UNLOVED
- September 29, 2016
- Paul Schneider
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam"Unloved" is a horror shooter game with fast-paced, old-school gameplay and modern co-op features, allowing 2-4 players to team up in a procedurally generated underground world filled with deadly monsters. The game boasts good graphics, a spectacular soundtrack, and compelling replayability, but can be grindy and buggy. Its atmosphere is masterfully unsettling, with the goal being to survive the nightmarish, ever-changing basement levels.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and sound design that enhances the horror experience.
- Fun gameplay with a unique heat system that adds tension and strategy.
- Offers a variety of game modes and customization options for replayability.
- Graphics and animations are subpar, making the game feel unpolished.
- Limited enemy variety and repetitive level design can lead to boredom.
- Multiplayer is often dead, making solo play less enjoyable.
- gameplay168 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this horror-themed FPS is characterized by a deep loot system, customizable difficulty, and a straightforward yet engaging loop that encourages exploration and grinding. While the randomly generated maps can lead to repetitive experiences, the solid gun mechanics and rewarding progression keep players invested for hours. However, some players find the gameplay simplistic and criticize the level design for lacking uniqueness, which may detract from the overall experience.
“It's a simple FPS design with some fairly in-depth mechanics woven into the formula (trinkets come to mind).”
“The gameplay varies by the impressive selection of game modes, challenges, and difficulty, of which there are enough to guarantee each playthrough to be unique and gives players the ability to choose the kind of experience they have.”
“Overall, Unloved is a unique shooter with bloody, intense, and atmospheric gameplay that shouldn't be overlooked.”
“The main thing holding back the gameplay is that it takes the Doom gameplay formula of grabbing keys and bringing them to doors, but with randomly generated maps, which means levels can blend into one mess of square rooms that don't feel very unique or interesting.”
“The gameplay is stale and boring; alone and with a friend it's just tedious and empty, no real hordes form or risks appear.”
“The animation is awful, sound effects are terrible, gameplay is poor, map is poor, you start off with a crap gun, shoot anywhere near an enemy and they die.”
- graphics90 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the dark, gritty aesthetic reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill, which effectively enhances the atmosphere. However, several users criticize the visuals as simplistic or amateurish, noting that they can detract from the overall experience despite the game's engaging gameplay. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they contribute to a unique and immersive horror experience.
“Terrifying visuals, very interesting, juicy-looking enemies with various attacks.”
“A rogue-like doom in the Unreal Engine 4 with a Silent Hill-inspired horror look, an aesthetic that is appreciated because it gives the game a lot more tension than your average Doom playthrough.”
“This game has decent graphics for being an indie-developed game (it runs on Unreal Engine 4), music is fitting and doesn't get annoying.”
“The graphics are really bad; even on max settings, it looks disappointing.”
“Graphically speaking, the game is extremely amateur.”
“Bad graphics, bad animations, bad 3D models, janky boring gameplay, glitches up to the wazoo; I feel like this would have been a bargain bin game in 2002 at GameStop.”
- atmosphere72 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, creepy, and immersive qualities, often compared to classic horror titles like Silent Hill and Doom. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound design, ambient music, and unsettling visuals that create a tense and oppressive environment, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While some mention inconsistencies in tone and graphics, the overwhelming consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout feature that keeps players engaged and on edge.
“A very good, underrated doom-style shooter horror game with a seriously good and fitting soundtrack, paired with a thick dark atmosphere and deep, mysterious, intriguing lore.”
“The atmosphere is fantastic, the gunplay feels nice, the enemy design is grotesque and I love it.”
“No consistency, tone is all over the place; atmosphere does not exist.”
“There's a dark, gritty, thick anxiety-ridden atmosphere that grips the player and refuses to let them go until the bitter end.”
“However, the atmosphere and the thought of something behind you as it takes time to pick up things or open doors makes for a creepy feeling, worrying about every bump or growl makes you want to run.”
- story48 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely conveyed through collectibles, such as photos and journal entries, which unlock slowly and require significant time investment to fully explore. While some players appreciate the eerie backstory and bizarre elements, many criticize the lack of a cohesive narrative or structured gameplay, leading to a feeling of disconnection from the story. Overall, the storytelling is considered minimal and fragmented, with some players finding it intriguing despite its shortcomings.
“The achievement system gives players a generous amount of incentives to collect items that can be used to upgrade their character's appearance and weapon's abilities, and to unlock notes that convey the eerie backstory.”
“While in the game, you can pick up ink bottles to unlock new color patterns for your character, and photographs to reveal new pieces of the story to Unloved; which is told through diary pages in the 'unlockables' menu.”
“The tidbits of story it gives you for collecting photos is interesting so far, and I am intrigued to find more.”
“There's no explanation for what became of Francis, his friend, or who or what he found along the way - but the rest of the story is a short elevator ride down.”
“If you're looking for storytelling and structured gameplay, you'll likely be disappointed.”
“The game does not have a story mode; it's only a battle arena for multiplayer.”
- music40 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the horror atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its fitting and immersive qualities. The soundtrack effectively complements gameplay, intensifying during enemy encounters and contributing to a sense of unease. While some mention a lack of variety and occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a standout feature.
“A very good, underrated doom-style shooter horror game with a seriously good and fitting soundtrack, paired with a thick dark atmosphere and deep, mysterious, intriguing lore.”
