Succubus
- October 4, 2021
- Madmind Studio
- 10h median play time
Hyper-violence, uncensored nudity and a unique take on Hell provide shock-value, but Succubus's gameplay is mostly repetitive.
"Succubus" is a single-player horror action game with a good story, masterful visuals, and a great soundtrack. As the demonic priestess Vydija, players must survive the downfall of Hell and regain their kingdom, using unique lust-based skills to take revenge on enemies. Despite some bugs and grinding, the game features a fantastic atmosphere and hilarious moments, with an emotional storyline.
Reviews
- story760 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Succubus" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be minimal, poorly executed, and lacking depth. While some appreciate the basic revenge plot and the dark atmosphere, others criticize the dialogue, character development, and overall coherence, describing it as forgettable or even nonsensical. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling element, leading many to suggest that players should not expect a rich storytelling experience.
“The combination of brutal combat and dark storytelling kept me engaged for hours.”
“While her methods are extreme, her quest for justice and revenge is universally relatable.”
“The unique skills and the quest to regain your kingdom create an intriguing narrative.”
“The story is a big nothingburger too so don't get your hopes up.”
“The story is completely forgettable.”
“The story is pretty much non-existent; if you expect to dive into this game wanting a story-rich experience, then you're in for a disappointment.”
- gameplay639 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Succubus" is characterized by a mix of fast-paced hack-and-slash mechanics and strategic elements, drawing comparisons to titles like Doom and God of War. While some players find the combat engaging and fun, many criticize it for being repetitive, clunky, and lacking depth, with a significant focus on gore and adult themes overshadowing gameplay refinement. Overall, the experience is seen as a step up from its predecessor, "Agony," but still requires further polish to fully realize its potential.
“Fun gameplay with excessive gore and gross-out factor.”
“Let me start off with the combat, while it's nothing brand new or groundbreaking, it does feature an entertaining combat mechanic and all the powers/abilities you can use are quite fun.”
“The gameplay exceeded my expectations; this is a very good slasher with a lot of different cool ways to kill the enemy.”
“The gameplay is boring and repetitive and the graphics look really bad even on ultra.”
“The gameplay is incredibly repetitive and lacks any real depth or excitement, making it feel more like a chore than a fun experience.”
“The gameplay sucks very bad, it's supposed to be a doom copy but it's really slow and terrible.”
- graphics468 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and intricate art style that effectively bring the hellish atmosphere to life. However, some players have reported performance issues, graphical glitches, and a lack of optimization, particularly in the full version compared to the prologue. Overall, while the graphics are often highlighted as a strong point, they are marred by inconsistencies and technical problems that detract from the experience.
“The studio's commitment to pushing boundaries is evident in every aspect of the game, from its stunning graphics to its intricate character designs.”
“The graphics in succubus are absolutely stunning.”
“The graphics and atmosphere were equally impressive, but the gameplay felt clunky and unpolished.”
“Pretty janky, pretty buggy, pretty lacking and not pretty graphically.”
“Graphics are messed up.. it's unplayable.”
“The gameplay is boring and repetitive and the graphics look really bad even on ultra.”
- music134 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's music has received mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric qualities and specific elements like female vocals, while others criticize it for being forgettable and not fitting the game's frenetic gameplay. Many players feel that the soundtrack lacks the intensity expected from a violent game, often describing it as bland or merely ambient. Overall, while there are standout moments, the music is generally seen as underwhelming and not fully aligned with the game's themes.
“The soundtrack fits perfectly, adding much to the gloomy atmosphere.”
“In the end, I will just add that the boys from the Polish studio Madmind Studio, and especially the performer Draco Nared, managed to create an absolutely breathtaking soundtrack for the game, which could bear comparison with The Witcher in some boss fights.”
“The music is well-made, well-planned, and intoxicating.”
“The soundtrack doesn't fit with the gameplay; this game is violent and frenetic, and it needs a soundtrack that reflects that. Most of the soundtrack is either a neutral ambience or just a little silence-filler.”
“All songs played in or outside of combat are extremely bland, boring, and uninspired.”
“The music is actually really solid but doesn't fit the game; it sounds more like music from another mummy sequel.”
- stability118 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players report issues such as crashes, audio problems, and graphical glitches, leading to frustration and a sense of instability. While some acknowledge that the game has potential and express hope for future patches, the consensus is that it remains unpolished and janky at this time.
“This game came out surprisingly bug-free; it's in a decently working condition, and I've only ever had issues with silly physics and a single crash (probably because I was alt-tabbed for like 2 hours).”
“Generally bug-free.”
“No glitches that I've seen, just a lot of minor frustrations like the aforementioned.”
“The game is very rough around the edges thanks to bugs, glitches, and crashes, and the story and characters could've used a bit more depth, better writing, and voice acting or direction.”
“Game is buggy as fuck, random crashes, hard crashes, etc...”
“Edit: after more than a year, the game is still very unpolished, buggy, and unstable.”
- atmosphere102 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of *Succubus* is widely praised for its intense and immersive depiction of hell, featuring impressive graphics, detailed environments, and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the game's unique and dark aesthetic, which effectively captures the horror themes and grotesque elements expected from a hellish setting. However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is strong, the gameplay mechanics and combat can feel clunky or unpolished, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
“From the moment you start playing, *Succubus* hooks you with its intense atmosphere and gripping storyline.”
