Spud!

About

Spud! is a single player action game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Charybdis Ltd and was released on March 3, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Spud!" is a classic retro adventure game where you play as Spud, preventing Doctor Chillblane from enslaving the world. Explore over 200 locations, interact with characters, and solve puzzles in a 360-degree pre-rendered world with a first-person viewpoint. With 16 music composions, wacky voice characterizations, and a 3D inventory, this game offers immersive entertainment to save your grandfather's magical invention.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+18

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

story3 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game has a quirky and surreal charm that can be amusing and entertaining, especially for those who appreciate retro gaming.
Some players find the humor and absurdity of the game to be enjoyable, with memorable characters and funny dialogue.
It offers a unique point-and-click experience that stands out due to its odd design and nostalgic value.

The game suffers from outdated graphics and technical issues, making it difficult to play on modern systems without frustration.
Many players find the gameplay tedious and the puzzles obtuse, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment.
The overall execution feels like a cash grab, lacking the necessary updates or improvements to meet modern gaming standards.

graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag; while some users praise the astounding art style and immersive synergy with gameplay and music, others criticize the dated visuals and poor performance due to emulation, noting a lack of resolution options and graphics tweaks. Overall, expectations should be tempered as the game does not claim to offer a remastered experience.
- “The graphics are nothing short of astounding.”
- “The synergy between visuals, gameplay, and music creates an immersive experience that's hard to find in any other game.”
- “I came across Spud and decided to buy it based on its art style, and the fact it's made by alternative software.”
- “It has a dated control scheme, dated graphics, and runs poorly due to the DOSBox emulation.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “I was thrilled to discover that alternative software is still going, I loved Skool Daze on my Speccy (I've been a gamer since 1978, I'm that old and Skool Daze was groundbreaking in its day) and I came across Spud and decided to buy it based on its art style, and the fact it's made by alternative software.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's story is praised for its captivating and emotionally deep narrative, showcasing the creators' dedication. However, some players feel that the story is not central to the experience, with a mix of logical puzzle-solving intertwined with a plot that some consider horrific. Overall, opinions on the story's quality are divided, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.
- “Apart from its captivating story.”
- “The emotional depth of the storytelling is nothing short of remarkable, and it's a testament to the dedication of the game's creators.”
- “Most of the solutions to the puzzles are logical when you piece items you acquire into the storyline.”
- “Is not a game about story”
- “Most of the solutions to the puzzles are logical, when you piece items you acquire into the storyline.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in emotional storytelling, weaving a heartwarming narrative that showcases remarkable depth and engagement. The creators' dedication is evident, as the music and visuals work in harmony to enhance the emotional impact of each scene, resulting in an unparalleled experience of joy and resonance.
- “It weaves a narrative tapestry that's as compelling as it is heartwarming.”
- “The emotional depth of the storytelling is nothing short of remarkable, and it's a testament to the dedication of the game's creators.”
- “The depth of engagement, the emotional resonance, and the sheer joy it brings me are incomparable.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
Gameplay is praised for its seamless integration and intuitive mechanics, contributing to an immersive experience enhanced by visuals and music. However, some users criticize the overall execution, citing poor animation and a lackluster story that detracts from the unique gameplay.
- “Gameplay mechanics are flawlessly integrated into the experience, creating a seamless and intuitive interaction.”
- “The synergy between visuals, gameplay, and music creates an immersive experience that's hard to find in any other game.”
- “While it was ahead of its time when released, the gameplay is unique to say the least.”
- “While it was ahead of its time when released and the gameplay is unique to say the least, the story and plot are utterly horrific.”
- “Horrible animation, acting, jokes, references, gameplay, logic... screw this game.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game significantly enhances the atmosphere, with a standout soundtrack that elevates the overall experience. The combination of eerie sounds in tense moments and the immersive synergy between visuals, gameplay, and music creates a uniquely engaging environment for players.
- “I must also applaud the soundtrack, which elevates the atmosphere to new heights.”
- “The synergy between visuals, gameplay, and music creates an immersive experience that's hard to find in any other game.”
- “You explore his house and in the basement it plays scary music while some Christmas gnomes are just killed and bloodied.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as outrageous and entertaining, featuring quirky characters like a gnome and Santa who make playful references, as well as absurd situations involving a villain named Chillblade. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and find the overall comedic tone to be both cute and engaging, contributing to a fun gaming experience.
- “It was cute, the dialogue humorous, and even fun.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be initially engaging but quickly devolve into a tedious and boring experience, exacerbated by slow load times between scenes.
- “The intro is fun in a baffling way, but then it becomes very boring and tedious.”
- “I think this makes the load times really slow for every scene, so it's tedious.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from poor optimization, lacking support for modern display resolutions and widescreen monitors, which affects its performance on contemporary gaming PCs. While some players may still find enjoyment in the experience, the overall lack of updates and smoothness can be a significant drawback.
- “If a player can tolerate the lack of performance as I did, then they should enjoy this point-and-click adventure.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for this game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it exploits nostalgia by re-releasing outdated abandonware on Steam without any modernization. Many believe it is an attempt to profit from players who may already own the original game, reflecting a lack of value in the offering.
- “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
- “While DOSBox is a fine tool for those seeking retro gaming, it's not really appropriate for ancient abandonware like this to be dumped on Steam without any modernization. This is just a greedy cash grab from developers trying to get your money for dead software; they want you to pay them a second time for a game you probably already owned.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by its impressive soundtrack, which many users feel elevates the overall experience to new heights.
- “I must also applaud the soundtrack, which elevates the atmosphere to new heights.”