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The Pulse of Evil

95%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, replayability
95% User Score Based on 141 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
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About

Find yourself on a mission exploring the depth of an ominous forgotten mine. You arrive barehanded but quickly find the tools needed to go deeper. Destroy the infected living parts of the mine and face the final threat and complete your mission.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
The Pulse of Evil screenshot
The Pulse of Evil screenshot

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 141 reviews
gameplay16 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and engaging inventory management system that adds tension and strategy to combat.
  • It's a short but enjoyable experience, with solid gameplay mechanics and a fun atmosphere.
  • The game is free, making it an accessible option for players looking for a quick horror experience.
  • The game lacks depth in story and lore, leaving players wanting more narrative context.
  • Some players found the inventory management to be awkward and frustrating, especially during combat.
  • The game is very short, which may leave some players feeling unsatisfied and wishing for more content.
  • gameplay
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by solid combat mechanics and a unique, challenging inventory management system that adds depth to the survival horror experience. Players appreciate the game's gritty visual style and the stress-inducing atmosphere, though some find the inventory mechanics initially difficult to master. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and replayability, despite its short length.

    • “It has solid combat mechanics and a very nice, gritty visual style.”
    • “Game overall has some decent production values, a good variety of enemies that threaten you in clever ways, a novel death mechanic where you respawn as a new person following the previous run's footsteps, and even a boss fight to top it all off.”
    • “I loved the mechanics in this game; at first I was confused because of the difference between its inventory system and other games - but it wasn't long before I began to master it and really enjoy it.”
    • “A fun little survival horror where the gameplay is frantically trying to cram items into your pockets while monsters harass you.”
    • “To get right to what I mean, the core mechanic is inventory management and it is the most horrendous inventory mechanic I've ever used, which works really well for this game.”
    • “I feel like it'd be great to have the player be able to dodge when the inventory isn't insanely full, with a stamina and encumbrance mechanic.”
  • graphics
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are praised for their retro style and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the horror experience. While some players suggest that vector graphics could have improved the clarity of rotating inventory items, the overall visual presentation, combined with a unique inventory system, is well-received and contributes to the game's engaging gameplay.

    • “I love it! The pulse of evil hits the spot I needed; the graphics make the game feel more horror than most up-to-date horror games.”
    • “Graphics, atmosphere, and music are all great, and the inventory system is simple yet lots of fun!”
    • “The game features nice pixel graphics and a bumpin' soundtrack.”
    • “Since the art style is so simple, the dev could've used vectors or mesh instead of those pixel sprites for the rotating items inside the inventory.”
    • “That would mean no rotated pixels in the game's screen with the largest resolution visuals.”
    • “Graphics: retro”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and stress-inducing qualities, enhanced by classic pixel art and effective music. Reviewers highlight the combination of a terrifying world and interesting mechanics that contribute to a memorable experience, despite some concerns about the lack of a save function. Overall, the game is described as fun, replayable, and excellently crafted in terms of atmosphere.

    • “Atmosphere is fantastic; classic pixel art will never go out of style for me <3.”
    • “Very atmospheric horror game with some interesting inventory concepts that keep you on your toes while dealing with whatever is down that mine.”
    • “A simple top-down shooter with an interesting death mechanic and a small yet terrifying and stressful world, with a stress-inducing atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion or tension.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotions or engagement.”
  • emotional
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the experience is characterized by a stark contrast between intellectual potential and the necessity of genuine human connections for emotional development. While the environment may offer intellectual stimulation, the absence of nurturing relationships and stability significantly hinders emotional growth, empathy, and a well-rounded sense of self. Ultimately, the interplay between isolation and communal bonds shapes the emotional landscape, highlighting the importance of human interaction in fostering resilience and emotional intelligence.

    • “The absence of a stable and nurturing environment might hinder the baby's emotional growth, empathetic understanding, and overall well-being.”
    • “Though such connections might be tempered by the violent nature of their profession, the bonds forged could provide a foundation for emotional growth and resilience.”
    • “The intellectual potential within the giant brain may be vast, yet a lack of genuine human connection limits the baby's emotional and social growth.”
  • story
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as lacking depth and variety, with players expressing a desire for more lore and narrative elements to enhance the experience. While some found the gameplay enjoyable, the absence of a compelling story or satisfying combat mechanics detracted from its replay value. Overall, the narrative feels underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more.

    • “Short and sweet, a little confused about the story but I had fun overall; it's free and you should play it.”
    • “Maybe throw in upgrades, allies, and all that because honestly, if this game had the time and variety, story, and replay loop, I would pre-order and spend a good chunk of money to support that.”
    • “I just wish there was more story and/or lore here.”
    • “The game didn't have any story/lore to piece together either, nor a combat model that's satisfying or deep enough to replay for itself, like Dead Space or Resident Evil 4.”
    • “Maybe throw in upgrades, allies, and all that because honestly if this game had the time and variety, story, and replay loop, I would pre-order and spend a good chunk of money to support that.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players enjoy the fun and atmospheric elements along with achievements that encourage replay, others find the lack of randomization and interesting modifiers limits the incentive to replay, especially given the short playtime.

    • “Fun, atmospheric, and replayable.”
    • “Fun trying to find secrets and hunting for the achievements, which adds some replayability.”
    • “Learning this was a bit of a double-whammy in that not only is the map boring, but it means that my assumed replayability of the game by switching elements up is practically non-existent (which I was hoping would offset the short playtime).”
    • “As mentioned above, not only did the game not have enough randomization to generate replayability and offset the short run time, but it didn't have any interesting modifiers or difficulties.”
    • “A couple of achievements to add replayability and challenge, and it's free.”
  • music
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its creative use of synths and a "bumpin'" soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal alongside its graphics and gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack is really something as well.”
    • “I love the creative use of synths in the soundtrack, very tasteful.”
    • “The game features nice pixel graphics and a bumpin' soundtrack.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as progression relies on repeated runs after death, with the challenge of retrieving lost inventory from distant locations adding to the frustration.

    • “Progression after death is achieved through successive runs, with the dead player’s inventory left where they dropped it, which can be tedious if the player died far from the start.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by players' enjoyment of quirky moments, such as a humorous boss fight and a funny baby character at the end, contributing to an overall positive experience.

    • “Amazing! I loved getting all the achievements, and the boss fight was great too. The baby at the end was unexpectedly funny.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch! I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue and quirky characters.”
    • “I appreciate how the game balances humor with gameplay. The jokes are well-timed and add a delightful layer to the experience.”

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