Tunnels of Despair
- March 16, 2018
- BearFighterDev
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Tunnels of Despair" is a first-person shooter game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by mutated creatures. Players must navigate through a series of procedurally generated tunnels, battling enemies and collecting resources to survive. With permadeath and a focus on strategy, each playthrough is a challenging new experience.
Reviews
- The game has a strong atmosphere that effectively creates tension and fear, reminiscent of classic survival horror titles.
- There is a decent amount of gameplay, with puzzles and exploration elements that can engage players for several hours.
- The game is praised for its unique setting in a zombie-infested metro, which adds to the overall experience.
- The gameplay is marred by frustrating mechanics, including a random item spawn system and a punishing hunger meter that detracts from the enjoyment.
- The combat system is poorly designed, with limited options for fighting enemies and a save system that penalizes players for using it.
- Many players found the game tedious due to its large, maze-like map and the requirement to collect all notes to progress, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its dark and ominous qualities, effectively creating a sense of apprehension and immersion. However, some players feel that the large, dark map can detract from the experience by making gameplay feel tedious, potentially undermining the initial atmospheric impact. Overall, it is recognized as a strong atmospheric indie horror game, particularly in its depiction of a dreamlike, eerie environment.
“Initially the atmosphere of this game was good - dark, creepy with the feeling of apprehension.”
“The atmosphere perfectly reflects dreams of digging Moscow subway.”
“Very nice atmospheric indie horror game.”
“The map is large and dark enough that gathering items and returning to the proper spot to use them, while avoiding the monsters, becomes a time-consuming chore, effectively negating any atmosphere that existed.”
“The overall ambiance feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich atmosphere, the repetitive environments and lack of engaging sound design leave it feeling flat and uninviting.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers around 4-5 hours of exploration and puzzle-solving as players navigate dark, atmospheric subway tunnels while avoiding monsters. While the experience is generally straightforward and visually appealing, some users suggest that it could benefit from additional gameplay styles and tweaks to enhance overall engagement.
“There's a good 4-5 hours of gameplay here as you piece together what you need to do to escape.”
“My main gameplay issues:”
“But it's fairly cheap, has quite nice graphics, and a good ominous atmosphere... maybe it only needs some tweaks here and there to support other kinds of gameplay styles and it would be much better.”
“Normal mode gameplay is pretty straightforward - explore and find items to escape the subway while avoiding the monsters lurking.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, with many praising its engaging and straightforward narrative that unfolds as players progress. However, opinions on gameplay vary, with some finding it exceptional while others consider it average. Overall, the story is a highlight for most players, enhancing their gaming experience.
“5 of 5: Great story, great gameplay.”
“4 of 5: Great story, average gameplay.”
“Story is simple and clean, as you keep discovering the truth.”
“The story is overly simplistic and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and fails to connect the dots, leaving many questions unanswered.”
“Character development is shallow, and the plot twists are predictable and uninspired.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their quality and ability to create an ominous atmosphere, though some users feel that they could benefit from additional detail and minor adjustments to enhance gameplay variety.
“But it's fairly cheap, has quite nice graphics, and a good ominous atmosphere. Maybe it only needs some tweaks here and there to support other kinds of gameplay styles, and it would be much better.”
“The graphics could be more detailed.”
“The textures look outdated and lack depth.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack realism.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with users consistently noting its quality and appeal.
“The music is really good.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“I love how the music evolves with the game, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, largely due to the inclusion of diverse play-through scenarios that encourage multiple play sessions.
“The use of play-through scenarios adds a lot of replay value to the game.”
“Each decision I make leads to a different outcome, making me want to replay it multiple times.”
“The variety of character builds and story paths keeps the game fresh and exciting with every playthrough.”
