TARTARUS

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TARTARUS is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Abyss Gameworks and was released on November 21, 2017. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

"Tartarus" is a single-player Science Fiction Hack and Slash game set in a terrifyingly dark sci-fi universe in 2230. As Cooper, a cook and miner, you must hack the ship's systems via terminals using realistically simulated commands to prevent the ship from crashing into Neptune. Despite its unique atmosphere and exceptional visuals, the game is marred by horrible gameplay and numerous bugs.

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44%

Audience ScoreBased on 121 reviews

story11 positive mentions

gameplay5 negative mentions

The game features challenging puzzles that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The graphics and atmosphere are well-designed, contributing to an immersive experience.
The retro-futuristic aesthetic and command-line interface add a unique twist to the gameplay.

The ending is frustrating and shifts the gameplay style unexpectedly, detracting from the overall experience.
There are numerous bugs and technical issues, including crashes and poor controls.
The story is weak and lacks depth, with minimal character development and a linear plot.

story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The game's story is described as a mix of a predictable B-grade space thriller with some interesting elements, but ultimately lacks depth and engagement. While some players appreciate the atmospheric contributions of the narrative, many criticize its linearity, weak plot, and frustrating gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the story has potential but often feels underdeveloped and fails to fully immerse players.
- “There is a great story to this game and the environment gives you a feeling of being alone despite the other person here and there on the comm system.”
- “Has a good story and is very well done.”
- “Time is the initial enemy yet Tartarus has more surprises in store for you, as you’re rushing towards the story’s conclusion.”
- “No spoilers, but let's say that it is just a regular B-grade space thriller movie of the 80s-90s kind of vibe and story.”
- “The story was kinda lame and predictable and the puzzles were not interesting.”
- “The graphics are not as nice as the Steam store shows, the voice acting is bad, the story is below average and the gameplay mechanics are horrible.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful visuals and retro-futuristic aesthetic, while others criticize the inconsistent quality and use of generic assets. Many appreciate the atmosphere and design, but note that certain areas appear sparse or unfinished, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent, they fall short of the high standards set by other titles in the genre.
- “Generally a good sci-fi game with solid graphics, challenging puzzles, and no weapons (at least for you).”
- “I really like this game; graphically it's beautiful, the puzzles are challenging, and the characters have a lot of personality which makes the game really fun.”
- “The graphics are amazing and easy to learn controls.”
- “Tartarus does an okay job with the atmosphere (read: it's dark), but its graphics and environments look like they're generic assets copied and pasted from an online store.”
- “- strangely inconsistent graphical quality: sometimes Tartarus looks pretty great, but other times it's a surprisingly ugly game; many areas are unnecessarily large and sparse, almost as if they're unfinished.”
- “With such a small development team and budget, this doesn't come off as a huge surprise, but perhaps it would have been better for Tartarus to use more abstract aesthetics to better conceal its rough visual edges.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
76%
15%
The gameplay has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players expressing frustration over poorly designed mechanics and arbitrary lengthening tactics that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the clever puzzles, they often feel let down by the lack of coherent gameplay flow and the abrupt shifts in mechanics, particularly in the final act. Overall, the game struggles with balancing its intriguing concepts against frustrating execution, leading to a gameplay experience that may not satisfy all players.
- “I'm liking the gameplay; I hope the story delivers.”
- “This game does not hold your hand throughout the gameplay; at most, it will guide you in the general direction, and you must go from there.”
- “It abruptly requires you to forget most of the modern gameplay styles and return to the past games and computer reality, where you had a problem, and you had to brainstorm through it.”
- “The thing that made me quit and uninstall was the shamelessness of the arbitrary gameplay lengthener (AGL) mechanics.”
- “Poor gameplay design.”
- “Relatively short (four genuine puzzle segments) and hamstrung by a weak plot and some bad gameplay mechanics, it's hard to recommend the game to anybody but a diehard puzzle gamer.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
30%
9%
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with many players noting its strong contribution to the storytelling and overall experience. While some reviews highlight excellent graphics and sound design that enhance the atmosphere, others criticize certain aspects, such as generic environments or a lack of tension. Overall, the game is recognized for its atmospheric elements, though comparisons to other titles suggest it may not fully stand out in this regard.
- “The atmosphere is excellent and the puzzles are good.”
- “Musics and atmosphere is great in this game, they really suck you into its world.”
- “The atmosphere is simply great, the voice acting is convincing and overall this is a great game I'm enjoying a lot.”
- “Tartarus does an okay job with the atmosphere (read: it's dark), but its graphics and environments look like they're generic assets copied and pasted from an online store.”
- “I could let the scale of the game slide if it weren't for the price and the lack of atmosphere.”
- “If you want atmosphere, there are better games, like Alien: Isolation (yes, I know everyone is comparing the two, but I'm afraid the comparison is extremely valid), or even the new Prey (2017).”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game is highly praised for its dramatic and atmospheric qualities, effectively immersing players in the game's world. The soundtrack and voice acting are considered top-notch, enhancing the overall experience, although some players note that the eerie music can create tension in moments where no danger is present.
- “The music and atmosphere are great in this game; they really suck you into its world.”
- “Both the soundtrack and the voice acting are top notch.”
- “The game keeps putting me in dark hallways and rooms with eerie music, even when clearly no danger has been established to exist.”
- “~spooky background music~ but there is literally no risk to the player character (until the annoying stealth segment)”
- “Dramatic music!”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting significant bugs and freezing issues that hinder gameplay, while others note that it is generally stable with only minor glitches and misspellings that could be easily addressed through patches. In contrast, Tartarus is highlighted as a stable game free from such problems.
- “This game is buggy and poorly thought out.”
- “Sometimes the game freezes or another weird bug happens which doesn't allow you to pick up stuff.”
- “Good atmosphere, good graphics (noticed a couple of glitches early on) voice acting good.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users initially criticizing it for poor performance. Despite improvements noted in later stages, significant optimization issues remain, particularly during action sequences.
- “I've almost completed the game, but the last part with actions exposed that the game is also not optimized at all.”
- “- Bad optimization.”
- “This was a negative review before because of the bad optimization; now I am changing it.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers little to no replayability, as it is short and lacks content that encourages players to revisit it. Many users suggest avoiding full-price purchases due to its limited longevity and potential for frustration at the conclusion.
- “You are going to have fun through the game, but don't buy it at full price, because it's a very short game with no replayability and will leave you frustrated at the end.”
- “No replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the initial puzzles engaging and the spacewalk exciting, but the experience deteriorates towards the end, becoming overly tedious and frustrating due to excessive precision and lackluster stealth elements. This shift in gameplay leads some to abandon the game entirely.
- “I uninstalled about 90 seconds from the end of the game because it just became too tedious.”
- “Interesting and not so hard starting console puzzles, quite exciting spacewalk, and then it became dumb and tedious at the very end with over-precise math and not-so-puzzle horror stealth.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the humor in the game nostalgic, particularly appreciating the references to MS-DOS, which evoke fond memories of the past. This blend of retro elements and comedic moments adds a lighthearted charm to the experience.
- “Dealing with the MS-DOS stuff reminds me of the old days... it was funny!”
- “The humor in this game is spot on, with clever jokes that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the game incorporates absurd situations that keep the gameplay light-hearted and entertaining.”