- October 5, 2024
- MetalStar Studio
- 20h median play time
The Killing Antidote
Platforms
About
In "The Killing Antidote," play as Jodi, a journalist investigating a mutating germ threatening human existence. Engage in third-person action, including shooting, melee combat, and puzzle-solving. Experience detailed visuals, a stunning protagonist, and customizable fashion options while using various weapons and strategies to combat enemies.











- Impressive visuals and character design, especially for an indie title.
- Engaging gameplay with smooth controls and satisfying combat mechanics.
- Rich character customization options, allowing players to personalize the protagonist.
- Stealth sections can be frustrating and poorly designed, leading to cheap deaths.
- The game is currently short, with only one chapter available in early access.
- Enemy spawning can feel unfair, with zombies appearing unexpectedly and overwhelming players.
story
357 mentions Positive Neutral Negative25%72%3%The game's story, while currently incomplete and primarily featuring a typical zombie outbreak narrative, has garnered mixed reviews. Players appreciate the intriguing elements and potential for depth, with some noting that the exploration and character customization enhance replayability. However, many express a desire for more content and polish, as the existing story mode is seen as lacking in engagement and coherence, with some frustrating gameplay mechanics detracting from the overall experience.
“The story is compelling.”
“The story-line turns out to be high tier when you take a moment to put its pieces together.”
“The story is interesting and the game has great potential.”
“The pacing, story, level design, and atmosphere of the game is horrid.”
“The story-line is kind of empty and dull, full of lots of zombie apocalypse tropes, but I don't think people who bought this were just buying it for the story.”
“The story is not very amazing so far.”
gameplay
265 mentions Positive Neutral Negative47%52%1%The gameplay of the reviewed games is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, including over-the-shoulder shooting, resource management, and puzzle-solving, reminiscent of classic survival horror titles like Resident Evil. Players appreciate the satisfying gunplay, character customization options, and the blend of action and exploration, although some note issues with stiffness in controls and enemy AI. Overall, the gameplay is described as fun and addictive, with room for improvement in certain mechanics and content expansion.
“The gameplay is addictive, the mechanics feel great, the replayability value for me at least is there and I am patiently waiting for more content to be added.”
“The core gameplay is engaging and challenging, with a mix of exploration and combat that keeps you on your toes.”
“Gameplay is fun, there's enough variety of enemies to keep you on your toes, light puzzles, and the gunplay feels satisfying.”
“The gameplay experience at the end, especially the final fight in the generator room, was quite annoying.”
“Clunky gameplay and physics: Combat and movement mechanics feel heavy and unresponsive, making it a struggle to engage with enemies or explore the environment.”
“Feels very unfinished and the gameplay is very below average, not sure why everyone is so positive on this.”
graphics
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative63%35%2%The graphics of "The Killing Antidote," built on Unreal Engine 4, have received widespread praise for their impressive visuals, detailed character designs, and atmospheric environments, often compared favorably to modern AAA titles. Players appreciate the smooth performance and solid optimization, with many noting the game's ability to run well even on mid-range hardware. However, some critiques mention minor graphical inconsistencies and a desire for further polish in certain areas, particularly regarding textures and environmental details.
“Built on Unreal Engine 4, The Killing Antidote boasts impressive visuals for an indie title.”
“The graphics are beautiful, so are the characters, there’s customization, and the game runs smoothly—something that's rare for modern games.”
“The graphics are stunning.”
“Odd halos around moving objects, dithering, and blurred visuals.”
“Subpar graphics and model design.”
“The unrealistic proportions and awkward aesthetics only serve to further break immersion, making it hard to take the game’s atmosphere seriously.”
atmosphere
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative35%57%8%The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, enhanced by impressive graphics and sound design that evoke a sense of dread reminiscent of classic horror titles like Resident Evil. Players appreciate the detailed environments, effective use of shadows, and well-crafted audio elements that contribute to a tense and engaging experience. However, some critiques mention that certain visual choices can detract from the overall immersion, and the lack of ambient music may leave the atmosphere feeling somewhat reliant on jump scares.
