STHELL
- March 11, 2022
- CC ARTS
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Get on itch.io StoreSTHELL is a fast-paced arena shooter with roguelite elements, where you navigate a swamp filled with rusted robotics and experimental weaponry from Kiratron Industries. With a stealth focus, carefully scout and strike enemies from the shadows in this challenging and immersive environment. Inspired by classic stealth FPS games, STHELL offers a unique blend of strategy and action.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and challenging experience with fast-paced combat and a variety of enemies, making it engaging for players who enjoy arena shooters.
- The aesthetic and visuals are appealing, providing a nice atmosphere that complements the gameplay.
- At its low price point, the game is considered a good value, especially for those looking for a simple yet addictive shooter to pass the time.
- The upgrade system is frustrating and feels grindy, with many players finding the perks and abilities to be underwhelming and not impactful.
- The gameplay can become repetitive quickly due to limited environments and a lack of variety in content, leading to a sense of boredom.
- The difficulty curve is steep, which may deter some players, as the game can feel punishing and overwhelming without a clear progression system.
- graphics5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received for their appealing aesthetic, though some users note a lack of variety and depth in the visuals. While the overall look is praised, it is not considered groundbreaking, and the game's focus on challenge over narrative or progression is highlighted.
“The whole aesthetic of the game is so nice; this is my cup of tea when it comes to visuals.”
“If you want a nice challenge with a great aesthetic, it's right here.”
“Graphics look good; sound is okay.”
“There's no real story, no real progression (outside of a ranking on a global scoreboard), and the graphics are nothing to write home about.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag; while some users find it average and lacking in content, others praise its solid design and exceptional shooting and movement mechanics. The arena-based combat, featuring progressively challenging enemies and bosses, adds to the overall experience.
“Really solid gameplay with good design choices.”
“You spawn in an arena and robots start approaching you; as time goes on, bosses spawn and the gameplay gets harder.”
“This game has some of the best shooting and movement mechanics I've seen in an indie game like this.”
“The game is small, with almost no content; the gameplay is too average and generic to be recommended.”
“You spawn in an arena and robots start approaching you. As time goes on, bosses spawn, and the gameplay becomes increasingly difficult.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, citing a lack of meaningful upgrades and a limited selection of perks that do not provide lasting benefits. The repetitive nature of grinding for upgrades, especially after unsuccessful runs, detracts from the overall enjoyment and makes the experience feel tedious.
“There isn't a real upgrade tree; it's a bunch of worthless perks that you have a limited selection over rather than true lasting benefits. It will take too much grinding in a game undeserving of it to get a second one.”
“I want to like this game, but frustration quickly sets in when you realize how grindy it is and how lame the upgrades are.”
“Pretty fun game, but I'm not a huge fan of the buy-once-use-once upgrades and abilities. If you invest in a run and fail, you have to do 10 more to pay for another good run, which is just grinding and not the most fun.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being sparse and underdeveloped, with a primary focus on action rather than narrative or character progression. Players express a desire for a more substantial storyline, indicating that the current minimal backstory does not enhance the overall experience.
“The game focuses heavily on action, offering minimal storyline or character development.”
“There's no real story, no real progression (outside of a ranking on a global scoreboard), and the graphics are nothing to write home about.”
“Nothing too special, but it's a nice idea to flesh out some form of backstory.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered to be acceptable, though not particularly standout. For those interested in indie game soundtracks, there are recommendations available through community groups and curations.
“The music is okay.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, as the narrative is sparse and the focus is primarily on action rather than storytelling or character growth.
“The game focuses heavily on action, offering minimal storyline or character development.”
“Character arcs feel rushed and underdeveloped, leaving players disconnected from their motivations.”
“There is a lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth, making the development feel shallow.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express concerns about the monetization strategy, particularly highlighting that the accuracy of ads diminishes while in motion, suggesting that this feature should be disabled for a better user experience.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability through its upgrade system, allowing players to enhance their experience in the simple arena shooter format.
“It's a simple arena shooter with significant replayability potential due to its upgrade system and various gameplay modes.”
“The game offers a variety of characters and strategies, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple difficulty levels and unlockable content, there's always a reason to jump back in for another round.”
“It's a simple arena shooter with some replayability potential with upgrades, etc.”
