Spate
- March 28, 2014
- Ayyo Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Spate" is a single-player platformer game with a splendid story centered around a struggling addict's dark and brooding journey into madness, created by former Disney & Jim Henson artist Eric Provan. The game delivers an eerie adventure filled with absinthe-fueled hallucinations and haunting memories, as the main character grapples with the tragic loss of his daughter, all set against a backdrop of exceptional atmosphere, awesome visuals, and spectacular music.
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Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and a beautifully constructed atmosphere that captivates players.
- The original score and sound design are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience.
- The narrative, while simple, resonates with players and adds depth to the character's journey.
- Gameplay is largely unchallenging and repetitive, often consisting of just moving right with minimal interaction.
- The game suffers from bugs and clunky controls, leading to frustrating moments during platforming sections.
- Its short length and lack of replayability may leave players feeling unsatisfied with the overall experience.
- story107 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Spate" is a central element, exploring themes of addiction and personal struggle through the protagonist's narration and interactions, though opinions on its execution vary widely. While some players found the narrative engaging and beautifully complemented by visuals and music, others criticized it for being muddled, cliché, or lacking depth in character development. Overall, the game is described as more of an artistic experience with a linear story, appealing primarily to those who appreciate atmospheric storytelling rather than complex gameplay.
“The story is gripping.”
“Beautiful game with quite a deep story even though it is short, and read the credits, some meaningful stuff in there I wasn't expecting either, so take the time to read some of them.”
“Fantastic visuals, wonderful music, well-crafted gameplay, and a heartbreaking story.. highly recommended!”
“The dialogue and story are generally pretty heavy-handed, and there's no real depth to most of the characters.”
“As an addict, I was rather disappointed in the story/dialogue; it was obviously not written by or guided by someone who has struggled with addiction.”
“The story as it stands has as much to say about addiction as a potato has to say about geopolitics.”
- gameplay66 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Spate" is generally described as simplistic and lacking depth, with minimal challenges and few engaging mechanics. While the game features light platforming and an interesting drinking mechanic that distorts the environment, many players found the overall experience monotonous and unmemorable, prioritizing atmosphere and narrative over gameplay complexity. Despite its artistic visuals and thematic elements, the gameplay is often criticized for being bland and not fully utilizing its potential.
“The gameplay is casual but careful because you get easily distracted by the amazing graphics.”
“Beautiful score and visuals, excellent platforming, great voice work/narration, and a story that does not assert itself while still being integral to the gameplay experience.”
“Fantastic visuals, wonderful music, well-crafted gameplay, and a heartbreaking story... highly recommended!”
“But I unfortunately can't recommend this for the gameplay and the amount of dead space/lost time throughout the game.”
“The visuals are nice, but the voice delivery is halting, the story is boring, and the gameplay is mostly just 'head right'.”
“While the visuals are entrancing, the gameplay is bland, and you'll find yourself guzzling absinthe while you run through the game.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, surreal aesthetic and vibrant colors, often compared to stop-motion animation and other artistic influences. Many players found the visuals to be a highlight, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience, despite some criticism regarding gameplay simplicity and narrative coherence. Overall, the art style and graphical presentation are considered exceptional, making the game a visually captivating experience.
“Spate has stunning visuals, great atmosphere, a pretty good story, and an adorable robot NPC to boot!”
“The visuals are beautifully complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack that blurs in and out, a soundscape both musical and representational of the sounds of the world.”
“Never before have I played a game so willing to embrace surrealistic aesthetics, and with such a captivating art style.”
“The character animations are below N64 standards, and I don't even want to get into the frame skipping and limited graphics options.”
“While the visuals are entrancing, the gameplay is bland, and you'll find yourself guzzling absinthe while you run through the game.”
“For a game with an amazing soundtrack and visuals, it is disappointing for me to have to say this but having beaten it in a little over 2 hours and with little replayability, it is not really worth the MSRP of $10.”
- music35 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, beautifully complementing the visuals and enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the orchestral soundtrack as a standout feature, effectively setting the mood and immersing players in the game's surreal world. However, some criticism arises regarding inconsistencies in music volume and moments where the soundtrack fades, impacting immersion during gameplay.
“Beautifully written story and music to accompany it.”
“The soundtracks are perfectly suiting all atmospheres and kind of give you the effect of being there how it would feel.”
“The music and visuals add so much to the atmosphere, and overall this was truly a wonderful piece of art and story.”
“The trailer's music and footage collection does actually overhype the game.”
“My very minor complaints for this title are some collision glitches and an uneventful soundtrack that was just a smattering of sounds you might hear in any token thriller.”