“The scary atmosphere and combat are what make this game shine in my eyes; the random sound clips that make me feel uneasy walking around a hospital are all well done.”
“The game's atmosphere and sound design work together to create an immersive experience that draws you in and refuses to let go.”
“The horror elements are enhanced by the atmospheric design, where shadows play as much a part in the horror as any enemy does.”
“The pacing, story, level design, and atmosphere of the game is horrid.”
“The unrealistic proportions and awkward aesthetics only serve to further break immersion, making it hard to take the game’s atmosphere seriously.”
“The game also lacks soundtracks or any kind of ambient background music to add to the atmosphere, leaving it mostly reliant on mini-jumpscares from zombie ambushes to give the player a jolt.”
replayability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative36%56%8%Overall, the game exhibits high replayability due to its variety of additional modes, multiple endings based on player choices, and extensive customization options, including numerous unlockable costumes. Players appreciate the challenge modes and cooperative features that further enhance the experience, making it enjoyable for both casual play and dedicated runs. Despite some minor issues, the game's replay value is consistently highlighted as a strong point, especially for those who enjoy collectibles and different gameplay styles.
“Even after the story, the extra modes are fun to play, and you can bring that inventory to story mode for more replayability.”
“The variety of wardrobe options is astounding; it makes the game's replayability skyrocket through that alone, like an infinite amount of collectibles.”
“The game is good for a single run or two, but in terms of replayability, the main variation comes from the enemies.”
“The choices made throughout the game can lead to multiple endings, significantly enhancing replayability.”
“With multiple endings based on your choices, there’s plenty of replay value.”
optimization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative61%28%11%Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even on lower-end hardware and at high settings. While some players experienced minor issues like frame rate drops and bugs, the majority found the graphics and gameplay to be well-optimized, making it a standout in the early-access category. The game runs efficiently, with minimal loading times and a visually appealing presentation, contributing to a satisfying gaming experience.
“The graphics are beautiful, so are the characters, there’s customization, and the game runs smoothly—something that's rare for modern games.”
“The game is optimized so well that even my weak PC can run it on max settings with ease.”
“It’s really well optimized, loading times are basically non-existent and I’ve had little to no issues.”
“Even on a decent gaming setup, the game suffers from frame rate drops, stuttering, and bugs, adding to the unfinished feel.”
“Claro que ainda existem pequenos problemas de performance e muitos bugs (ia bugada em alguns inimigos, dificuldade forçada em alguns pontos e alguns elementos que precisam ser lapidados).”
“Many of these RE-inspired horny games are troubled with many issues; they run like garbage with awful optimizations, or are stuck in development void that never makes any headway beyond pre-alpha.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative30%57%13%The game's music aspect has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant lack of background music and ambient sound, which detracts from the overall immersion and atmosphere. While some appreciate the minimalistic approach that enhances the horror experience, others express a desire for more ambient tracks and a cohesive soundtrack to elevate gameplay. Overall, the absence of consistent music leaves the game feeling hollow and less engaging during exploration.
“The sound design complements this, with a soundtrack that heightens tension and voice acting that brings the characters to life.”
“Combined with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and top-tier voice acting, the immersion is unparalleled.”
“Its a nice game to play while listening to music while getting immersed into the gameplay.”
“Basically no music in the game, which can lend itself well to horror as all you hear are your footsteps and the enemies' howls.”
“Very little actual musical score in the game.”
“The game also lacks soundtracks or any kind of ambient background music to add to the atmosphere, leaving it mostly reliant on mini-jumpscares from zombie ambushes to give the player a jolt.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative19%81%The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various glitches and bugs typical of early access titles, including issues with controls and missing elements. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these problems, others describe it as a frustrating mess that detracts from gameplay. Overall, the developers are noted for their responsiveness in addressing issues, suggesting potential for improvement in future updates.
“I'm happy to say it runs great on my Steam Deck!”
“I really can't wait to see the future of TKA; it's got such a great start and continues to get more expansive base content and greater modding support in every major update. The developers are very quick with hotfixing any issues too; for the most part, it is very bug-free.”
