Uriel's Chasm

About

"Uriel's Chasm" is a challenging action game with a metaphysical twist, following Sister Tabitha's journey to investigate the disappearance of a monastery and uncover the secrets of a so-called "Garden of paradise." The game is a revival of an obscure 90's title, known for its avant-garde style and themes of God and death. With tough gameplay and a unique aesthetic, players must navigate the game's many challenges and uncover the mysteries that lie within.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

22%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,330 reviews

humor15 positive mentions

gameplay27 negative mentions

The game has a unique and bizarre aesthetic that some players find intriguing.
It offers a variety of gameplay styles across its four levels, including top-down shooting and platforming.
Some players appreciate the game's attempt at satire and its surreal narrative.

The game features unskippable cutscenes and poor voice acting, which frustrates players.
Gameplay mechanics are confusing and poorly executed, leading to a lack of enjoyment.
The graphics and sound design are considered subpar, contributing to an overall unpleasant experience.

gameplay
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
65%
23%
The gameplay of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users describing it as confusing, repetitive, and poorly executed across various mechanics and genres. While some players found moments of enjoyment amidst the chaos, the overall experience is marred by clunky controls, disorienting visuals, and a lack of coherent design, leading to frustration rather than engagement. Despite a few positive remarks about specific mechanics or artistic elements, the consensus is that the gameplay fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
- “It has solid gameplay followed by amazing graphics.”
- “The gameplay changes from section to section, though is usually a shooter of some kind - all of them were very fun, with the possible exception of the third one which was more of a simplistic platformer.”
- “Through the use of clever gameplay elements such as picking up Jesus being crucified, Uriel's Chasm grips its player right from the start.”
- “Every moment spent within its glitch-ridden nightmare is a slow descent into madness, where nonsensical mechanics and migraine-inducing visuals conspire to break both mind and spirit.”
- “The gameplay is boring and repetitive, and the story makes no sense.”
- “The gameplay is clunky as hell and the fact that you have bible passages on half the screen limiting your vision doesn't help.”
story
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
77%
16%
The story of "Uriel's Chasm" is widely criticized for being incoherent, nonsensical, and poorly executed, often described as a confusing mix of biblical references and bizarre narratives that fail to engage players. Many reviewers noted that the storyline feels disjointed and lacks a clear direction, with unskippable cutscenes and convoluted dialogue that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a chaotic mess that overshadows any potential enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “The story is the most fascinating thing I've witnessed in the entirety of my life; let me give you a brief description... you play as this person who needs to get more faith than his garden. That's the basic concept. It does sound a bit simple and boring, but trust me, not only will this satisfy your needs, it will probably make you change from an agnostic or atheist to a Christian.”
- “It combines biblical themes with a bizarre meta plot told through recordings of people who 'found' the game.”
- “You've got two storylines running in parallel, that of your player character, and that of the people 'playing' the game in real life.”
- “I just played through someone's fever dream; it's a storyline I could not keep track of, and a soundtrack and volume level that blew out my eardrums.”
- “The game features confusing controls, unappealing visuals, and a nonsensical storyline that fails to engage the player.”
- “The story doesn't make sense, and eventually resorts to just spewing Bible verses, none of which connect when they're given.”
music
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
54%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating certain tracks for their eerie and atmospheric qualities, while others find the overall soundtrack grating, repetitive, and headache-inducing. Many comments highlight the lack of audio options, making it difficult to escape the unpleasant soundscape, which detracts from the gameplay experience. Despite the negative feedback, a few players note that there are redeeming moments in the music, particularly in specific levels or as part of the game's aesthetic.
- “The soundtrack only helps this narrative with an eerie/deep space/twilight zone aesthetic.”
- “The music is nice plus the graphics have a nice touch of retro-style to it.”
- “The music is worth the admission price alone, and reaching the ending screen is enough of a challenge to make it really feel like you've subdued a genuine lost 8-bit classic.”
- “The music is a horrible 8-bit mess.”
- “Pretty much all of the music and sound effects are just droning noises that could drive someone insane.”
- “The soundtrack was poorly balanced and grating, the gameplay was decent at best and nauseating at worst, the story is incomprehensible, the UI is physically painful to interact with, the menu system is nonexistent, and the teens' commentary was equal parts cringy and boring.”
graphics
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
57%
22%
The graphics of the game receive overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing them as glitchy, headache-inducing, and reminiscent of poorly executed retro styles. While a few reviewers appreciate the surreal art and retro aesthetic, the majority find the visuals unappealing and detrimental to the overall experience, often citing them as a significant flaw in an already problematic game. Overall, the consensus is that the graphics are a major drawback, failing to engage or enhance the gameplay.
- “It has solid gameplay followed by amazing graphics.”
- “I came for the surreal art style, but the mechanics and shmup elements are really fun too.”
- “The graphics are excellent, though primitive, and contain some very memorable images that combine with the superb music to create an extremely surreal, trippy, oftentimes quite disturbing aesthetic.”
