Selaco

About

Selaco is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Altered Orbit Studios and was released on May 31, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Selaco is a single-player action game with excellent mechanics and a lengthy story-driven campaign. Inspired by classics like F.E.A.R. and Half-Life, it offers thrilling action, destructibility, smart AI, and a fleshed-out story in an immersive game world. As Dawn, an ACE Security Captain, uncover the truth about Selaco's dark past while fighting off invaders in this underground refuge."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,664 reviews

gameplay242 positive mentions

monetization31 negative mentions

Incredible gunplay and satisfying combat mechanics that keep players engaged.
Highly detailed environments with a lot of interactivity and secrets to discover.
Smart enemy AI that adapts to player tactics, making encounters feel dynamic and challenging.

Some players may find the level design confusing and difficult to navigate, leading to aimless wandering.
The story is currently minimal and mostly conveyed through datalogs, which may not engage all players.
Certain weapons may feel underpowered or redundant without upgrades, impacting the overall combat experience.

gameplay
677 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The gameplay of Selaco has been widely praised for its polished mechanics, engaging combat, and intricate level design, offering a blend of retro and modern FPS elements reminiscent of classics like Doom and F.E.A.R. Players appreciate the tactical depth provided by features such as the invasion tier system, which adapts enemy strength to player progress, and the satisfying movement mechanics, including a unique slide feature. However, some users noted issues with navigation and clarity in objectives, which can detract from the overall experience, suggesting that while the gameplay is strong, improvements in guidance and pacing could enhance it further.
- “The shooter mechanics have been polished to an extreme degree of quality, and the game feel is cutting edge.”
- “Selaco takes the cake because its gameplay is definitely the most engaging.”
- “The gameplay is seriously phenomenal.”
- “I found a lot of difficulty in figuring out where to go and it slowed gameplay way down; I didn't enjoy being devoid of a weapon to begin with and it left me double-checking previously checked locations to see if I'd somehow missed a way to progress.”
- “However, I think this game suffers due to its exploration and puzzle gameplay which are interjected between the incredibly intense and focused set piece battles against the well-designed and varied enemies that you face.”
- “I'd boil it down to one thing: the signposting is dreadful, and in almost 8 hours of gameplay experimenting with different difficulty levels, I've spent easily 3/4 of that time backtracking looking for hidden objectives.”
story
583 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The story in the game is currently considered sparse and primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and scattered datapads, which some players find engaging while others feel it lacks depth and clarity. Many reviewers express anticipation for future updates that promise to expand the narrative and improve character development, particularly for the protagonist, Dawn. Overall, while the foundation for an intriguing story exists, it remains underdeveloped in the early access version, leading to mixed feelings about its current execution.
- “For an early access title, this is already a fully-fledged 8-hour-long campaign with myriad snippets of lore and environmental storytelling, all serving to punctuate a variety of intense close-quarters battles.”
- “Player gets enough environmental storytelling and written breadcrumbs to not only figure things on their own but also really care about this place and protecting it from alien harm.”
- “The story is interesting so far in chapter 1 and would like to learn more about what's going on and how it relates to Dawn, but at the moment it's hard to piece things together.”
- “The story is rather barebones.”
- “The only thing that seems absent or undercooked is the story – the only info player about Selaco is through datapad entries and the main story seems to be barebones.”
- “The story itself is not fully implemented yet, both due to missing chapters but also missing large swaths of voice-over for the main character, so I'll avoid going into it too much.”
music
562 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and atmospheric qualities that enhance both combat and exploration. The soundtrack, crafted by Lawrence Steele, features a mix of mellow and driving tracks that effectively complement the game's intense action and immersive environments. Overall, players find the music to be a standout aspect, often describing it as "banging," "stellar," and deserving of a dedicated release.
- “Selaco’s audio design somehow outdoes its visuals, with expressive enemies, bombastic weapons, near-tangible environmental sounds, and a stellar drum-and-bass soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack was wonderfully tailored to the vibes the devs wanted to capture during various sections of the game.”
- “The music takes it to another level, however, with a fantastic and highly evocative OST.”