“This game is a janky, buggy, frustrating mess in my opinion.”
“There are countless things to fix that seem easy, but for now it feels soulless and buggy.”
“It's got bugs, weird glitches, and it seriously needs a map option; it can be brutally hard in spots.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative25%75%Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive tasks required to unlock outfits and progress through challenge modes. While some enjoy the replayability of certain levels, many express that the grind can become excessively monotonous, especially in later stages where difficulty spikes occur. Overall, there is a consensus that adjustments are needed to balance the grinding experience, making it less burdensome.
“The puzzles are technically very easy math, but just in an extremely tedious way that makes it more annoying than enjoyable to solve.”
“The same map can definitely get old after the 50th time of grinding.”
“Without spoiling anything, the end of what is available at the time of writing this can be really frustratingly difficult, especially if you don't know what you're doing, and is absolute garbage on anything above normal, and even on normal it's frustrating because how everything is designed it forces you to kind of cheese this section by grinding out brain exploders.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative100%The humor in the game is largely derived from its bugs and quirky mechanics, which can lead to amusing moments, such as exaggerated character animations and unexpected sound effects. Players find humor in the game's references to zombie tropes and its over-the-top scenarios, despite some frustrations with gameplay balance. Overall, while the humor may not be the main selling point, it adds a lighthearted touch that enhances the experience.
“There's also random sounds that play on loop when you're just exploring, like a random zombie guy snarling, super loud footsteps, some guy dying, etc. It got pretty funny just listening to them idly play out while I was on my second playthrough.”
“It's hilarious to run around for 10 seconds and then breathing like you need an inhaler.”
“[spoiler] Also that guy with the uhm missing arm has one of the weirdest face animations ever and I dunno, it kinda made this entire scene (unintentionally?!) hilarious.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative11%89%The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling it leans towards a cash grab despite its engaging gameplay and story. While the initial impression may suggest a focus on adult content, many reviewers found the game to be more than just a cheap attempt to capitalize on that market. However, concerns about the game's pricing and the need for significant improvements in gameplay mechanics and design have led some to recommend caution before purchasing.
“$30+ for a game in this state feels like a cash grab, especially when considering the steady Patreon support.”
“If the developers want players to support this game, they’ll need to overhaul the gameplay mechanics, improve the design quality, and rethink the monetization approach.”
“For now, I do not recommend this cash grab!”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative38%37%25%Character development in the game is highlighted by its deep narrative filled with unexpected twists and moral dilemmas that engage players' decision-making. While the character design is praised for its quality and attention to detail, some critiques point to a reliance on exaggerated and hypersexualized portrayals. Overall, the combination of strong character design and compelling storytelling contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The storyline is filled with unexpected twists, deep character development, and moral dilemmas that challenge players' decisions throughout the game.”
“The character design is probably the best feature (as you've no doubt read and seen).”
“I was impressed by the quality of the game; it's outstanding from character design to environment, and this high quality really reveals the pride and attention to detail the developers took in their work.”
“The character designs and body proportions seem more focused on exaggerated, unrealistic elements, which aligns with what’s known as pornography problematic usage (PPU) in psychology—a tendency to rely on hypersexualized portrayals due to exposure to certain media trends.”
“I'm really bad with scary games, but the character design, customization, and costumes really appealed to me, so I really did my best to play through the entire story, with many breaks in between.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative100%The game excels in emotional engagement through well-developed characters and a gripping narrative that explores deep themes of morality and redemption. Players report a strong emotional investment, enhanced by customizable character options and a rich lore that heightens the stakes of the story. Overall, it is highly recommended for those seeking an immersive and emotionally resonant experience.
“The characters you meet along the way are well-developed, adding emotional depth to Jodi's quest.”
“The gripping narrative is an emotional roller coaster, delving into profound themes of morality and redemption.”
“I was genuinely surprised at how emotionally invested I became—it’s rare for a game to balance thrilling twists with such heartfelt depth.”