Secret Santa
- December 1, 2016
- Daniel Jonathan Bourke
Get on SteamIn "Secret Santa," players take on the role of a mall Santa trying to deliver gifts while avoiding nosy elves and grumpy customers. The game features a variety of challenging levels and a charming holiday atmosphere. Use stealth and speed to complete your deliveries and bring joy to all the children on your list.
Reviews
- The game is fun, enjoyable, and has a lot of charm, making it a great choice for festive gaming.
- Challenging level design combines stealth, strategy, and puzzle elements, keeping players engaged throughout.
- The pixel art style and humorous premise, including the unique gameplay mechanics, add to the overall appeal.
- The game is relatively short, with some players completing it in about 1.5 to 2 hours, which may not justify the price for some.
- Hit detection can be harsh and inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments when players are caught unexpectedly.
- Limited control options and lack of customization can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Gameplay experiences vary significantly, with some players finding it repetitive and lacking depth after completing initial challenges. The easy and medium levels serve as effective tutorials for new mechanics, but issues like clumsy hitboxes detract from the overall experience. Additionally, gameplay styles differ between titles, with one focusing on special items in a single location and the other emphasizing quick, individual objectives across multiple houses.
“In a way, the easy and medium levels act as organic tutorials, introducing new mechanics and traps.”
“Gameplay is quite different between the titles, with MGS having and using special items in a single house while SS features individual houses with the idea 'get in, do the thing, get out'.”
“I beat one list and got bored; there's really nothing that offers to the gameplay.”
“As for gameplay, my only qualm is the clumsy, unreliable hitboxes.”
“Gameplay is quite different between the titles, with MGS having and using special items in a single house while SS has individual houses with the idea 'get in, do the thing, get out.'”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing premise of players attempting to kill Santa, with clever level designs based on "nice" and "naughty" lists that add to the comedic experience. While the execution is described as moderate, the concept and details contribute to a fun and entertaining atmosphere.
“I found it hilarious that everyone is trying to kill Santa.”
“Briefly: an arcade stealth-puzzle, 'Secret Santa' is a short but fun game with a hilarious idea and moderate execution.”
“As a funny detail, the levels are based on children on 'nice lists' and 'naughty lists'. Nice people's houses are (quite logically) the easy levels, and the naughtier they get, the more traps and guards there are.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a pleasant soundtrack primarily composed of remixed Christmas tunes, which, while not particularly elaborate, effectively enhances the overall experience. Users generally find it enjoyable and fitting for the game's theme.
“Very good soundtrack.”
“A pleasant soundtrack; it's not fancy, but it works.”
“A word on the music: I'm sure you are not surprised that it's a bunch of remixed Christmas tunes.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their impressive blend of styles, particularly highlighting the appealing pixel art that enhances the overall visual experience.
“The game is certainly a good mixture of both, plus the pixel art style is awesome as well.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story of the game is perceived as less complex and engaging compared to titles like Metal Gear Solid, with reviewers noting it leans more towards a casual arcade stealth experience rather than a deep, puzzle-driven narrative.
“Having checked some videos of that game, they share the idea, but Metal Gear Solid is a full-blown puzzle game with a story, while this is more like a casual arcade stealth game.”
