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-solving and zombie survival mechanics, providing a different take on the genre.
- The atmosphere and music are engaging, contributing to a creepy and immersive experience.
- There are interesting item interactions and a variety of levels that can be satisfying to complete.
- The controls are unintuitive and difficult to understand, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- The graphics and UI are poorly designed, with many players finding them hard to read and navigate.
- The story and objectives are often unclear, making it challenging for players to stay engaged with the game.
- story34 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players must protect their family from zombies while solving puzzles, but it is often criticized for being generic and lacking depth. While some players find the narrative engaging and atmospheric, particularly praising the music and character arcs, many others feel it is rushed, disjointed, and fails to provide clear objectives, leading to a forgettable experience. Overall, the story has potential but is hampered by poor execution and gameplay mechanics.
“The story follows Mary and Darrel as they flee from their once safe haven in search of their lost children.”
“The story is good and unfolds at a reasonable pace, and it's very atmospheric.”
“What makes this game really stand out is its story and musical score, again composed or remastered by the intrepid Pablo Vega.”
“The story is some hackneyed garbage about losing your home and super zombies, and definitely wasn't enough to keep me playing.”
“The game's story does not stretch the limits of imagination as well.”
“The story is ridiculously rushed.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the retro aesthetic and creepy atmosphere, while others criticize the poor UI, tiny gameplay area, and technical issues like glitches and lack of scaling for 4K resolution. Many find the art style disjointed and basic, detracting from the overall experience, despite some pleasant visuals in certain aspects. Overall, the graphics seem to hinder the game's potential, with calls for significant improvements in design and interface.
“The game offers some pleasant graphics and graphical style; although there are some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
“The graphics are okay for a 2D game; the music is pretty good but can be jarring at times when it switches style all of a sudden.”
“The puzzles are great; I like the art style and the music is just awesome.”
“Technically, there's support for 4K graphics, but there's no UI scaling, so you end up looking at a tiny postage stamp in the middle of your screen.”
“This technical failure fits perfectly with the awful retro pixel graphics.”
“The way too basic art style and soothing music couldn't keep me playing longer than 5 minutes.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic titles, while others criticize it for being generic, poorly executed, or frustrating due to limited onboarding and bugs. Many feel that the gameplay lacks depth and can be boring, with some mechanics feeling rushed or incomplete. Overall, while there are glimpses of potential, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a varied player experience.
“The story is engaging, the music is incredible, the gameplay is nostalgic and innovative.”
“A really fun game that mixes Zelda-like overworld gameplay (and I am speaking of Zelda I & III here, folks!) with up to 100 levels filled to the brim with environmental puzzles accessed from there.”
“Each of their titles is a unique mashup of incongruous mechanics and off-kilter storylines that, if nothing else, makes for a truly singular experience.”
“I love a lot of Arcen's games conceptually, but they tend to be hit or miss gameplay-wise, and this one was a miss for me.”
“Many of the gameplay systems have the glimmer of inner depth, but the limited onboarding and player direction will frustrate many players before seeing anything under the surface.”
“A poor gameplay decision at best, since the RNG is as likely to kill you as the enemies you need it to kill, and if you die, the whole thing resets.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly noting the work of composer Pablo Vega. However, some players report issues with abrupt style changes and technical problems, such as lag during music loops, which can negatively impact gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, it is accompanied by concerns regarding its integration with the game's mechanics.
“The music is incredible, the gameplay is nostalgic and innovative.”
“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.”
“The way too basic art style and soothing music couldn't keep me playing longer than 5 minutes.”
“Some tracks were apparently not done by Pablo, their regular soundtrack composer.”
“All in all, not a game I would recommend to anyone, even fans of puzzles or zombie games, since the controls are too floaty to function well and the game has a tendency to spike lag every time the music loops, even on high-end systems, which can result in killing you because your character suddenly jumps 2 or 3 tiles in the last direction you were holding instead of stopping.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unsettling horror elements and engaging storytelling, enhanced by a standout soundtrack from Pablo Vega. The use of comic panel-based cutscenes, coupled with impressive voice acting by Prince Taylor, significantly contributes to the immersive experience, creating a rich and captivating environment.
“So if there is anything I liked about it, it's the strange atmosphere of horror; it managed to make me feel uneasy.”
“The story is good and unfolds at a reasonable pace, and it's very atmospheric.”
“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.”
- stability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by occasional graphical glitches and buggy AI, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. While the graphics are generally pleasant, the repetitive nature of the game further detracts from its overall stability and enjoyment.
“However, the repetitive nature and buggy AI made it infuriating to play at times.”
“The game offers some pleasant graphics and graphical style, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- 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.
