Rotten Flesh - Cosmic Horror Survival Game
- January 22, 2024
- Steelkrill Studio
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Rotten Flesh is a cosmic horror survival game where you must find your lost dog, Roy, by calling out for him on your microphone as you explore the disturbing and potentially frightening sewers. Be cautious, as your calls may also attract unwanted attention from non-human entities."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique microphone mechanic that adds an interesting layer to the gameplay, allowing players to interact with their environment in a novel way.
- The PSX-style graphics and sound design effectively create a haunting atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
- Despite its flaws, many players found the game enjoyable for a quick horror experience, with some effective jump scares and a fun premise.
- The game is criticized for being too short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to a perception of poor value for the price.
- There are numerous gameplay issues, including a lack of meaningful puzzles, a useless weapon system, and bugs that hinder progress, such as being unable to pick up items.
- The reliance on cheap jump scares and a thin storyline left many players disappointed, feeling that the game did not deliver on its horror promises.
- story40 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being minimal and poorly developed, primarily consisting of vague notes and a simple premise of searching for a lost dog in cult-occupied sewers. Many players express disappointment over the lack of depth and coherence, feeling that the narrative fails to engage or provide meaningful context to the game's universe. While some appreciate the ending and the overall execution, they agree that the story feels rushed and could benefit from additional detail and complexity.
“Terrifying story: venture into the terrifying and disturbing sewers and tunnels that were supposedly occupied by a leading cult.”
“I liked the ending, but I think this game would be way better if there were a few endings, like an ending where you find a secret powerful hunting rifle and you kill the monster or something like that. It seems this game has been pretty rushed in terms of the story and the ending.”
“Story was pretty simple: you lost your dog and go to the sewers to find him, but you encounter some cult elements.”
“The story is fairly non-existent and it's a shame because I would want to see something about this game's universe. The only story we have is a few notes and scribblings on walls which don't make any sense. The notes themselves are more like a YouTube apology script than actual notes, and every person in this story that is a member of a cult doesn't seem like a cultist at all. Oh, and forget about secrets; there are none.”
“Unfortunately, this is a half-baked, uninspired romp in a sewer level laden with the same tired gameplay and story that we've seen a million times before, and done way better by others.”
“Whatever story scraps can be found in this game are the most cookie-cutter basic stuff you could imagine.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of PSX-style graphics and cosmic horror elements, creating an atmospheric experience with simple mechanics focused on exploration and evasion. However, many players found the AI lacking, the jump scares cheap, and the overall gameplay length disappointing, averaging around two hours. While the microphone mechanic adds a unique touch, it is deemed unnecessary, and the game is criticized for its predictable design and lack of innovation in gameplay.
“With hints that are direct and to the point, there's no need to unravel complicated clues, allowing for a smoother gameplay experience.”
“I've played for a bit now, the game is pretty atmospheric and has interesting mechanics.”
“Not without some minor graphical/mechanical flaws, but the overall experience was a fast-paced spookfest with intermittent pauses to soak up the environment.”
“Definitely doesn't live up to what I thought it would be by a long shot; was hoping for a longish game with an actually scary monster but instead got a crappy AI, cheap jumpscares, and about 2 hours of gameplay.”
“Unfortunately this is a half-baked, uninspired romp in a sewer level laden with the same tired gameplay and story that we've seen a million times before, and done way better by others.”
“I finished it in about an hour and I think the price is a little high for this amount of gameplay.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game features a nostalgic PS1-style graphics aesthetic that effectively enhances its cosmic horror theme, creating a haunting atmosphere filled with creepy animations. While some players noted minor graphical and mechanical flaws, the overall retro art style and optimization received praise, making it accessible without heavy GPU demands. Fans of pixel graphics and retro horror will likely appreciate the game's visuals, which contribute to an immersive and spooky experience.
“The game's visuals and sound design work seamlessly to create a haunting environment that perfectly complements the cosmic horror theme.”
“Graphics are old style and pixelated but in a good way, and I liked the overall art style.”
“The optimization of the game is also incredible, since you can put the graphics at their highest level without a great demand from your GPU.”
“You cannot access the menu to change graphics or sounds.”
“If anything having something creepy scurry in the corner of your eye like a floating ghoul woman, a man crawling on all fours, or a hand holding the wall that retracts back when you get close is cool, but it's static and since this isn't a movie I know it's just a passive little animation that is there simply for the aesthetic of 'ooo something spooky.'”
“Not without some minor graphical/mechanical flaws, but the overall experience was a fast-paced spookfest with intermittent pauses to soak up the environment.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and creepy elements, particularly in the sewers, where audio cues and environmental details effectively build tension and fear. Reviewers note the developer's attention to detail in crafting a genuinely scary experience, although some mention that the jump scares can become repetitive. Overall, the atmosphere significantly enhances the gameplay, making it a strong recommendation for horror enthusiasts.
“I liked the atmosphere of the sewers and all the creepy nuances of voices and random creaks; it really captured the tension for me once you were introduced to the monster.”
“This game really nails the atmosphere; it's actually scary, from audio cues to effects on screens after a jump scare.”
“You can tell that the developer put some care into building the atmosphere, and it shows throughout.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, allowing players to run it on ultra settings without significant GPU demand or performance issues. While some users reported minor bugs, such as saving problems and inconsistencies in gameplay, these did not detract from the overall solid performance, with no lag or frame rate drops experienced.
“The optimization of the game is incredible, since you can put the graphics at their highest level without a great demand from your GPU.”
“The game is very well optimized, no lag or crashes, and the most important thing is that it does not have a drop in FPS.”
“Overall solid game with no performance issues; just need more background story context, I think, to make it much better.”
“Overall solid game with no performance issues. Just need more background story context, I think, to make it much better.”
“The jump scare moments in this game were really intense, almost scared the hell out of me. During my playtime, I didn't experience any major performance issues.”
- music6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many users highlighting it as the standout feature, particularly enjoying the horror-themed tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. The sound quality is described as crisp and clear, contributing to the overall fun and immersive atmosphere.
“The music though, that’s the best part.”
“Controls are quick and responsive, crisp and clear sounds, game is fun playing with horror music.”
“[h3]Sound and music (4/5):[/h3]”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its poor stability, with users reporting multiple wall glitches and describing it as a "glitchy buggy mess."
“This game is a glitchy, buggy mess.”
“Multiple wall glitches.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with multiple users expressing that they find no value in replaying it.
“I don't think there is any value in replayability.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game appears to be minimal, as players feel that the shouting mechanic, which could potentially enhance gameplay, is largely ineffective and does not significantly impact their experience. Many users noted that once the map is discovered, the game's challenges diminish, making the advertised features feel less relevant.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be both amusing and occasionally frustrating, creating a mixed experience for players.
“I found it really funny and frustrating at the same time.”
