Spareware

About

"Spareware is a 4-player co-op shooter with roguelike elements, where players assemble their robots from spare parts and battle through cities of the future to save mankind. The game features 12 unique weapons, 26 robot parts, and 4 skill trees to customize your playstyle. Fight endless waves of police forces in local multi-player mode, with the option for up to four players in both co-op and PvP split screen."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features enjoyable dual-stick shooter mechanics with a variety of customizable robot parts and abilities.
It offers extensive multiplayer options, allowing for up to four players in campaign mode and up to eight in versus mode, enhancing the overall experience.
The destructible body parts system adds a unique layer of strategy, as players must manage their robot's health and parts during gameplay.

The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and lacks variety in enemies and levels, leading to a feeling of monotony after a short time.
There are significant design flaws, such as endlessly respawning enemies that reflect damage back at players, making combat frustrating.
The single-player experience is lacking, with poor level design and a weak story, making it less appealing for solo players.

story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
67%
20%
The story in the game is generally considered weak and poorly explained, with players noting a lack of clarity regarding the overarching narrative and mission objectives. While the gameplay offers various missions, the campaign is short and lacks engaging cutscenes or a coherent plot, leading to a sense of disconnection from the narrative. Overall, the focus seems to be more on gameplay mechanics than on delivering a compelling story.
- “Exactly what we're saving humanity from, I'm not quite sure -- the story's a bit haphazard -- but I believe it's an evil AI overlord or something.”
- “In any case, during your quest you'll certainly end up killing quite a lot of humanity, so I'm not convinced that it's worth it in the end.”
- “Story is bollocks and the campaign is very short, so if you buy this, it had better be because you're itching to shoot hordes of men with lasers and swat suits.”
- “Exactly what we're saving humanity from I'm not quite sure -- the story's a bit haphazard -- but I believe it's an evil AI overlord or something.”
- “There are no cutscenes, but the game could do with some to explain the overall background story and individual mission objectives.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics in the game are characterized by a colorful, cartoon-like style, but they quickly become repetitive and bland, particularly in level design and enemy variety. While the loadout screens are visually appealing, the in-game graphics lack detail and customization options, leading to a disappointing overall experience. Players note that the aesthetic choices, including the use of gore, feel out of place amidst the otherwise monotonous visuals.
- “Graphics are mostly colorful and cartoon-like, with the use of gore seeming a bit out of place, although it does fade quickly.”
- “Graphically, they look good on the loadout screens between missions, but with no way to zoom in further than the default, and no adjustment of camera angle, the in-game graphics are somewhat disappointing.”
- “+ Loadout screen graphics are amusing.”
- “Graphics of the levels are identical, very boring after 20 minutes.”
- “The aesthetics and environments are largely repeated even if the maps are marginally different.”
- “The graphics work well enough, but feel very bland after half an hour or so.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The gameplay features solid mechanics but suffers from repetitiveness and simplicity, with some users requesting enhancements like more blood and character terminology changes. Additionally, technical issues such as freezing have been reported, indicating a need for urgent fixes.
- “Game mechanics are good but they need to change 'humans' to 'people' and add more blood.”
- “GTX 1060 | Ultra settings | 1080p gameplay.”
- “Good gameplay, but the game keeps freezing; this needs to be fixed ASAP.”
- “An extremely simple game with limited mechanics and highly repetitive play.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music features an electronic rock style characterized by heavy beats and electric guitar riffs, complemented by modern synth sounds. However, the default volume levels tend to overshadow sound effects, which perform better when the music is turned down.
- “Music has an electronic rock feel to it, with heavy beats and electric guitar riffs mixed with some modern synth sounds.”
- “The music creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.”
- “The soundtrack is diverse and keeps the gameplay engaging with its energetic tunes.”
- “The music has an electronic rock feel to it, with heavy beats and electric guitar riffs mixed with some modern synth sounds.”
- “Sound effects are drowned out by the music at the default volume levels, making it difficult to appreciate the overall audio experience.”
- “The music overshadows the sound effects, which only become noticeable when the music volume is reduced.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is praised for its optimization, running smoothly and consistently at good frame rates, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “Runs smoothly and consistently at good frame rates.”
- “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it never lags or stutters during intense moments.”