Scavenger SV-4

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 468 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • atmosphere
Scavenger SV-4 Game Cover
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"Scavenger SV-4" is a first-person science fiction game where you explore a radioactive alien planet through a remote-controlled rover. Collect samples, research them, and enhance your rover to uncover the mysteries of the planet. Each playthrough offers a new planet and story, providing high replayability.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 468 reviews
gameplay34 positive mentions
optimization4 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay that combines exploration, resource management, and a sense of isolation.
  • Atmospheric design that effectively creates tension and immersion.
  • High replayability due to procedurally generated maps and different character backstories.
  • Short playtime per run, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • The radiation mechanic can feel frustrating and limits exploration.
  • Graphics and performance issues may detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay127 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a unique and engaging core loop that involves exploring alien planets, managing a rover, and dealing with a time-sensitive radiation mechanic that adds tension to the experience. While the mechanics are generally well-received for their depth and complexity, some players find the gameplay repetitive over time, and the radiation limit can be frustrating. Overall, the game offers a compelling atmosphere and replayability, making it a worthwhile experience despite its flaws.

    • “The gameplay loop is simple, but intensely entertaining, and I'm so addicted to it that I think the [redacted] is still in my cargo hold.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is basically just weighing your options between continuing to scavenge for more valuable materials to get a better score and not leaving enough time for the radiation to kill you.”
    • “The attention to detail is fantastic and provides excellent immersion, the gameplay is fun and intriguing, the learning curve feels just right and the sheer depth is mind-boggling - especially if you consider that the game was made by a single developer.”
    • “The execution is bad, primarily because of the extremely frustrating timer mechanic.”
    • “Love the concept, love the attention to detail, the gameplay and how grounded everything feels; with one exception: the gameplay loop itself: you can only play each expedition for so long until you hit a certain radiation level, then you either die or have to end the expedition, effectively ending the game as well.”
    • “There's ways to prolong the radiation timer by going to the autodoc all the time but it's not only a tedious mechanic, it still doesn't give you enough time to get into the exploration part.”
  • story79 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by a procedurally generated narrative that changes with each playthrough, allowing players to experience unique backstories and outcomes based on their actions. While some players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and the micro-stories discovered through exploration, others feel that the overall narrative is lacking depth and cohesion, often wishing for a more structured storyline. The game excels in creating a sense of mystery and urgency, but it may not satisfy those seeking a comprehensive or linear plot.

    • “The setting and story are very engaging and immersive.”
    • “You start out every run with a completely new story, as a completely different person looking for riches on this highly radioactive planet, fighting the time and aliens.”
    • “Every playthrough is a different self-contained story.”
    • “There's little to no story, sadly.”
    • “What I am missing is a story.”
    • “If you want a deep storyline that you'll spend days exploring, this is not the game for you.”
  • atmosphere68 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unique qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and solitude that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the attention to detail, sound design, and the eerie, sometimes anxiety-inducing environment that draws them into the experience. Overall, the game is recognized as a standout example of atmospheric design, combining elements of exploration and survival in a compelling way.

    • “Great game, achieves a lot of atmosphere and immersion with very little.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, and all the gameplay elements and ship controls are complex yet intuitive, not overwhelming.”
    • “Unique, atmospheric and compelling!”
    • “This is a spartan-looking game with a mostly barren soundscape, no doubt intentionally reminiscent of id tech 4/doom 3/quake 4 and the eerie atmosphere that engine, and its games, were partly so well-known for.”
    • “Watching your drone - this utilitarian, ugly little machine upon which you imprint a nebulous sense of companionship - silently sail through the vacuum of space towards the mysterious planet and become a black speck that quickly disappears into the atmosphere leaves you feeling alone and horribly vulnerable every time.”
    • “While the graphics are outdated, I find they pull me into an atmosphere that would be more diminished without old graphics.”
  • graphics52 mentions

    The graphics of Scavenger sv-4 are characterized by a nostalgic, retro aesthetic reminiscent of late '90s titles like System Shock 2 and Doom 3, which some players find charming and immersive. While the visuals are not cutting-edge and can suffer from performance issues, they effectively contribute to the game's atmosphere, creating a haunting yet engaging experience. Overall, the graphics are functional and suit the game's style, though they may not appeal to those seeking modern visuals.

    • “The art style is just wonderful.”
    • “I love the art style; it suits the game well.”
    • “The graphics are retro, a bit like System Shock 2 or others in that genre.”
    • “The graphics are bad; the game is remote controlling a drone on a static-filled screen.”
    • “The quality of graphics is 90s style, but I think this is intentional; however, the optimization leaves a lot to ponder about, as the game drops in FPS often, I'm sure due to some background RNG or procedural generation.”
    • “The graphics are a bit dated-looking -- this won't ever be visually confused for Elite: Dangerous or Star Citizen.”
  • replayability39 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players noting an engaging gameplay loop and unique concepts that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviews mention that the game can feel repetitive or short, the randomization and immersive elements contribute to its replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking quick, engaging runs. However, a few players express that after a couple of playthroughs, the motivation to replay may diminish.