- “You will probably get sick of the music pretty fast.”
- “Hard to find your way, mediocre soundtrack, doom-like game, I thought this was like Half-Life but got disappointed.”
- “The soundtrack is ok, nothing glaring - nothing that stands out.”
graphics
527 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
54%
1%
The graphics of "Selaco" have received mixed reviews, with many praising its retro aesthetic and impressive visual fidelity for a game built on the GZDoom engine. Players appreciate the detailed environments, vibrant art style, and immersive effects, although some have noted performance issues and visual clutter during intense combat, which can obscure gameplay. Overall, the game successfully blends old-school charm with modern design elements, creating a visually appealing experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “Great level design, solid combat, gorgeous retro graphics.”
- “The first thing that grabbed me on checking the steam page were the visuals and upon buying in the full game did not disappoint.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous for the style of game it is, from the reflections and textures down to lighting and particle effects.”
- “I've fiddled with all the graphics settings, and nothing helps.”
- “Enemies drop smoke grenades, things you hit produce smoke, your own guns produce smoke, and the end result is that after two bullets fired you usually can't actually see your target any longer when on default graphical settings.”
- “The amount of effects on screen is ridiculous, making it near impossible to actually see what you're shooting at unless you turn the graphics way down, and if the game is basically unplayable with certain graphics effects what's the point in even having them?”
atmosphere
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully crafted environments, enhanced by a compelling soundtrack and detailed sound design. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong moods and feelings, making exploration and combat equally engaging. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature, blending elements from classic shooters with modern gameplay mechanics to create a rich and captivating experience.
- “Environments are utterly beautiful and genuinely immersive; by that I mean, it sells its intended moods and atmospheres very well.”
- “The soundscape creates an immersive atmosphere, footsteps are particularly effective, and the destructible environment really draws you in.”
- “The atmosphere is astounding, with a pumping soundtrack that expertly encapsulates the vibes of this bizarre sci-fi world that will always motivate you to never stop fighting.”
- “It's a rather brief section compared to the rest of the game, and I get the atmosphere and change in pace they were going for, but I didn't find this segment to be that enjoyable.”
- “But these little buggers coming out of vents, boxes, walls, everything, attaching themselves to your allies and stabbing them, while also exploding, gives a disturbing atmosphere.”
- “It's not a horror game, but it can be spooky, and don't be fooled by the engine, as with a focus on slow exploration, atmosphere and deadly, tactical combat it's much closer to 'millennial shooters' like Half-Life, Alien vs Predator 2, FEAR etc., rather than anything resembling Quake, Doom or Duke Nukem; it just, at a glance, looks like a boomer shooter.”
optimization
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its performance on high-end systems while others report significant frame drops and stuttering during intense combat, particularly on lower-end devices like the Steam Deck. Many users note that while the game showcases impressive detail and customization, it still requires further optimization to ensure a smoother experience across various hardware configurations. Overall, the game is seen as a promising title that may improve with future updates.
- “A long, multi-mission single-player shooter with great performance, no noticeable bugs (I'm sure there's some small ones if you poke at it, but whatever), progression, secrets, and incredible gameplay.”
- “You would truly not think for a second this game was in early access; this game is more optimized and packed full of content than a lot of AAA games now. Huge congrats to the devs, what a gem!”
- “The game is in early access, but the level of optimization and care used by Altered Obits in tinkering with the GZDoom engine puts a lot of recent AAA games to shame.”
- “Performance decidedly suffers as a result – there are times, infrequent as they are, where even my system, with an i9 CPU and an RTX graphics card, experiences some notable drops to the framerate.”
- “Such frequent performance hiccups in a fast-paced game like this, especially one that looks like this, are just unacceptable in my view.”
- “Unfortunately, the game would frequently start stuttering like crazy during combat sections for me.”
replayability
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
56%
10%
Overall, "Selaco" is praised for its high replayability, attributed to dynamic enemy encounters, hidden puzzles, and a variety of weapons and gameplay modifiers. Players appreciate the potential for endless gameplay through community maps and level editors, alongside options for different difficulty levels and fresh starts. While some mention issues with backtracking and a limited enemy roster, the game's rich content and engaging mechanics contribute to a strong replay value, making it a standout in the boomer shooter genre.