- “Every moment spent within its glitch-ridden nightmare is a slow descent into madness, where nonsensical mechanics and migraine-inducing visuals conspire to break both mind and spirit.”
- “The graphics make my eyes hurt, the hitboxes are horrible.”
- “Boring gameplay, annoying music, and headache-inducing graphics describe this scam.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
19%
The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it genuinely funny and entertaining, while others feel it falls flat or is overshadowed by frustrating gameplay. Many reviews highlight moments of absurdity and intentional awkwardness that can elicit laughter, but there are also criticisms regarding the effectiveness of its humor, with some deeming it "so bad it's funny" and others simply labeling it as unfunny. Overall, the game's comedic elements seem to resonate differently among players, leading to a mixed reception.
- “You can find funny stuff everywhere, especially if you're mad like me.”
- “The aesthetics and sense of humor were wonderful and kept me going to the end.”
- “I can't stop laughing.”
- “Too bad the parody is not funny enough (or at all), and when I'm flipping tables because of the infuriating game design, it's little consolation that it's intentionally bad.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, making it hard to appreciate any humor in the game.”
- “I expected clever wit, but instead, I was met with tired clichés that just didn't land.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game excels as a card farming simulator, with many users rating it highly for this purpose. However, players also express frustration with the grinding aspect, describing it as tedious, boring, and lacking a save feature, which detracts from the overall experience. While it serves well for those focused on collecting cards, the repetitive nature of the gameplay can be draining.
- “It's so mind-numbingly boring and tedious and difficult with absolutely no reason to be so that it sucks the soul out of you.”
- “The only part I'd call 'bad' is the lack of a save feature - the game is hard and tedious to replay.”
- “Its only good for card farming and uninstall it forever and never think about it.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate its ability to evoke feelings, others criticize it for being poorly designed and frustrating. The mixed reactions highlight a struggle between emotional engagement and gameplay mechanics, leading to a sense of shame for some players in their attachment to the title. Overall, the game elicits strong feelings, but these are often overshadowed by gameplay issues.
- “What set this title apart from others for me is that it made me feel.”
- “Do not be worried, my eyes are not bleeding and playing it again made me feel less ashamed to have it in my library.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for its misleading advertising, with claims of erotic content and a mix of genres that do not align with the actual gameplay experience. Additionally, the game parodies modern microtransactions by making all in-game content available as downloadable content (DLC), which some players find frustrating.
- “The game cleverly parodies modern microtransactions by making everything in-game DLC, which adds a humorous twist to the monetization aspect.”
- “The monetization model is well-balanced, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of cosmetic items for purchase, but it never feels necessary to buy them to enjoy the core gameplay.”
- “The former parodied old-school platformers with brutal difficulty, and the latter parodied modern microtransactions by making everything in-game DLC.”
- “Also fake advertising as the tags suggest it has erotic content, is a visual novel, and is a gore horror game. Well, I do agree it is horror to play this junk.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The atmosphere of the game is deeply unsettling, effectively mirroring the tension and discomfort found in top-tier indie horror films. Players note a unique blend of disturbing and absurd elements that create a menacing ambiance, which intensifies as they progress through the levels. Overall, the atmosphere is both immersive and frustrating, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “You've managed to capture the atmosphere and discomfort of really excellent indie horror filmography, creating frustrating gameplay that simultaneously matches that same discomfort and atmosphere.”
- “A menacing atmosphere inundates Uriel's Chasm, intensifying with each level.”
- “The atmosphere is disturbing and ridiculous; I can't really compare it to anything else.”
- “A menacing atmosphere inundates Uriel's Chasm, and it intensifies with each level.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous glitches and bugs that render it nearly unplayable. Many describe it as incomplete and criticize its tendency to break the fourth wall in a mocking manner.
- “It's glitchy, buggy...”
- “This bad, buggy, broken, nigh-unplayable game actively breaks the fourth wall to trash-talk you for playing it in the first place.”
- “It's very incomplete and buggy.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is generally positive, as it runs smoothly even on older hardware, but it suffers from a lack of menus, awkward controls, and unskippable cutscenes, which detracts from the overall experience. While it may appeal to those who appreciate its unique artistic approach, it may not be suitable for players seeking a more polished and user-friendly experience.
- “It runs smoothly even on my three-year-old big box computer, and there is a solid logic or pattern to each area (even the seemingly unbeatable final level).”
- “The complete lack of menus or settings, the awkward bare-bones controls, and the unskippable cutscenes all combine to form what could be called a piece of performance art if it wasn't done at our expense.”
- “I would not recommend this to someone who thinks that giving up a lunch at McDonald's in order to own a piece of performance/video game art dolled up (or down?) to parody 90s unlicensed Bible video games with an absolutely stellar soundtrack is a bummer idea.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is notably short, lasting around 30 minutes, which has led some users to feel it lacks replayability. However, others believe it still offers enough engaging content to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “The game is extremely short, approximately 30 minutes from start to finish, and there is zero replayability.”
- “Not a long game by any means, but certainly replayable.”