“The music fits the game extremely well without being annoying.”
“The atmosphere is grimy and dark, the flashlight is essential, and the soundtrack suits the game very well as it ranges from uneasy ambiance to heavy percussion and creaking doors as makeshift synth notes.”
“The greatest thing about the game might be the trailers, a bit of the music, and sound design - however the way everything is implemented was disappointing due to repetition with little variation in sound playback.”
“This game is 15-year-old kid's music he makes alone in his garage; he might become a rock star or part of a great band.”
“Music selection is also limited and repetitive.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game features a significant amount of grinding, often leading to a repetitive gameplay loop that can feel tedious and overwhelming, especially when trying to access late-game content or upgrade equipment. While some players find the grind addictive and rewarding, particularly in co-op play, others express frustration with the excessive grind required to progress, suggesting it may deter those who prefer a more streamlined experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is a double-edged sword, offering depth for dedicated players while potentially alienating those who dislike prolonged grinding.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is satisfying, with each level-up feeling like a significant achievement.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers something new to strive for.”
“You reach a difficulty peak at some point which appears to be hard to overcome and progress basically just means an absolutely insane amount of grinding.”
“What I dislike is how grindy it actually is to finally get to the point to access the late game content with the demon chests.”
“The reason I say the price is not appropriate is because the game gets repetitive and grindy after a while, and if you are not a fan of games like Doom you will get bored quickly.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its procedurally generated levels and diverse game modes, which keep the experience fresh and engaging. Many players find it particularly enjoyable when played with friends, although some note that the core gameplay may not be strong enough to sustain long-term solo play. Unlockables and a progression system further enhance replay value, making it a compelling choice for fans of fast-paced shooters and rogue-likes.
“Randomly generated levels lead to loads of replayability.”
“Unloved offers so much replayability, which is an amazing feat for being a rogue-like.”
“Lots of unlockables add to the replay value.”
“I am a fan of the system, and it certainly supports a lot of replayability, but the core gameplay itself I do not think is strong enough to support the amount of time you need to grind out the trinkets.”
“To add to this, the replayability is further hampered by the practically invisible effects of the equipment you unlock through playing, such as a 10% bonus to shotgun reload speed or a 10% bonus to melee damage.”
“The combat itself works reasonably well and it has some replayability value because of its procedurally generated levels but it comes saddled with far too many issues to deserve a recommendation.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players reporting inconsistent performance, including severe frame rate drops and lag, particularly in online co-op modes. While some updates have improved the engine's performance, many still experience issues such as stuttering and poor net code, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. Despite these challenges, players find the game enjoyable, especially when played with friends, and consider it a good value for its price.
“Update: I've been playing for a couple of months now, still not bored, great fun with friends. The engine has been optimized and the game tweaked in a recent update 1.0.8c.”
“One thing to note is that the performance can be a bit jumpy, especially in online co-op. I can see 155 fps one second and 45 the next, but overall it doesn't hurt playability in my opinion.”
“As it is, the gameplay for the most part is very solid, and has kept me playing and wanting more with every session.”
“Performance is terrible too; I've played other UE4 games that look way better than this and play much better. The most egregious thing is that this game doesn't display much to begin with; it's super dark and textures look terrible, so there's no reason why older engines couldn't have been used instead.”
“Might be fun if the optimization were not so god awful.”
“Performance can take a significant hit when plenty of corpses are nearby.”
- stability11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by numerous minor glitches and bugs, including issues with player collision, animations, and item interactions, though none are game-breaking. While players find the experience enjoyable and fun, especially in multiplayer, the overall technical performance is lacking, with dated graphics and a need for better support from the developers. As the game is still in early access, users anticipate improvements but express frustration over its current state.
“Still in early access, so expect a few glitches here and there.”
“It is full of glitches and lacks features that it promises.”
“Changing my review to negative; the game is great, but it's full of bugs and glitches, and the creators don't support this game at all anymore.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of amusing character designs and absurd situations, such as a faceless nurse resembling a turkey. While some elements are intentionally funny, others are criticized for being poorly executed, leading to a disconnect that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, with some players finding it entertaining while others see it as a flaw.
“They can also die before they fully connect, which is actually funny.”
“Funny and exciting.”
“The monster designs are a bit funny when looked at up close.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for misleading advertising, which may contribute to its currently small playerbase. Reviewers suggest that increased promotion could enhance visibility and potentially improve player engagement.
“The monetization system feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
“The game constantly pushes microtransactions, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its introduction of customization and roguelike elements, allowing for some progression. However, the character designs are described as more humorous than horrifying, and there is a desire for greater variety in enemy movement and level design. Overall, while there are interesting aspects to character development, it could benefit from more depth and diversity.
“The 'game' version of Unloved ventures into more roguelike territories, introducing randomly generated levels, customization, and character development of sorts.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on any meaningful level.”
“While the game introduces some customization options, the overall character development is limited and doesn't offer enough choices to make each character feel unique.”
“The characters seem to lack a coherent backstory or progression, which detracts from the overall experience and makes it difficult to invest in their journeys.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the intense visual effects, particularly the muzzle flash, can evoke strong physical reactions, such as nausea, highlighting the game's ability to create a visceral emotional experience.
