Urge
- November 15, 2021
- EnDrew
Urge is a single-player Simulation game where players navigate a post-crash world affected by a mysterious drug substance. The hazardous fog, caused by player actions, brings various problems, such as special enemies, physical dangers, and speeding up the "urge." Every moment is a choice, with consequences affecting the increasing fog and the chance to uncover the truth of this strange place.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging survival mechanic centered around managing bodily fluids, which adds depth to the gameplay.
- The atmosphere is unsettling and immersive, with a well-crafted world that keeps players on edge and encourages exploration.
- The building system is highly flexible and creative, allowing players to construct bases and vehicles in innovative ways.
- The game suffers from significant performance issues, including frame-rate drops and lag, especially on lower-end PCs.
- Combat can feel unbalanced, with enemies being overly spongy and difficult to defeat, leading to frustration during encounters.
- The lack of clear guidance and objectives can make the game feel punishing and confusing for new players, resulting in a steep learning curve.
- gameplay43 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its unique mechanics, particularly the integration of the "piss" mechanic and the fog system, which significantly impact player strategy and environmental interaction. Players appreciate the smooth building mechanics and the overall atmosphere, though some find the gameplay initially confusing and clunky. Despite its bizarre premise, the game is recognized for its depth, creativity, and engaging survival horror elements, making it a standout in the genre.
“Gameplay is a focus in this game, and it feels amazing to play.”
“The gameplay is a mix between 'oh god, the fog is rising...' and 'hey, the world has already ended, relax' but in a survival horror type of way.”
“Most unique survival horror I've ever played, you can tell it's been crafted with love and care, exploring the game world feels awesome, every location is unique and filled with secrets to discover.”
“Usually I avoid games that have urination mechanics on principle.”
“Gameplay is a little confusing, so it will definitely take some time getting used to.”
“I played around with what I saw (building, hunger, piss mechanics, and combat), but it just feels somewhat empty.”
- atmosphere31 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and unsettling qualities, effectively creating a sense of horror and tension that keeps players on edge. Reviewers highlight the game's distinctive art style and sound design, which contribute to an oppressive and eerie environment reminiscent of classic horror films. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, drawing players into its bizarre and creatively crafted world.
“The atmosphere is oppressive in a good way (think David Lynch).”
“I was expecting a gimmicky joke game that would get old after an hour or two, but this game's atmosphere is absolutely horrifying. It's like a more comedy-oriented version of The Forest, especially when looking at the caves, which in my opinion are way scarier here. This game can be genuinely horrifying at times, and it has jump-scared me more than once.”
“The atmosphere and the yellow-orange hue the game has remind me of old horror movies, and that's a big plus.”
“The atmosphere is oppressive, the crafting system is more like Minecraft than anything (just toss things together and hope it works), and the building system is just... really cool.”
“The atmosphere of horror this game attempts to channel is shockingly effective because you genuinely don't know how repugnant or horrific that next variety of piss demon hiding in the dark is going to be, because this is a game themed around piss and literally all bets are off.”
“It's one of the rare few open world survival crafting games that manages to be genuinely unsettling in its atmosphere (second only to The Forest, in my opinion).”
- story27 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing yet unfinished, with players expressing a desire for more backstory and narrative depth. It employs environmental storytelling through cryptic notes and exploration, creating a macabre atmosphere that captivates players despite its incomplete nature. Overall, the unique premise and emergent storyline keep players engaged, even as they navigate the game's survival mechanics.
“The storytelling is mostly through cryptic notes and photographs, video tapes, etc., in a style reminiscent of the forest, except, you know, full of piss.”
“It has tense horror sections and cool set pieces and tells a lot of story by just you exploring the world.”
“I am intrigued by the story, which surprised me.”
“Given the fact that urine plays an important role in the game's world and story.”
“The game has a relatively spooky emergent storyline that is never told to the player succinctly.”
“I'd say my only let down is they don't have more back story, because we need more story about what happened to them, kinda like you'd find in the forest.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a unique art style that complements its eerie atmosphere, often described as fitting but not cutting-edge. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and its alignment with the game's tone, others note performance issues that can detract from immersion. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate for the game's concept, with a nostalgic early 2000s vibe, though they may not satisfy those seeking high-end graphics.
