USAC: Code Breach
- October 26, 2022
- Questions Factory
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Bonding Ambivalence" is a co-op action game for 2 players, offering a compelling story and intriguing game mechanics in a spectacular visual and musical environment. The game encourages you to find a partner, as the story mode is only playable with a Steam Friend. A training section is available for solo play to familiarize yourself with the controls and basic mechanics. The difficulty varies based on the information collected, with hints incorporated in the environment for immersive observation.
Reviews
- Fantastic co-op experience that emphasizes teamwork and communication.
- Challenging and rewarding puzzles that require critical thinking.
- Immersive atmosphere with great sound design and visuals.
- Some puzzles can be overly cryptic and frustrating, leading to reliance on guides.
- Combat mechanics are lackluster and can feel unbalanced, especially for the infiltrator role.
- Occasional issues with instant-death mechanics that can disrupt gameplay flow.
- story115 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative, atmospheric setting, and thoughtful worldbuilding that enhances the puzzle-solving experience. While some found the plot straightforward or convoluted at times, others praised its intriguing twists and immersive elements, suggesting a strong connection between the story and gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a significant aspect of the game, contributing to its appeal despite some criticisms regarding clarity and depth.
“The atmosphere, game play, and story were gripping, keeping both my partner and I consistently engaged.”
“The story is engaging and interesting.”
“This game does an excellent job of blending the atmosphere and tense ambiance of a horror game with the intricate complexities of a puzzle game, making you feel like you're two special operatives on a mission inside a private corporation with secrets to hide.”
“The lore and story really didn't do much for me, at least partially because my partner and I were discussing what we're doing in the game over a lot of the audio dialogue, but there's a lot of good horror design in here, in terms of its pacing, atmosphere, and particularly its very strong sound design.”
“The overall story is confusing to follow, with too many elements smashed together that clash with one another.”
“The story in this game feels like a mash-up of Dead Space and System Shock, though neither narrative direction is fully fleshed out and the ending left us rather confused, especially with the bad translation in a number of spots.”
- gameplay85 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of puzzle-solving and shooter mechanics, offering a unique and engaging experience that emphasizes cooperation and coordination between players. While the puzzles can be challenging and occasionally lack clear guidance, they are generally rewarding and well-integrated into the game's atmosphere. The shooting mechanics are less emphasized and somewhat underwhelming, but the overall gameplay remains enjoyable, with a strong emphasis on exploration and teamwork.
“The gameplay is good and refreshing; gunplay and co-op mechanics are all smooth.”
“The necessity of cooperation and coordination between the infiltration agent and digital operator is both a challenging and immensely rewarding aspect of the gameplay.”
“Wonderful gameplay; I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a puzzle/action game to play with someone.”
“The hallmark of a poorly executed puzzle game is when the player finds themselves spending less time solving a puzzle and more time trying to figure out what the puzzle actually is, and sadly this game has that issue in spades: branching corridors that lead to rooms with completely unrelated computer panels, unclear instructions for hacking sequences, core mechanics that are never formally introduced and rather require the player to stumble upon them.”
“Some of the puzzles were challenging and frustrating, not because of the puzzle itself but due to unexplained mechanics or non-obvious trigger points or goals, such as the engine on the roof being the same color as the floor and not appearing in the scanner as an interactable object.”
“Puzzles are lousy and the balance of gameplay responsibilities between the two classes is insanely skewed, with the hacker role being very complex and feeling like 90% of gameplay is done by the hacker.”
- atmosphere80 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively blending horror elements with a cyberpunk aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the strong sound design, visuals, and environmental storytelling that enhance the overall experience, creating a gripping backdrop for the challenging puzzles and cooperative gameplay. Many players appreciate the absence of typical jump scares, instead enjoying a foreboding ambiance that keeps them engaged and on edge throughout their playthrough.
“The atmosphere is incredible and really immersive!”
“The music and sound design further enhance the game's atmosphere, creating an immersive experience that complements the gameplay and storytelling.”
“This game does an excellent job of blending the atmosphere and tense ambiance of a horror game with the intricate complexities of a puzzle game.”