“The music volume, on the other hand, varies wildly, and I kept having to adjust my volume.”
- atmosphere35 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Spate" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, unique psychedelic style, and immersive sound design, creating a dark and surreal experience that enhances the narrative. While some players find the atmosphere captivating and reminiscent of titles like "Limbo" and "Dear Esther," others criticize the level design and gameplay, suggesting that the atmospheric elements sometimes overshadow the story and mechanics. Overall, the game is recognized for its strong emphasis on ambiance, making it appealing to those who prioritize artistic expression in gaming.
“Spate has stunning visuals, great atmosphere, a pretty good story, and an adorable robot NPC to boot!”
“The music and visuals add so much to the atmosphere, and overall this was truly a wonderful piece of art and story.”
“The visuals are beautifully complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack that blurs in and out, a soundscape both musical and representative of the sounds of the world.”
“This is a sheer abomination with laughable gameplay, trying-too-hard atmosphere and poor dialogue.”
“Unfortunately, we had to close the game short at an hour and a half, as the game's depressing atmosphere was weighing too heavily on my friend (and me as well).”
“Lacks the atmosphere of Limbo, the solid story of Gone Home, and the gameplay is pretty boring.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent and often falls flat, with some players finding it unfunny or irrelevant to the plot. While there are moments of comedic relief, such as a quirky robot and amusing in-game effects, these elements struggle to balance the otherwise somber tone, leaving many players feeling that the humor detracts from the overall experience rather than enhancing it.
“That said, any potential dramatic weight is completely deflated anyway by the hilariously bad Christopher Walken impersonator charged with the narration and the bootleg frozen clip-art used to evoke memories of your daughter.”
“You are held in harrowing hallucinations as much as the protagonist, but this captivation spirals down the drain faster than a slick steamer in a Taco Bell toilet whenever you speak with the main NPC, a comedic relief robot that passes for funny only in abrupt contrast with the otherwise somber environment.”
“Loved how you can just drink endlessly and the weird funny effects that it does on the game can really trip you for a loop!”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, making it feel nearly unplayable at times. Issues such as collision glitches and problems with menu navigation contribute to a frustrating experience, overshadowing the game's potential enjoyment. Overall, the stability concerns detract from the overall fun and fluidity expected in a platformer.
“I really want to like this game, and I can tell the spirit is there, but it's so buggy it's practically unplayable.”
“Weird platformer, buggy as hell.”
“In the first 36 minutes of play, I had already died from glitches twice and had to restart the game once because I mysteriously lost the ability to focus on a submenu, and could only control the main menu, so the submenu was seemingly impossible to get rid of.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story and impactful visuals, music, and gameplay, which can lead to a deeply engaging experience for players. While some critique the writing quality, many find the emotional journey compelling enough to evoke strong feelings, including near tears at the ending.
“While the story is not especially well-written, it does offer an emotional journey if the player wishes to be so engrossed.”
“(The ending very nearly made me cry. The b*stards!)”
“Fantastic visuals, wonderful music, well-crafted gameplay, and a heartbreaking story. Highly recommended!”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unengaging, with clunky mechanics that detract from the overall experience. The lack of fun and excitement in typical gameplay elements makes the grinding feel particularly burdensome and unenjoyable.
“You see, I don't think the game really focuses on the 'fun', making the typical game tropes of platforming, dodging traps, and such feel really out of place. Not to mention that they are clunky, buggy, and tedious.”
“As a game, it is tedious; as a narrative, it is boring as hell.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers stunning visuals and an impressive soundtrack, but its short playtime of just over two hours and lack of replayability make it feel less valuable at its price point. Reviewers noted that the absence of challenges and limited content significantly detracts from the overall experience.
“For a game with an amazing soundtrack and visuals, it is disappointing for me to have to say this, but having beaten it in a little over 2 hours and with little replayability, it is not really worth the MSRP of $10.”
“7/10 -1 controls, -1 cut scenes, -1 no challenge, -1 replayability, +1 just because the visuals and soundtrack were so amazing!”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players report smooth performance, others experience significant frame rate drops, even on capable hardware like the GTX 980, indicating inconsistent optimization across different systems.
“The game isn't optimized very well; it ran good for me, but I have a GTX 980, so it would. However, I would go from 220 FPS down to 40 FPS without much going on with my GPU/CPU or much happening on the screen.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to significant frame rate drops even in less demanding scenarios.”
“Despite having a powerful setup, the game struggles to maintain stable performance, indicating poor optimization.”