“It has such a unique art style together with an eerie atmosphere.”
“The art style and sound design are simple but awesome.”
“The graphics are a perfect fit for the game's tone and remind me of an early 2000's vibe.”
“This is important to me because I face some unwanted lag in the game and have to resort to lowering the settings dramatically, which breaks immersion in the game.”
“Seems like there might be some lore you can find, but if the gameplay, graphics, enemies, hell the entire game in general is any indication, I highly doubt it's even worth a glance.”
“Amazing game with amazing concepts, while the gameplay may feel clunky and the graphics are not 4K UHD.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with players praising the creative building mechanics but noting significant performance issues, especially when many objects are placed or when building on vehicles. While some users report smooth gameplay at times, others experience severe frame rate drops and bugs, indicating that optimization needs considerable improvement, particularly for lower-end PCs. Overall, while the game shows promise, its current state requires further refinement to enhance performance and stability.
“The building aspect in the game is a massive plus for me; the way the developer has implemented it allows for so many creative builds. However, it's important to note that placed objects can quickly drain performance, and built objects do need a fair bit of optimization.”
“You can easily armor up your car, add spikes, or even create a small expanding home on it. The developer was considerate enough to ensure that attached parts don't collide with the world, only with you and enemies. However, the building performance becomes noticeable when you build on your car; for example, I usually get around 80-100+ fps, but looking at my car can drop it below 50 and into the low 40s.”
“The game really does run pretty smoothly for an early access title. There are a few areas that need optimization, especially when there are too many objects in one place, but I believe that will improve over time. This is a one-person development team, and they genuinely care about the game.”
“But yeah, my only complaint with the game would have to be that performance regarding placed objects, especially those on vehicles, needs work.”
“I raised red flags on the optimization before, but the developer didn't really fix the issues I had, and by reading the update notes, it seems like they just made it worse.”
“The performance and physics are not the best as of now; the game seems to be a bit moody at times and sometimes stutters a lot and sometimes runs smoothly. It's not unplayable, but it is noticeable.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively blends survival horror with humor, featuring absurd scenarios and comedic elements that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the integration of humorous mechanics, such as urination jokes, which add depth to the gameplay while maintaining a lighthearted tone. Overall, the humor is well-received, making the game a standout for those seeking a comedic twist in the horror genre.
“It's a pretty funny premise, but a great game nonetheless!”
“If you feel like your survival horror games lack a good sense of humor, give this one a try.”
“It has a very interesting blend of survival horror with just the right amount of humor appropriate to the absurd premise.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game effectively enhances the atmosphere, contributing to a sense of loneliness and unease typical of horror games. Reviewers appreciate the variety of sounds and the creepy themes that complement the game's unsettling environment.
“I love the variety of enemies, and the atmosphere has a great creepy theme with perfect sounds and music that fit this game.”
“The lack of music really sets in the feeling of loneliness and unsettles in a way that a lot of horror games fall short in.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive and fails to create an engaging atmosphere.”
“The music feels out of place and doesn't match the tone of the game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its intriguing survival horror elements, but players frequently report issues with stability, including buggy animations, enemy behavior, and environmental glitches.
“An interesting survival horror game, though buggy at times.”
“Buggy animations, enemies, and environment.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is undermined by poor AI performance, leading to a lack of tension and engagement during encounters, as players can easily exploit weaknesses without feeling challenged.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the game's replayability, noting that despite attempts to adjust settings for better playability, the experience becomes unengaging due to visibility issues, ultimately diminishing the incentive to continue playing.
“I used all the settings I could to make the game more enjoyable for me, but at some point, there's no point in playing a game when you can't tell what's a foot in front of you.”
“The lack of variety in missions makes it hard to stay engaged after the first playthrough.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game allows for progression without excessive grinding, making the experience more enjoyable and less tedious.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making progress feel like a chore.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive and not rewarding enough.”
“The amount of grinding required to level up is frustrating and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”