Schism
- December 11, 2023
- Fami
Get on Steam"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.
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of roguelite and bullet hell mechanics, offering a variety of fun and quirky weapons that enhance gameplay.
- The art style and music create a memorable atmosphere, with each NPC and item having distinct personality and charm.
- The deep customization options and leveling system allow for diverse builds and strategies, making each run feel fresh and engaging.
- The game's UI can be overwhelming and confusing for new players, lacking clear explanations for its many mechanics.
- Some balancing issues exist, particularly with certain weapons and mechanics that can make the game feel easier than intended.
- As an early access title, the game is still in development and may have bugs or incomplete features that affect the overall experience.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this roguelite is characterized by its engaging mechanics, particularly the innovative color-switching system that grants immunity to specific attacks, reminiscent of classic bullet hell games. Players appreciate the freedom to experiment with diverse builds and the seamless integration of various mechanics, which encourages creativity without forcing a specific playstyle. However, some reviewers note that as players progress, the complexity of mechanics can overshadow the core color mechanic, potentially impacting the overall balance and pacing of the game.
“Fun game with lots of character, interesting mechanics, and crazy builds.”
“The ikaruga-esque color switching mechanic is brilliant, and I'm surprised I haven't seen something like it implemented in more of these top-down shooter roguelikes.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Adding onto this, I feel like the Schismatic engine itself is a mechanic that is so close to genius, but is held back by how progression works in the game.”
“As you get stronger with passive effects such as armor, life steal, passive damage, chance-on-hit effects, etc., you start to pay less attention to your engine polarity/color, as each individual interaction has less weight due to the breadth of mechanics on display.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative 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 aesthetic 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 graphics are seen as a standout aspect that contributes to the game's charm and creativity.
“The quirky art style and tone of some of the characters really gives off an Undertale-esque vibe that is both familiar and endearing.”
“Schism sets itself apart with a very distinct visual aesthetic inspired by trashcore and old internet MS Paint art.”
“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 is a really solid roguelite twin-stick shooter in the same vein as Binding of Isaac, Nuclear Throne, Enter the Gungeon, etc. in a genre that can seem very saturated with household names; I think Schism sets itself apart with a very distinct visual aesthetic inspired by trashcore and old internet MS Paint art.”
- music7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative 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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report encountering some glitches initially, but once they acclimate to the game mechanics, they find the experience enjoyable and stable.
“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
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its increasing difficulty system and the value it provides for its early access price. Players can expect to engage in multiple runs, enhancing the overall experience.
“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, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple paths and endings, this game offers endless replayability, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
“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.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative 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 MTV and Adult Swim.
“The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully throughout the game.”
“I love how the characters evolve based on the choices I make, making every decision feel impactful and personal.”
“The depth of the characters is impressive; their growth and interactions create a truly immersive experience.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's storyline is praised for its engaging and whimsical elements, complemented by impressive art, which enhances the overall chaotic experience, even for players who may not typically enjoy the bullet hell genre.
“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 feels disjointed and lacks any real depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the plot to be predictable and uninspired, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any emotional connection, leaving the narrative feeling flat.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a lo-fi, grungy aesthetic that complements the varied gameplay and humorous elements, creating an engaging and enjoyable experience.
“The humor mixed with the lo-fi grungy atmosphere creates solid vibes.”
“The atmosphere is immersive and keeps you engaged throughout the gameplay.”
“Each environment feels unique, contributing to a rich and captivating atmosphere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative 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 varied runs and insane builds are complemented by a great sense of humor.”
