Schism

  • December 11, 2023
98%
Game Brain Score Based on 64 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Schism Game Cover
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"Schism" is a top-down, action roguelike game where you navigate through a trash-filled world to find the missing Schismatic Engine and gain your freedom. The game features challenging RNG, pausing new rooms to avoid unfair placements, powerful bosses, and the ability to dodge colored bullets by matching their frequency. With 8 stats to invest in and 14 gods to appease, Schism offers endless replayability and depth.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 64 reviews
gameplay10 positive mentions
atmosphere2 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique blend of mechanics from various roguelikes, offering deep customization and build variety that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging.
  • The art style and music create a distinct atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, making it both quirky and enjoyable.
  • Despite being in early access, the game is already polished and shows promise for future updates, with a dedicated developer actively working on improvements.
  • The gameplay can feel chaotic and overwhelming, especially for new players, due to the complex mechanics and fast-paced action.
  • Some balancing issues exist, particularly with minion mechanics that can make the game feel less challenging as players progress.
  • The user interface can be intimidating at first, making it difficult for players to understand all the mechanics and options available.
  • gameplay27 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a fast-paced, chaotic experience that encourages experimentation with various mechanics, particularly the innovative color-switching system reminiscent of Ikaruga. While the depth and variety of builds are praised, some players find the hectic nature overwhelming, especially with the UI and certain mechanics that can detract from focus as the game progresses. Overall, the blend of systems creates an engaging roguelike experience, though balance issues and pacing concerns have been noted.

    • “The general vibes and atmosphere are truly something special, and there is a lot of depth to all the different systems and mechanics.”
    • “The highlight of the gameplay has to be how certain design choices push the player towards experimenting and trying new things, while never shoehorning the player into a specific path.”
    • “That might not sound so innovative on the surface, but then you realize that Schism has carefully and surgically taken the best parts of those beloved roguelikes such as Isaac and Nuclear Throne, and made sure that each and every mechanic present in this game works together, to create a beautiful mosaic of resource management and combat that leaves you itching for just one more run to see what happens.”
    • “If there's any complaint from me, it's that the gameplay is a little too chaotic.”
    • “Changing frequencies is next to pointless, and I'd actually prefer if it wasn't a mechanic.”
    • “The main drawbacks to Schism's gameplay would have to be its current balance and how certain mechanics impact the pace of progression later in the game.”
  • graphics15 mentions

    The game's graphics feature a unique and quirky art style that initially takes some time to appreciate but ultimately enhances the overall experience, drawing comparisons to classic DOS games and the aesthetics of titles like Undertale. Players praise the individuality of the visuals, which combine elements of trashcore and old internet art, creating a distinct and endearing atmosphere that complements the music. Overall, the art style is seen as a standout feature that sets the game apart in a crowded genre.

    • “The quirky art style and tone of some of the characters really gives off an Undertale-esque vibe that is both familiar and endearing.”
    • “While the music can be on the simpler side at times, it pairs with the visuals to form a very distinct aesthetic and overall vibe.”
    • “Although the visuals seem roughly drawn, I think they bring out the individuality well.”
    • “It does a handful of unique things on its own, most notably the graphical style that is reminiscent of those very old DOS games from eons ago, but one of the best qualities by far is how the game takes inspiration from other successful roguelikes to improve the overall experience.”
    • “Schism sets itself apart with a very distinct visual aesthetic inspired by trashcore and old internet MS Paint art.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game initially takes time to appreciate but ultimately becomes a perfect complement to the overall vibe, enhancing the experience significantly. While some players find it less memorable, the diverse range—from low-key electronic to frantic industrial beats—successfully pairs with the visuals to create a distinct aesthetic. Overall, the soundtrack evolves into an integral part of the game's identity.

    • “The music is a perfect complement to the game and the vibe.”
    • “Ps: the music wasn't my thing at first, but after like 40 hours playing the game, I basically couldn't imagine it with anything else in its place.”
    • “While the music can be on the simpler side at times, it pairs with the visuals to form a very distinct aesthetic and overall vibe.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its unique depth and variety, enhanced by a blend of humor and a lo-fi grungy aesthetic. Players appreciate the dynamic nature of runs and builds, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.

    • “The general vibes and atmosphere are truly something special, and there is a lot of depth to all the different systems and mechanics.”
    • “Runs get quite varied and builds can become pretty insane pretty quickly, and the humor mixed with the lo-fi grungy atmosphere makes for solid vibes.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report experiencing some glitches initially, but once they acclimate to the game mechanics, stability improves significantly, leading to an enjoyable experience.

    • “While I did run into some glitches here and there, once I got over the initial hurdle of dying a billion times and things clicked, the game got really fun.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its increasing difficulty system and provides good value for its early access price.

    • “This game features a repeated runs 'heat' difficulty increase system, providing a lot of replayability for its price and stage of early access.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more; each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
    • “With multiple paths and endings, every run offers a unique experience that encourages you to dive back in.”
    • “This game does seem to have a repeated runs 'heat' difficulty increase system, and there's a lot of replayability for the price and stage of early access.”
    • “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back and play again. The lack of meaningful choices and consequences really diminishes replayability.”
    • “While the game offers different characters to play, the core gameplay remains the same, making it feel repetitive after a few runs.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the unique sound design and the quirky, cartoonish aesthetic of the character designs, which evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of adult animation from networks like Adult Swim and MTV.

    • “I love how each character evolves throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
    • “The depth of the characters is incredible; their backstories and motivations are woven seamlessly into the gameplay.”
    • “The character development is so well done that I found myself emotionally invested in their growth and relationships.”
  • story1 mentions

    The game's storyline is praised for its engaging and whimsical elements, which complement the chaotic gameplay, despite the player's general aversion to bullet hell mechanics. The art and narrative contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it a standout feature.

    • “The only reason I'm pausing for a refund is that I'm not usually a fan of bullet hells, but the magnificent art and storyline I glimpsed in my few minutes of playtime really added to the chaos in a ferocious way.”
    • “The story is disjointed and fails to engage the player, leaving many plot points unresolved.”
    • “I found the narrative to be clichéd and predictable, lacking any real depth or originality.”
    • “The character development is shallow, making it hard to care about their fates throughout the game.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users have noted potential optimization issues, particularly regarding the lack of a cap on the number of minions, which may lead to performance problems.

    • “I assume it is a potential optimization issue or a lack of a cap on the number of minions you can have.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is well-received, complementing the varied gameplay and chaotic builds, while enhancing the overall lo-fi grungy atmosphere to create enjoyable vibes.

    • “The humor mixed with the lo-fi grungy atmosphere creates solid vibes.”
    • “The game features a variety of runs and builds that can become pretty insane quickly, all while keeping a humorous tone.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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