S2ENGINE HD
- April 8, 2016
- Profenix Studio SRLS
S2Engine HD is a 3D game engine designed for creating and playing video games. It features a dynamic lighting system, advanced physics, and support for high-definition graphics. Users can create and customize their own game worlds, characters, and rules using the engine's powerful tools and scripting language. The engine supports multiplayer gaming and includes a variety of pre-built assets and examples to help users get started.
Reviews
- S2Engine HD offers impressive graphics and visual capabilities, making it suitable for indie developers looking to create visually stunning games.
- The engine has a simple and efficient interface, which can be easy to learn for beginners, especially with the available tutorials and community support.
- The developer is actively working on updates and improvements, showing dedication to enhancing the engine's functionality and user experience.
- The engine is plagued by frequent crashes and stability issues, making it frustrating to use and hindering the development process.
- Documentation and tutorials are lacking, which can make it difficult for new users to learn how to effectively use the engine and troubleshoot problems.
- Performance issues, particularly with frame rates, have been reported, even on capable hardware, limiting the engine's usability for more complex projects.
- graphics31 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the engine are generally praised for their stunning quality and impressive visuals, often compared to AAA titles, making it a strong choice for indie game development. However, some users report issues such as graphical artifacts, performance problems on lower-end hardware, and a messy user interface that can hinder the overall experience. While many appreciate the ease of use and the potential for beautiful environments, there are calls for improvements and updates to enhance graphical fidelity further.
“The graphics are gorgeous, and I can import photogrammetry assets since I don't know how to model, and using 3D capture animations since I don't know how to animate.”
“The visuals are absolutely stunning, much better than most of the others.”
“This engine has incredible AAA graphics, better than many engines in the market.”
“Graphical quality: 5/10 (tiny skeleton of free assets and only 2 bipeds, plus FPS arms, about 2014-16 quality)”
“But between the crashes, the strangely murky look to the visuals (everything looked like it was constantly in a fog in every demo), and things like shadows and reflections popping when I moved, it was time to request a refund.”
“On the negative side, there seem to be some strange graphic artifacts in the real-time renderer, but I've still got to play with the tons and tons of settings made available to see if any tweaks improve it.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the software has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant performance issues, particularly due to its 32-bit architecture, which limits memory usage and affects larger game development. While there have been improvements noted by some users, others still find the performance inadequate for their needs, leading to refunds. Overall, the optimization appears to be a major concern, especially for those looking to create more complex games.
“The performance and features have greatly improved.”
“Great performance on my rig; I have run into some small minor issues, but nothing that completely stops me from using the software.”
“If and when the software goes 64-bit and boosts its performance up to realistic levels for game making, I may think about repurchasing, but for now, I'm not risking going over the 2-hour limit for this product.”
“Maybe the developer could shed light on why there's such poor performance when the minimum requirements are:”
“Well, I for one was looking forward to this software. The screenshots look amazing, the price was good, but sadly the performance in FPS and the fact it's a 32-bit software have disappointed me greatly.”
“Sadly, I'm going to ask for a refund as I see no way to make a larger game with this engine at its current performance capabilities. The fact it's not 64-bit and only 32-bit is also a problem due to the memory limit of 32-bit software on 64-bit machines, meaning the software will run into memory limit issues when being used on game levels bigger and more full of models than the demo scene at some point.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for being highly buggy and prone to frequent crashes, with users expressing frustration over its performance. However, there are ongoing updates aimed at addressing these issues and introducing new features.
“A dead engine that is buggy as hell and looks like it won't be fixed.”
“I purchased this once before and found it to be buggy; it crashed a lot!”
“While it's quite buggy currently, there are steady updates adding fixes and unique features.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay experience with the s2 engine is mixed; while it offers strong mechanics for beginners and aspiring professionals, users report significant issues such as missing scripts, corrupted data, and frequent crashes, particularly when running on gaming computers. Despite these frustrations, many find it a worthwhile investment during sales, especially compared to other engines like Unity and Unreal, due to its potential for creativity and ease of use once the technical hurdles are overcome.
“While the S2 engine is a good starter to make games, it has some very good mechanics to start anyone off to the complete professional level. When there's a sale, it's definitely the time to buy this game. It's a fun engine.”
“I have tried them all and wasted a lot of money on various game engines, but the S2 engine has been a dream. It allows people with a vision to recreate their ideas without getting bogged down by overly complicated mechanics.”
“The endless loss of files or corrupt files, along with the constant need for reinstalling, makes the gameplay experience frustrating and tedious.”
“The complexity of the gameplay is overwhelming; it feels like the developers enjoy making it overly complicated instead of focusing on user experience.”
“For those who just want to recreate their vision, the steep learning curve and mechanics of the gameplay can be a significant barrier.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is praised for its smooth integration and effective use of assets, allowing players to easily add their own narratives. Many users have echoed similar sentiments in forums and on YouTube, highlighting the engine's user-friendly design and the benefit of a one-time payment.
“The story flows smoothly, with great assets that enhance the narrative and allow you to add your own personal touch.”
“There are many comments in the forums and on YouTube sharing the same story, highlighting the community's engagement with the narrative.”
“One really good thing about this engine is that you will only pay once, making it accessible for everyone to experience the story.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received poor reviews, with users rating it 2 out of 10, citing a limited selection and only mediocre quality.
“The sound and music are lackluster, scoring only a 2 out of 10 due to a limited selection of mediocre quality tracks.”
“The music feels repetitive and uninspired, failing to enhance the overall experience of the game.”
“There is a noticeable absence of variety in the soundtrack, making it difficult to stay engaged during gameplay.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy heavily relies on advertisements, which users find overwhelming and intrusive.
“The game is flooded with ads, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“It feels like the developers prioritize monetization over gameplay quality.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the overall enjoyment.”