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 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 and the monster in a novel way.
- Despite its short length, the game offers an engaging experience with effective jump scares and a nostalgic retro aesthetic.
- The game is plagued by repetitive and poorly executed jump scares, which can detract from the overall horror experience.
- Many features advertised, such as a robust weapon system and puzzle-solving elements, are underdeveloped or misleading, leading to disappointment.
- The gameplay is short and may not justify the price, with some players reporting issues with bugs and glitches that hinder the experience.
- gameplay25 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of PSX-style graphics and cosmic horror elements, offering an atmospheric experience with engaging exploration and puzzles. However, it suffers from a lack of depth in mechanics, particularly the voice activation feature, which feels underutilized and doesn't significantly impact gameplay. While the game provides a fast-paced, stress-inducing experience, many players find its short length and reliance on familiar tropes disappointing, leading to mixed reviews overall.
“I like the mechanics of the voice activation; it makes it definitely more challenging (especially if you are a streamer).”
“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.”
“A genuinely fun map to explore and neat little puzzles to solve held back by an underbaked 'yell for your dog' mechanic that doesn't go anywhere too interesting and laughably bad jumpscares.”
“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.”
- story21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a simplistic quest to find a lost dog named Roy in a terrifying setting filled with cult elements, but many players find the narrative lacking depth and coherence. While some appreciate the atmosphere and execution, the overall consensus is that the story is thin, poorly developed, and relies on clichéd tropes, leaving players wanting more context and detail. Despite its potential, the narrative feels rushed and underwhelming, with minimal engagement from the scattered notes and hints available throughout the game.
“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.”
“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. Every person in this story that is a member of a cult doesn't seem really like cultists, and oh, 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.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a nostalgic PS1-style aesthetic that effectively enhances its cosmic horror theme, creating an atmospheric experience that resonates with retro enthusiasts. While some players noted minor graphical flaws, the overall art style and sound design contribute to a haunting environment that captivates and spooks. The pixelated visuals are well-received, with many appreciating the game's optimization and the way it immerses players in its eerie setting.
“The game's visuals and sound design work seamlessly to create a haunting environment that perfectly complements the cosmic horror theme.”
“Loved the theme and the aesthetic as well.”
“Graphics are old style and pixelated but in a good way, and I liked the overall art style.”
“Block style graphics but very atmospheric, and if you play this the right way with headphones on, you're going to get jumpscared hard.”
“The graphics have that crusty PSX style, combining PSX gameplay with cosmic horror that will leave players with their hair standing on end.”
“Graphics are old style and pixelated, but in a good way, and I liked the overall art style.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive sound design and visuals, effectively creating tension and fear, especially when experienced with headphones. Players appreciate the attention to detail in environments like the sewers, which enhance the overall creepy ambiance, although some note that the jump scares can become repetitive. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a recommended experience for horror enthusiasts.
“The sound design, visuals, and atmosphere are spot on.”
“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.”
- 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.”
- music4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with players noting its quality and effectiveness in enhancing the overall experience, particularly in creating a fun yet eerie atmosphere. The sound is described as crisp and clear, contributing positively to the gameplay. Overall, it receives a solid rating of 4 out of 5.
“The music, though, that’s 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”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the absurdity of elements like the "gun for rats," which elicits both laughter and frustration from players, showcasing a blend of comedic and challenging moments.
“The gun for rats was just hilarious.”
“I found it really funny and frustrating at the same time.”
- 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 buggy experience.
“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 find the shouting mechanic largely ineffective and feel that it does not significantly impact gameplay or the experience of encountering the advertised monster. Overall, it seems that the monetization strategies do not enhance the game's core mechanics or player engagement.
“The monetization in this game feels excessive and intrusive, making it hard to enjoy the experience without constantly being bombarded by ads and prompts to spend money.”
“I was really disappointed by the pay-to-win elements. It feels like you can't progress without shelling out real cash, which ruins the balance of the game.”
“The in-game purchases are overpriced and offer minimal value. It feels like the developers are more interested in making money than providing a fair gaming experience.”