“The attention to detail in the environment and character design is top-notch, and the game's dark and twisted atmosphere is perfect for a game set in hell.”
“The atmosphere is a clear win; it makes you feel dirty and violated, which is what hell is supposed to make you feel.”
“The lack of atmosphere by the accompanying audio was also disappointing.”
“Combat is trash, story trash, atmosphere is pretty trash.”
“Yea it's cute but again it takes away from the atmosphere/feel of hell.”
- optimization90 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and frame rate drops, even on capable hardware. While some users noted improvements in recent patches, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and requires substantial work to enhance performance and graphical fidelity. A few players experienced satisfactory performance on high settings, but these instances are overshadowed by widespread complaints about optimization shortcomings.
“Update: I can now play the game without performance issues.”
“Performance and graphics look great on my 1070 and it runs way better than the pre-demo.”
“Performance options can be adjusted, and even on an older system you can maintain greater than 60 fps fairly easily through settings.”
“Good game idea, sadly extremely badly optimized.”
“The game is horribly optimized.”
“It's pathetic and completely unacceptable that you guys delayed the game like 4 times to 'polish it' and look at the state that it's in... the optimization is horrible.”
- humor66 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by an edgy, over-the-top style that blends dark comedy with absurdity, often drawing comparisons to 90s bad girl comics and heavy metal lyrics. Players find the voice acting and dialogue to be hilariously bad, contributing to a chaotic atmosphere filled with shocking and vulgar humor, though it may not appeal to those sensitive to such themes. Overall, the game is seen as a guilty pleasure, offering a mix of funny, disturbing, and absurd moments that align with its hack-and-slash gameplay.
“It's a funny hack n' slash game, with a short storyline and some stupid, funny jokes.”
“I love the world, the characters, and the humor the game has!”
“I find the over-the-top dialogue to be downright hilarious at some points.”
- grinding40 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, often describing combat as clunky and lacking in excitement. Many reviews highlight that the game relies heavily on grinding through enemies that feel like mere health sponges, leading to a lack of meaningful progression and enjoyment. While some elements, like arena battles, offer brief moments of fun, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Initial level was entertaining, but playing through another level or so it felt very lackluster in comparison, just an enemy grinding game with no sense of achievement from beating enemies.”
“Game fails to offer anything more than just cranking up health and damage of enemies, thus any higher difficulty levels are just making a tedious game even more tedious.”
“The combat is repetitive and grindy, the story is 'meh', and the game is glitchy, especially after updates.”
- replayability28 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the variety of challenges, collectibles, and ranked modes that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize its linear design and lack of substantial content updates, leading to a sense of stagnation after initial play. Although some users report enjoying around 35 hours of gameplay, many express a desire for more engaging content to sustain interest over time. Overall, while there are elements that can enhance replayability, the game's limitations may deter players from returning.
“Fantastic game with enough replay value and rewards to keep you going for at least 35 hours by my estimates.”
“Replayability is great, also thanks to the fact that there are both collectibles and side quests in the individual maps (the game also includes arenas).”
“Challenges like beating a level in set time or doing specific activities like putting monsters in specific traps and gathering points you can use to improve your hub (housing) and character (armors, skins) and weapons (power levels) help replayability of levels while scratching the roleplay itch.”
“Lastly, I doubt there's much replay value sadly considering the linear design. While there's variety with weapons and the kills can be quite gratifying, it wanes a bit fast when you've 'seen it all.'”
“I keep seeing this game pump out DLC skins that mostly are poor reskins or just disappointing new models from the ground up. This game has no replay value; I haven't even 100% the game and that isn't enough to keep playing. I think they should add more game content to justify pumping out paid skins.”
“Mind you though, I'm talking about the last time I played it, probably even before the first two DLCs came out. Since there's no real replayability (because let's be honest, the only things are the arenas and that's it), I don't even bother installing it again to see.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from deep nostalgia and heartfelt connections to frustration and disappointment. While some players find it to be a beautiful and heartwarming experience that evokes strong memories, others criticize the lack of emotional investment due to amateur storytelling and voice acting. Overall, the game seems to resonate deeply with some, while leaving others feeling disconnected.
“Such a beautiful and heartwarming game. While playing, I had so many nice memories from my home and friends that I started crying. I don't think I'll ever have this experience playing any other game. All I can say is that I'm glad I found this game; it's worth every penny.”
“Hell, I screamed, I cried, and I raged.”
“Bugs are heartbreaking.”
- character development14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received significant criticism, particularly regarding the main character (mc), who is described as lacking depth and visual appeal. Despite the game's impressive graphics and intricate character designs, many players feel that the mc's portrayal detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that improvements in character design and development could enhance the game's impact.
“The studio's commitment to pushing boundaries is evident in every aspect of the game, from its stunning graphics to its intricate character designs.”
“The attention to detail in the environment and character design is top-notch, and the game's dark and twisted atmosphere is perfect for a game set in hell.”
“The game takes place in a dark, twisted version of hell, and the attention to detail in the environments and character designs is truly impressive.”
“The main character is lacking in every single aspect, especially in character development and appearance. Even after attempts to enhance her looks, she remains extremely unattractive.”
“The game could've been significantly improved with better character designs, particularly for the main character.”
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for this "adults only" first-person hack-and-slash game appears to focus on premium pricing, likely reflecting its graphic content and niche appeal. However, specific details on in-game purchases or additional monetization methods were not provided in the reviews.