations.
“Sometimes a genre mashup is only good on paper, but the execution here is brilliant and heartfelt.”