- “Tons of fun and nearly endless replay value because of the great enemy encounters!”
- “Despite being unfinished and in early access, its current length beats that of fully released titles and has the capability of endless replayability.”
- “Not only is it a love letter to early 2000s shooters, it stands on its own as an incredible and replayable experience.”
- “Replay value is lacking.”
- “Not very replayable though because going forwards and backwards and finding those aces offices and having to unlock the tram things gets dull pretty fast.”
- “Could help replayability (I dread doing replays of this game for all the empty backtracking).”
humor
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with clever references to pop culture, movies, and video games, which players find both entertaining and immersive. Many appreciate the well-written data logs and the developers' playful approach to gore, creating a mix of hilarity and over-the-top action. However, some critiques mention that the humor can be hit or miss, with certain references feeling forced or lacking depth.
- “Not in your face at all (although I understand that there will be some voice acting in the future) and all of the data logs I found were well written and occasionally very funny.”
- “That one optional area with the dungeon and things that insult you when you pick them up had me laughing.”
- “During my playthrough, I was also treated to some unexpected and darkly humorous tidbits, like a bisected soldier (via shotgun) crawling away from you before dying seconds later.”
monetization
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
5%
89%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally positive, with no microtransactions reported, allowing players to focus on enjoyment rather than spending. However, the overwhelming presence of in-game advertisements and neon aesthetics has drawn mixed reactions, with some players finding them visually confusing and distracting, while others appreciate the immersive world-building they contribute to. Overall, the game offers a blend of style and gameplay, though the execution of ads can hinder the experience at times.
- “No microtransactions, only fun.”
- “There's neon ads everywhere, neon lights everywhere, everything is pink and blue and the general feel of the environment is just that it's a visually confusing clusterduck.”
- “So everything is dark, neon ads are bright and overwhelming, you have no idea where to go and what to do.”
- “Ads sprites are a hindrance, in some cases.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
15%
77%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overwhelmingly tedious, often feeling obligated to hunt for secrets that disrupt the flow of gameplay and lead to long periods of exploration with minimal action. While some appreciate the reward system for exploration, many criticize it as exhausting and repetitive, with design choices that seem to pad the game unnecessarily. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of combat and exploration.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Because so many important things are in secrets, you feel obliged to find every single one before moving on, which results in maybe 10 minutes of actual shooting in a level, followed by hours of tedious secret hunting in empty maps.”
- “It's incredibly boring and tedious.”
- “This game has inherited the mind-numbing dull and tedious design choices that feel like obligatory padding to run up the clock.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, likening it to nostalgic experiences from their childhood while also appreciating its modern features. The heartfelt storytelling and character development evoke strong feelings, reminiscent of classic titles like System Shock 2, highlighting the game's ability to resonate on a personal level despite its indie origins. Overall, the emotional impact is described as profound and engaging, making it a standout experience in the gaming landscape.
- “Heartbreaking.”
- “Some NPCs or even an important character would ground me emotionally.”
- “It's the first game that's made me feel like I'm playing System Shock 2 for the first time again.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on various hardware configurations, including a mediocre PC and the Steam Deck, with minimal bugs or glitches reported. Players have noted that crashes are rare, with only a single incident mentioned during extensive gameplay. However, some gameplay mechanics, like the slide/dash feature and certain enemy behaviors, exhibit minor bugs.
- “Game looks good and runs great on 1440p resolution/170 Hz monitor with a mediocre PC (R7-5800X3D / 32 GB RAM / RX-6700XT OC).”
- “Overall, I'm having a blast with the game and it runs great.”
- “I should also say that the game was shockingly bug-free, with the only exception being that my Steam Deck suffered a single crash during the whole runtime.”
- “The slide/dash mechanism is one of the gameplay mechanics, but it's a bit buggy for now.”
- “Sometimes flying enemies, like the jetpack soldiers, are a bit buggy and can die instantly upon spawning.”
- “I haven't had to restart the game or reload to the latest save due to any bugs or glitches that didn't just cause the game to crash.”