Rheum
- January 12, 2018
- SpaceMyFriend
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Rheum" is a single-player Horror Shooter game where you navigate through a fleshly vessel as an eyeball, collecting eyeball crusties to strengthen your fight against an infection. The game offers two difficulty modes, unlockable endless mode with new upgrades, challenges, and power-ups, six playable characters, secret boss fights, online leaderboards, and various enemies. With an original soundtrack, plenty of bullets and eyeballs, and cheat codes, the game provides around 2 hours of playtime.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Rheum features a unique and engaging visceral theme, with beautifully designed pixel art and clear bullet patterns that enhance the gameplay experience.
- The gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, with a rewarding power-up mechanic that encourages strategic thinking and skillful play.
- The game offers replayability with hidden secrets and achievements, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate depth and exploration.
- The user interface can be confusing, and the tutorial is not enabled by default, leading to a steep learning curve for new players.
- Sound effects are lacking and do not provide satisfying feedback during gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The core gameplay mechanics feel somewhat bland and underwhelming, with enemy patterns that can seem random and uninteresting.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Rheum* is characterized by a fast-paced experience with a unique upgrade mechanic that temporarily weakens players, but it suffers from a lack of depth and variety in enemy patterns, leading to a somewhat bland experience. While some players appreciate the bullet grazing mechanic and find the gameplay fun and approachable, others feel it doesn't fully capitalize on its potential, resulting in a mediocre overall impression. The game has a solid foundation but is criticized for not offering enough engaging mechanics to stand out in the crowded vertical shooter genre.
“I especially like the upgrade mechanic where taking permanent upgrades makes you weaker for a short time.”
“The tutorial just goes over key mechanics and then starts you fluently into the game with the regular stuff you would start with.”
“I'm not a big player of bullet hell games; from what I've played, though, I find the gameplay to be fun and approachable with beautifully designed (and easy to see) bullets that weave and flow across the screen creating a maze for the player to navigate.”
“While Rheum has character and heart, the core gameplay is a bit too bland for me to tell my friends to run out and buy this.”
“What I don't like is the mish-mash of enemy patterns that roll in, and the overall game mechanic structure is pretty ho-hum.”
“There's a slew of defects on top of the shallow, mediocre gameplay and craptastic art.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received for their fitting cartoonish style and unique artwork, with some users praising the remarkable bullet patterns. However, criticism arises regarding the quality of the pixel art, which some feel is carelessly drawn and lacks the effectiveness expected from a modern title, compounded by limited resolution options and a retro aesthetic that may not appeal to all players.
“The graphics are fitting for the game, and cartoonish enough to not make the experience nauseating.”
“Great art style.”
“I like the artwork and universe, and some of the bullet patterns are quite remarkable.”
“For a pixel-art game, some of the graphics are a bit carelessly drawn and not as effective as they could be.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“While this is on PC, it has all the hallmarks and deficiencies of a console game, from the clunkier than needed control scheme to the less than cutting-edge graphics.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as nice and understated, serving to enhance the atmosphere without being distracting. However, some users noted that it can be too low in volume, making it nearly nonexistent at times, leading to a perception of it being overly sedate.
“The music is nice, if understated to not be a distraction.”
“The music is, in a word, 'sedate'.”
“With the volume all the way up, the music was a bit too low.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find the game highly replayable, indicating that it offers enough variety and engaging content to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“The game offers endless replayability with its dynamic choices and multiple endings.”
“Every playthrough feels fresh thanks to the randomized events and character interactions.”
“I love how each decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay it again and again.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying feels more like a chore than a fun experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the affordability and support for indie developers but often feel unmotivated to engage in the grinding aspects of the game.
“Look, it's cheap enough to grab and support an indie dev, but I just don't find myself driven to keep grinding through it.”
“The grinding feels repetitive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I expected more variety in the grinding mechanics, but it quickly became a chore.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game features limited content with only three levels available, suggesting a focus on replayability for scoring and performance rather than extensive gameplay.
“With only three levels available on the main menu, this game is designed to be short but encourages replayability for points and performance.”
“The optimization in this game allows players to refine their skills and strategies, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“I appreciate how the game rewards players for optimizing their performance, pushing me to improve with each attempt.”
“With only three levels available on the main menu, this game feels short and is clearly designed for replaying to improve points and performance.”
“The optimization in this game is lacking, making it difficult to achieve high scores without repetitive play.”
“The limited number of levels severely impacts the overall experience, as the game relies heavily on replayability for optimization.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game successfully creates a biological atmosphere, enhancing the sound design—particularly through more impactful audio effects for explosions—could significantly elevate the overall experience.
“The game creates a deeply immersive atmosphere that draws you in and makes you feel like you're part of a living, breathing world.”
“I love how the atmospheric sounds and visuals work together to create a sense of tension and excitement throughout the gameplay.”
“The attention to detail in the environment really enhances the atmosphere, making every location feel unique and alive.”
“I appreciate that you're aiming for a more biological atmosphere than a space shooter, but I think enhancing the sound effects—whether by boosting the bass or adding a more bombastic, 'standard explosion' effect to enemy deaths—would significantly improve the overall feel of the game.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
“In-game purchases are heavily pushed, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“The reliance on microtransactions detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
