Shattered Haven
- March 18, 2013
- Arcen Games, LLC
Get on SteamGrays roam the land, largely in the absence of human interference. These aren't your typical Zed -- theirs is a very different sort of apocalypse. Animals spontaneously transform into twisted, violent beings. The earth decays, collapsing into a network of abysses. The wilderness thickens.It has been nine years since That Day when it all started. Pockets of humanity still exist, but are ignoran…
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Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of puzzle, RPG, and survival-horror elements, providing a variety of engaging challenges.
- The art style and musical score are well-received, creating an engaging atmosphere and enhancing the overall experience.
- The game offers a branching story arc with multiple endings and a 'New Game Plus' feature, encouraging replayability.
- The game suffers from poor UI design and minor but persistent bugs that detract from the overall experience.
- Voice acting and dialogue are often criticized as sub-par and lacking depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.
- Many levels feel repetitive and generic, leading to a sense of filler rather than a polished gaming experience.
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story is generally considered generic and somewhat rushed, yet it provides a decent backdrop for the gameplay, which is reminiscent of classic arcade titles. It follows the journey of Mary and Darrel as they search for their lost children amidst a post-apocalyptic setting, featuring a branching narrative with multiple endings and a unique hub that connects various levels. The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a strong musical score and engaging comic panel cutscenes, making the overall storytelling experience more compelling.
“The story follows Mary and Darrel as they flee from their once safe haven in search of their lost children.”
“What makes this game really stand out is its story and musical score, again composed or remastered by the intrepid Pablo Vega.”
“All the overworld areas are bound together by the tale of Darrel and Mary and their quest to recover their four-year-old daughter Lela, whom they raised in the midst of the gray apocalypse, along with the boy Pierce, whom they took in after he lost his family in the wilds, while being caught up in the struggle of two eldritch horrors.”
“The story is ridiculously rushed.”
“The story isn't that intense but definitely okay for a game like this.”
“However, the story is a little generic, but better than nothing.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a challenging and often disjointed art style that some players find appealing, while others criticize it for being inconsistent and accompanied by poor UI design and minor bugs. Despite these issues, many users appreciate the overall visual presentation and the pleasant graphical style, though glitches can detract from the experience.
“The game offers some pleasant graphics and a unique graphical style, although there are some minor glitches here and there; it is enjoyable all the same.”
“The puzzles are great, I really like the art style, and the music is just awesome.”
“A challenging art style, poor UI, gimmicky levels, and bugs.”
“Shattered Haven is plagued by a disjointed and often conflicting art style, poor sound effects, bad UI design, and minor but persistent bugs.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as somewhat generic, featuring a top-down shooter style that can become boring, especially when plagued by bugs. However, there is potential for improvement, as the concept could be expanded into a more engaging experience with additional levels, weapons, and environmental puzzles reminiscent of classic Zelda games.
“A really fun game that mixes Zelda-like overworld gameplay (and I am speaking of Zelda I and III here, folks!) with up to 100 levels filled to the brim with environmental puzzles accessed from there.”
“However, the story is a little generic, but better than nothing. The gameplay is a sort of top-down shooter type of game, but also a bit generic, as well as the quests being more or less generic.”
“Now imagine it expanded into a full-length game, with more levels, more weapons, more enemies, and the same base mechanics and production values.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks innovation, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional soundtrack composed by Pablo Vega, which significantly enhances the atmosphere and storytelling. The combination of the musical score and voice acting, particularly by Prince Taylor, creates an engaging experience that stands out in the overall presentation of the game.
“The puzzles are great, I like the art style, and the music is just awesome.”
“What makes this game really stand out is its story and musical score, again composed or remastered by the intrepid Pablo Vega.”
“The soundtrack might well be one of the best yet produced by Pablo Vega and does an awesome job of creating an engaging atmosphere and setting the scene for the story, which is told through a large number of comic panel-based cutscenes, some of which feature brilliant voice acting by Prince Taylor (it is ridiculous how much atmosphere is created alone by his impersonation of Darrel) and loads of in-engine cutscenes.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game features appealing graphics and a distinct style, but is marred by occasional glitches that detract from the experience. Additionally, players find the gameplay to be dull, particularly when not hindered by bugs.
“The game offers some pleasant graphics and graphical style, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
“I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
“The frame rate drops significantly during intense moments, which really affects the overall experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from the amusing antics and dialogue of the child characters, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the overall experience.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, largely due to Pablo Vega's exceptional soundtrack, which effectively enhances the storytelling through numerous comic panel cutscenes. Additionally, the impressive voice acting by Prince Taylor, particularly his portrayal of Darrel, significantly contributes to the immersive experience.
“The soundtrack might well be one of the best yet produced by Pablo Vega and does an awesome job of creating an engaging atmosphere and setting the scene for the story, which is told through a large number of comic panel-based cutscenes, some of which feature brilliant voice acting by Prince Taylor. It is incredible how much atmosphere is created alone by his impersonation of Darrel, along with loads of in-engine cutscenes.”
