Rotten Flesh - Cosmic Horror Survival Game
- January 22, 2024
- Steelkrill Studio
- 2h median play time
"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."
Reviews
- The game effectively creates a terrifying atmosphere with its sound design and visuals, making it genuinely scary for players.
- The unique microphone mechanic adds an interesting layer to gameplay, allowing players to interact with the environment in a novel way.
- The PS1-style graphics and retro aesthetic are well-executed, appealing to fans of classic horror games.
- The game is short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to concerns about its value for the price.
- Many features advertised, such as a robust weapon system and puzzle-solving elements, are either underdeveloped or misleading, resulting in a lack of depth.
- Repetitive jump scares and a lack of meaningful enemy encounters diminish the overall horror experience, making it feel less engaging over time.
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being minimal and poorly developed, with players expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and coherence in the narrative. While some appreciate the terrifying atmosphere and the simple premise of searching for a lost dog in a cult-infested sewer, many feel that the story relies too heavily on vague notes and lacks meaningful context or engaging plot elements. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game would benefit significantly from a more fleshed-out storyline and additional narrative details.
“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 kill the monster. 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-related 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. Every person in this story that is a member of a cult doesn't seem really like cultists, and forget about secrets—there are none.”
“I expected much more story-wise from a cosmic horror game; this left me a bit disappointed.”
“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.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of PSX-style graphics and cosmic horror elements, creating an atmospheric experience with some interesting mechanics, such as a microphone feature. However, many players found the gameplay to be short (around 1-2 hours), simplistic, and lacking in depth, with predictable enemy encounters and minimal challenge. While the sound design and environment contribute to a tense atmosphere, the overall execution is seen as flawed and uninspired compared to other titles in the genre.
“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.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a nostalgic PS1-style aesthetic that effectively enhances its cosmic horror theme, with pixelated visuals and haunting creature designs that resonate with retro gaming fans. While some players noted minor graphical flaws, the overall art style and optimization received praise for creating an immersive and spooky atmosphere. The combination of retro graphics and sound design contributes to a compelling horror experience, appealing particularly to those who appreciate vintage gaming aesthetics.
“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.”
“The graphics are old style and pixelated, but in a good way, and I liked the overall art style.”
“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. 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.'”
“You cannot access the menu to change graphics or sounds.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and creepy elements, effectively building tension through sound design and environmental details. Players appreciate the developer's attention to creating a haunting ambiance that enhances the horror experience, although some note that the jump scares can become repetitive. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, 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.”
“That said, given the fun I had playing this game, the beautifully crafted atmosphere I found myself immersed in, I strongly recommend this little game to all horror lovers who are looking for a quick spooky experience.”
“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.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting no significant performance issues even on ultra settings. While some minor bugs were encountered, they did not detract from the overall experience, and players noted that the game runs smoothly without lag or frame rate drops.
“The optimization of the game is incredible, since you can put the graphics at their highest level without a great demand on your GPU.”
“The game is very well optimized, no lag or crash, and the most important thing is that it does not have a drop in FPS.”
“Overall solid game with no performance issues.”
“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.”
- music3 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. The combination of crisp, clear sounds and responsive controls enhances the overall experience, particularly in creating an engaging atmosphere with horror-themed music. Overall, it has received a solid rating of 4 out of 5 for its sound and music quality.
“The music, though, is the best part.”
“Controls are quick and responsive, with crisp and clear sounds. The game is fun to play with its horror music.”
“Sound and music: 4/5”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for being poor, with users reporting multiple wall glitches and an overall experience described as a "glitchy buggy mess."
“This game is a glitchy, buggy mess.”
“Multiple wall glitches.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users expressing that there is little to no incentive to play it again after the initial experience.
“I don't think there is any value in replayability.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % 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. Overall, the game's promotional elements, such as the advertised monster, do not seem to align with the actual gameplay mechanics.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the gameplay and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a fun experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be both amusing and occasionally frustrating, suggesting a blend of comedic elements that can elicit mixed reactions from players.
“I found it really funny and frustrating at the same time.”
“The humor in this game had me laughing out loud!”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious situations kept me entertained throughout.”