    • “High replay value and is super intriguing.”
    • “The gameplay structure lends itself to replayability, with organic curiosity and room for stat improvements being the main incentives to keep tinkering away, encouraging you to slowly uncover the mystery of this planet and its inhabitants.”
    • “Overall, this is a very enjoyable and highly replayable game, where the challenge is not 'can I make it to the end?', but instead 'how much can I do before the point of diminishing returns?'.”
    • “But after you play it once or twice, I’m not sure there is much replayability.”
    • “It says it's 'replayable' and I may give that a shot, but in less than two hours I already got a pretty good ending despite inevitable and omnipresent radiation, so I'm not particularly motivated to do it over again right now, especially when other reviews note that the only way to avoid the radiation is repetition.”
    • “The replayability is limited.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game is minimal, featuring only a single looping track in the bunk room and a limited selection onboard, which some players find underwhelming. While the absence of a robust soundtrack enhances the feeling of isolation, many recommend playing without the in-game music and opting for external tracks to enrich the experience. Overall, the sound design leans more towards ambient noises, contributing to the game's tense atmosphere.

    • “I love games like this, and this just really hits my sweet spot in the stranded/isolated genre. The music player adds to the tension, especially when it suddenly stops, creating a sense of unease that enhances the experience.”
    • “I suggest playing without music and taking a moment to watch outside of the main deck window, seeing the silent and unforgiving planet slowly rotating around its axis, accompanied only by the beeps and buzzes of the research lab.”
    • “Music: there is a loop that plays in the bunk, providing pleasant background atmospheric music that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “There's no ambient soundtrack, just the ticking, whirring, and buzzing of your ship doing what you tell it to do.”
    • “It's supposed to be a simulation-esque game but the lack of music is a little off-putting.”
    • “The main menu has music playing and onboard you can turn on music (only 1 continuous song) but that's about it.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly related to borderless fullscreen mode, which can cause stuttering. While some users report that switching to standard fullscreen improves frame rates, others note that even high-end systems struggle to maintain smooth performance, especially during specific scenarios. Overall, while the game has potential, it requires further optimization and polishing to enhance the user experience.

    • “I love the game also for its performance!”
    • “But it turns out, it runs smoothly!”
    • “There are some performance issues due to the way the developer wanted the game to work, so you may have to lower one or two graphic settings to keep the game ultra smooth in all scenarios even on a high-end PC, but overall the game runs great and I haven't run into any significant bugs.”
    • “Good lord, the optimization is bad.”
    • “Unfortunately, the experience is burdened by abysmal performance.”
    • “The performance of this game is absolutely awful for what it is.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and absurd elements, such as collecting amusing alien artifacts and unexpected situations like cumulative radiation damage leading to comical scenarios. Players find the humor to be effective and engaging, contributing to an immersive experience.

    • “Instead, it takes you out to a nice immersive sim dinner and asks you to collect funny alien artifacts off the ground.”
    • “It's funny though when the first time I didn't realize there was cumulative radiation damage over time to your character, so I went to take a shower.”
    • “Hilarious”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal significant bugs. However, some users have experienced unstable framerates, occasional lighting and shadow glitches, and a few crashes, suggesting that adjustments to graphic settings may be necessary for optimal performance. The developer's active involvement gives hope for future improvements to address these issues.

    • “The game runs great overall, and I haven't encountered any significant bugs, although some performance issues may arise depending on the graphic settings you choose.”
    • “Even on a high-end PC, you might need to lower one or two graphic settings to maintain ultra-smooth performance in all scenarios.”
    • “Despite some minor performance issues, the stability of the game is commendable, allowing for an enjoyable experience.”
    • “The framerate is often unstable, and you'll probably see some lighting and shadow glitches here and there. It has also crashed on me a couple of times.”
    • “Although it is a little buggy, the dev is very involved, so I expect the bugs will be ironed out before long.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding mechanics in the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive tasks like medical checkups. However, just as the grind becomes monotonous, the game introduces surprising elements that can reinvigorate the experience, though the need for constant back-and-forth can still detract from exploration.

    • “The mechanics become tedious after a few runs, like having to do medical checkups over and over again.”
    • “There are ways to prolong the radiation timer by going to the autodoc frequently, but it's not only a tedious mechanic; it still doesn't give you enough time to enjoy the exploration part.”
    • “This also diminishes the amount of tedious back-and-forth running.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in this game is limited, as it is a rogue-like that doesn't provide the depth or immersion some players desire. While it may appeal to a niche audience, it lacks the extensive character progression and economies that many modern gamers prefer. Despite these shortcomings, some players still find the game engaging.

    • “The character development in this game is surprisingly engaging for a rogue-like, offering players a unique experience that keeps them invested.”
    • “Even though the game is niche, the character development elements present are intriguing and add depth to the overall gameplay.”
    • “I found the character development to be a standout feature, providing a sense of growth and progression that enhances the gaming experience.”
    • “I love character development and exploration, and this, sadly, doesn't allow you to immerse yourself long enough to fulfill that urge.”
    • “It's missing almost everything I like in games nowadays, like economies and character development, but even without all that, I'm still hooked.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized as surreal and complex, evoking a deep and multifaceted emotional response from players.

    • “Both emotionally and literally.”
    • “Surreal, complicated, and emotional in many ways.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Players appreciate the time-limited nature of the game, which creates a sense of urgency and accomplishment that enhances the overall experience compared to open-ended games.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
3-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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