Sprawl

If you don't mind the relatively ugly graphics at times and are interested in trying out a boomer shooter that encourages a bit more strategy, then SPRAWL might just be the perfect title for you.

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"Seven, a betrayed special ops soldier, seeks escape from a dystopian cyberpunk city and discovers a mysterious voice in her head in SPRAWL, a hardcore retro FPS. Fight government forces, explore the sprawling megalopolis, and uncover secrets in this stunning shooter game with fabulous story, atmosphere, and masterful music, despite its share of bugs and grinding."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 944 reviews

music194 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

Fast-paced gameplay with satisfying movement mechanics and fluid gunplay.
Incredible soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Unique cyberpunk aesthetic reminiscent of Ghost in the Shell.

Level design can be confusing, leading to moments of getting lost.
Enemy AI is simplistic and can feel repetitive.
Short campaign length may leave some players wanting more content.

music
374 mentions
52 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, often described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight its energetic and dynamic nature, drawing comparisons to iconic soundtracks from "Ghost in the Shell" and other cyberpunk classics, with a mix of drum and bass and industrial elements that perfectly complement the fast-paced gameplay. However, some players noted issues with repetitive loops in certain sections, suggesting that while the soundtrack is generally excellent, it could benefit from more variety.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal!”
- “The music is perfect, and keeps me going even when I reach a difficult part.”
- “The soundtrack goes really well with the environment.”
- “I've got a couple of gripes with the game though, one of which was the awful repetitive industrial music loops at the beginning of the game.”
- “The soundtrack is awful, even during the longer down-times between engagements it's blaring constantly instead of toning down to a more calm alternative.”
- “The music sounds like some shit I cooked up in LMMS when I didn't even know how to use FL Studio, and in the few moments it actually sounds decent it will play the same 4 bar loop over and over again for 5 minutes without any progression because of the way they sequence the music with different areas of the levels.”
gameplay
364 mentions
38 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sprawl" is characterized by fast-paced, fluid mechanics that blend elements from classic shooters like Quake and modern titles such as Titanfall and Ghostrunner. Players enjoy the intuitive wall-running and bullet time features, which enhance combat and movement, although some criticize the repetitive nature of enemy encounters and level design that doesn't fully utilize these mechanics. Overall, while the core gameplay is engaging and satisfying, it suffers from a lack of variety and depth, leading to a mixed reception regarding its long-term appeal.
- “The gameplay is nice and fast, and you get bullet time and can parkour off of walls.”
- “The game gets all of the main mechanical stuff done right so that moment-to-moment gameplay feels great.”
- “This game was incredibly fun from start to finish, with very frenetic combat and an intuitive wall-running mechanic that never became dull.”
- “Every level, be it in the city, warehouse, or tunnels, uses the same drab, mechanical-looking color palette, and I rarely felt like I was on an adventure, exploring interesting locations, which is a big draw for me normally in first-person shooters.”
- “The gameplay is fast and tight, with a bullet time mechanic, wall running, and only being able to carry a finite amount of ammo (replenished by killing more enemies).”
- “The game idea/story is the best thing I've ever seen, but there is a problem: the gameplay sucks. I love you guys, but please fix the game.”
graphics
180 mentions
46 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their unique blend of retro and modern aesthetics, often drawing comparisons to classic titles and cyberpunk influences like "Ghost in the Shell." Reviewers appreciate the vibrant art style, dynamic lighting, and the option to toggle retro filters, which enhance the nostalgic feel while maintaining solid performance. However, some critiques mention a lack of visual variety in later levels and a somewhat repetitive color palette, though the overall presentation is considered visually appealing and immersive.
- “The visuals are beautiful, the art style is very retro-futuristic, it reminds me of Ghost in the Shell or the Metal Gear Solid comics series which takes me back to media from the early 2000s, combined with the bright bloom on the lights, bullets, and explosions it tends to look very pretty.”
- “The graphics are wonderful.”
- “The cyberpunk art style is so pretty and this game is proof of that.”
- “Graphics remind me of PS2 era games like Red Faction.”
- “While Sprawl clearly goes for a cyberpunk aesthetic, it lacks the color highlights required to make it look interesting, and while the retro pixelated art style looks good, the brown and grey does not.”
- “As someone who is both an avid FPS fan and a fan of the cyberpunk aesthetic, this game was a let-down.”
story
144 mentions
27 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered shallow and straightforward, often serving as a mere backdrop to the fast-paced gameplay and combat mechanics. While some players appreciate the dystopian themes and the intriguing world-building elements conveyed through collectibles like QR codes, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and investment, making it feel like an afterthought. Overall, the story is seen as functional but not a primary draw, with most players prioritizing the engaging gameplay and aesthetics over a complex plot.
- “The story is very straightforward on ground level but lore goes a bit deeper and showcases an interesting dystopian world where humans are reduced to a level of disposable tools.”
- “The atmosphere, great level design, and story kept me thinking about it throughout the day, which is the highest praise you can give a game.”
- “It's a well-executed dystopian cyberpunk story that combines all the best elements of Quake and Mirror's Edge.”
- “The story is rather shallow, but fitting.”
- “The story is mediocre, but honestly let's be real, we don't play this genre for the story.”
- “The resolution of the story has nothing to reference, and the motivations for the characters are not enumerated outside of the gameplay or some interestingly placed QR codes that take you to websites that have text logs.”
atmosphere
62 mentions
65 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive cyberpunk aesthetic, drawing strong comparisons to iconic works like "Blade Runner" and "Ghost in the Shell." Reviewers highlight the effective level design, engaging soundtrack, and captivating visuals that enhance the overall experience, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms regarding originality and environmental variation. Overall, the combination of atmospheric elements creates a compelling backdrop that significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack alone would make this game an easy recommend, but the gameplay is also solid and everything is held together nicely by the dystopian cyberpunk atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, art design, and soundtrack immerse the player sufficiently for what this game ultimately is: a fun little romp in an obvious love letter to the cyberpunk sub-genre.”
