System Purge
- April 5, 2022
- Actual Nerds
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"System Purge" is a single-player first-person shooter game set in a dystopian future. As the last surviving member of a specialized task force, players must navigate through a series of facilities to eliminate rogue AI programs. With a variety of weapons and enemies to face, the game offers a challenging and immersive experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features tight, responsive controls and a fair amount of challenge, making it enjoyable for platforming fans.
- The art and sound design are exceptional, creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
- It's a short but rewarding game that introduces new mechanics throughout, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content or replayability.
- There are some minor bugs and issues, such as unskippable cutscenes and occasional glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
- The story is minimal and can be confusing, leaving some players unsure about the narrative context.
- story48 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing and rewarding, with strong visual storytelling and world-building that enhances the experience. While some players found the narrative simple or occasionally confusing, many appreciated the depth provided by indirect storytelling and the rich atmosphere. Overall, the storyline keeps players engaged, motivating them to explore further, despite some wishing for more character backstory.
“This game is an absolute hidden gem for people who love platformers and visual storytelling.”
“The storyline is pretty nice and it will definitely keep you motivated to go through the whole thing; it's pretty rewarding.”
“Great world building through visuals and indirect storytelling.”
“I wished that there was a bit more backstory to the characters.”
“There are a couple of things that don't add up in the story, mainly regarding the biofuel chapter, but overall, it is incredibly interesting to see how everything comes together in the end.”
“This wouldn't usually be an issue since it's an extremely linear game - but to find all of the exposition story and related achievements you need to find terminals which you can easily miss simply by choosing the wrong of two possible paths.”
- atmosphere38 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its depth and effectiveness, combining creepy elements with strong sound design and visuals that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers note that while the platforming can be challenging, the rich world-building and engaging ambiance make it a worthwhile experience, especially for fans of atmospheric platformers. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating and integral to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.
“The atmosphere is amazing.”
“Atmospheric sound and visuals with very good jump controls.”
“A very atmospheric horror/platformer game that will challenge your platforming and timing skills.”
“Not as difficult as similar games, but the atmosphere and world building make up for that.”
“A nice mix of traditional high-speed platforming and the oppressive atmosphere you more commonly see in cinematic platformers.”
“Kind of a 2D precision-esque platformer, but the focus is way more on the atmosphere and horror elements, which are done pretty well, though the platforming itself is still pretty solid!”
- graphics34 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and atmospheric visuals, which effectively enhance the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the intriguing aesthetics, creepy settings, and strong world-building through visuals, contributing to a unique and immersive atmosphere. While some mention a lack of variety in movement options, the overall visual presentation, combined with effective sound design, elevates the game's appeal.
“I was thrilled by the aesthetics and the fact that it looked like a really punishing game.”
“Visuals are beautiful, backgrounds never distract you from the traps and levels.”
“Great world building through visuals and indirect storytelling.”
“The visuals are decent enough, the music is effective, and it's even a bit gory in places.”
“2D platformers have always been one of my favorite types of games, but the art style, horror aspect, and difficult levels made for a genuinely unique game experience.”
“This is mostly from a gameplay perspective, but it does its art style really well too.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its creative mechanics and tight level design, with a gradual increase in difficulty that keeps players engaged. While the movement options are somewhat limited, the game compensates with intuitive challenges and a variety of mechanics introduced throughout. Some minor bugs and tricky segments exist, but overall, the gameplay experience is enjoyable and well-balanced, especially considering its short playtime.
“The levels aren't repetitive as new mechanics are added throughout the entire game.”
“All mechanics and obstacles are intuitive and they all get used to their full potential. Very few of the challenges overstay their welcome, and the few I think that do can still be easily overcome by just being patient. Considering the price point, that's one hell of a sell.”
“I love how it continuously builds on mechanics and complexity as you progress through the levels.”
“The game is definitely brought down a bit by the lack of variety in movement options.”
“There are some bugs in the game though; most aren't gameplay-impacting, but there's one brief section that has some lag that makes the game feel slow for a bit, a few rooms will spawn you at the end instead of the beginning when you die, and during one speedrun, the sound effects from another section of the level triggered randomly and kept playing for the rest of the run.”
“There are a couple of segments that can be tricky when two mechanics are combined in a tough way (specifically the turret and the motion sensor).”
- music24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance immersion, with many reviewers highlighting the standout soundtrack as a key element of the experience. The combination of gorgeous pixel art and effective music creates a cohesive aesthetic, while specific tracks, such as the one encountered during a pivotal moment, are noted as particularly memorable. Additionally, some background music adds an unsettling layer to the gameplay, contributing to the overall emotional impact.
“The pixel art and music are gorgeous and complement each other perfectly. The controls are supremely tight, meaning that every death is due to the player and not unfair mechanics. The writing and story give you just enough to chew on to spark your imagination without revealing too much.”
“Definitely worth the price; the art is amazing, the music is very atmospheric, and the level design is great.”
“The game is visually appealing, and the music is effective, enhancing the overall experience.”
“There was also a bit of faint music that would occasionally play in the background that reminded me of circus music, and I found it very unnerving to listen to without knowing where it was coming from.”
“The visuals are decent enough, the music is effective and it's even a bit gory in places.”
“Gameplay, art, music, all solid.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability, particularly for players interested in achieving all accomplishments, but many feel that its short length limits overall replay value, with most players satisfied after one playthrough.
“It's a relatively short game, but it has quite a bit of replayability if you're trying to get the achievements.”
“I honestly don't think this game has a lot of replay value; maybe you can squeeze a second or third run out of it, but I'm feeling content with just one.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect due to a long, unskippable cutscene in sector 4 that must be replayed upon dying, which can feel tedious and confusing, especially for those unsure of the required actions.