- “The absolute best part of this game is its atmosphere and setting.”
- “Sprawl also manages to conjure a pretty impressive dark and nihilistic cyberpunk atmosphere, but then that’s where it stays for the entirety of the campaign, with little variation in the environments or the tone of the game.”
- “This game nails an oppressive dystopian atmosphere.”
- “The gritty cyberpunk atmosphere is also really well done.”
stability
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
-13 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably compromised by various bugs and glitches, particularly affecting AI behavior, level geometry, and wall-running mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players find the core gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, others report significant problems such as audio glitches, clipping, and difficulty balancing, especially in higher difficulty modes. Overall, while the game runs well on Linux and has redeeming qualities, its stability issues are a common point of frustration among users.
- “The game runs incredibly smoothly, with no crashes or glitches, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the game is; it never lags or stutters, even during intense moments.”
- “Sprawl runs great on Linux, showcasing its impressive stability across different platforms.”
- “There are some minor glitches here and there, like in e3m3 the walls won't rise in order to go to the next area.”
- “Wall running is so buggy (especially the 'getting off the wall part'), not even funny anymore (lost count how often that led to my death).”
- “Clipping, audio glitches, poor music cycling, and an aversion to difficulty balance in nightmare mode are the highlights. The act two boss can be softlocked if you run out of ammo, which is insanely common.”
grinding
13 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often due to repetitive gameplay, underwhelming combat mechanics, and cumbersome movement systems. While some improvements have been made, such as updates to parkour mechanics, many still feel that the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging challenges and overly complex features like QR code lore integration. Overall, the grind can detract from enjoyment, especially for those who prefer more fluid and dynamic gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Any game can get tedious if the game loop is boring.”
- “It somewhat feels like the enemies have highly boosted health to counteract how straightforward they act; and combat can feel very repetitive and even tedious after a few hours.”
- “Looks and runs nice for what it is but if you do not love tedious jumping and wall running you're going to have a bad time.”
replayability
10 mentions
50 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the game to have good replayability, particularly due to various difficulty levels and unlockable content that incentivizes repeated play. However, some users feel that additional content, such as an endless mode or expanded gameplay mechanics, could enhance the replay value further.
- “One of the most replayable and fun games I've ever experienced! :D”
- “Good replayability.”
- “Sure, there is a lot of replayability with different difficulties, but I feel they could have added at least an endless arena-type mode like Ghostrunner.”
- “Sure there is a lot of replayability with different difficulties, but I feel they could have added at least an endless arena-type mode like Ghostrunner.”
- “It's pretty replayable too.”
- “Still looking into replay value... (endless mode)”
optimization
10 mentions
50 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players experiencing smooth performance and high frame rates, particularly on capable hardware. However, some users report issues like micro-stuttering and performance inconsistencies, suggesting that while the game is well-optimized, there is still room for improvement.
- “Performance is great too, RTX 3070, 3440x1400 and I got constant 120fps.”
- “Game is incredibly well optimized and runs smoothly.”
- “This game is really greatly optimized and thanks developers for that.”
- “Micro-stuttering that forced me to limit my framerate to 100 despite the game running at twice that fps.”
- “My main criticisms are that performance could be improved (some stuttering even on lower graphics, and I meet system requirements), and the game could do with an optional direction marker.”
- “The best part is that this game doesn't sacrifice performance for visuals.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the AI's comically poor decision-making, such as running off edges, and the amusing quirks of gameplay mechanics, like a funny robot voice and unexpected auto-reload systems. Players appreciate the hidden humorous elements scattered throughout the game, although some bugs, particularly with wall running, detract from the overall comedic experience. Overall, the humor is a mix of intentional design choices and unintentional hilarity stemming from gameplay flaws.
- “Sometimes the AI does downright hilarious things like run off edges to their death.”
- “Funny robot voice/10”
- “It's one of these games where you keep improving mechanically and there's so much stuff hidden (from entitlements to comments on the map, QR codes to be scanned, funny stuff).”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, describing it as both frustrating and rewarding, evoking strong feelings of anger and joy. The game's impactful moments, such as the beauty of its design, can even bring players to tears, highlighting its ability to resonate on a personal level. Overall, it successfully captures the essence of the cyberpunk genre, fulfilling a long-awaited desire for a single-player experience.
- “This game has made me angry and emotional, but even then I loved it through and through. It's a game that just kept giving as much as it takes, not being shy to absolutely beat you to a bloody pulp.”
- “The shotgun in this game is so beautiful I cried for a solid minute.”
- “Oh my, I was looking for this kind of game for a long time. Neotokyo was the last game that made me feel this way in the cyberpunk genre, but it was only multiplayer.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is not directly addressed in the provided text, but the overall frustration with level design and weapon balance suggests that players may feel that the game's monetization strategies could be impacting gameplay quality. The confusion in navigation and mixed weapon effectiveness could lead to a perception that the game prioritizes profit over player experience.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, with essential items locked behind paywalls that make it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be frustratingly necessary; it feels like the game is designed to push you towards spending more rather than allowing you to progress naturally.”
- “The constant prompts to buy upgrades and the limited free options make the experience feel more like a cash grab than a fun game.”