“The atmosphere in which you are playing is uneasy, the storyline makes you uncomfortable and even some enemies might frighten you.”
“The atmosphere got us jumping and freaked out at some things (the monkeys in the terra labs!!) and having to go alone as the technician made me feel so anxious for enemies to pop out at me, often hearing my teammate in combat through the walls.”
“The atmosphere is dark and unnerving, feeling like a horror game.”
- music47 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as phenomenal, featuring a mix of intense combat themes and ambient tracks that effectively set the mood for puzzles and action sequences. Overall, the sound design and music contribute significantly to the game's immersive quality, making it a standout feature for players.
“The music and sound design further enhance the game's atmosphere, creating an immersive experience that complements the gameplay and storytelling.”
“One of my favorite parts of the game was the soundtrack; the songs used in the intense parts of the game really make them hit harder and leave a great memory once you finish.”
“The atmosphere, pacing, and gameplay all feel pretty much terrific, and the music's real good to tie it all together.”
“Shooting sections can feel kind of random and jarring; very loud music doesn't help.”
“The music was alright but did its job well.”
“Music and sound effects did the job well; overall look was pleasant and to the point.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the striking visual style, atmosphere, and aesthetic design, particularly in relation to its cyberpunk theme. While some players noted that certain models appeared plastic-y or dated, the overall visuals were described as solid and immersive, contributing positively to the gameplay experience. Despite minor jankiness and optimization concerns, the graphics are generally considered impressive for a small development team, enhancing the game's engaging story and ambiance.
“The graphics are excellent, and the gameplay is extremely solid.”
“Amazing sci-fi visuals.”
“The graphics are quite good with beautiful light reflection.”
“Graphics aren't great, but it gets the job done.”
“I was disappointed by the graphics because they felt older compared to the trailer, but I also was told that there are only 2 people working on the team.”
“Far from perfect (movement can be janky, gun fights are quite boring, graphics are not that good...) but if you're looking for a nice puzzle game to play with a friend this one won't disappoint you with its great puzzle ideas and a very nice ambiance overall.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious and occasionally boring, particularly during puzzle-solving moments that require patience and teamwork. However, many players find the experience rewarding when they successfully collaborate with friends to overcome challenges, suggesting that the enjoyment may depend on the social context of gameplay. Overall, while some elements may feel repetitive, the game remains engaging for those who appreciate cooperative problem-solving.
“This game got tedious and boring really fast.”
“The puzzles are too tedious.”
“There were some puzzles and aspects (cough, gunplay) that were a little tedious, but if you set some time to play with a friend you shouldn't be disappointed.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as hilariously engaging, often stemming from the absurdity of dire situations arising from seemingly trivial details. Players found themselves laughing throughout their gameplay, whether from their own mishaps or the frustrations of friends, making the experience enjoyable and memorable.
“It was also funny that usually the most minuscule information is the most dire to understand.”
“Lets start off by saying I don't normally play games like this; they're not usually my thing, and most of the time I just don't enjoy them all too much, let alone ever see them to the end. But this game was wicked! My buddy and I sat there over the course of 2 nights, consisting of roughly 11 hours, and it was worth every minute of gameplay. Mostly every death, even if not inflicted on each other, had us laughing or learning what not to touch.”
“The other 40% was me laughing as my friend had an aneurysm from frustration.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find potential in speedruns and role-switching, others feel that it lacks significant replay value beyond the initial playthrough. The engaging puzzles and tense atmosphere contribute to a rewarding first experience, but the limited options for replay may deter some players.
“A great 10-11 hour game experience with interesting puzzles that are sometimes difficult but rewarding in a very tense atmosphere, with a really good replayability potential for speedruns, perfect gameplay, expert mode, or switching roles with your mate between operator and infiltrator.”
“It would help with replayability.”
“Even though the game's replayability, besides switching roles, is small, the first playthrough makes up for it.”
“I had fun with a friend, but it has no replay value.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with players enjoying hours of gameplay despite some initial bugs. Many reported that issues were addressed through patches, leading to a smoother experience by the end of their playthroughs.
“A bit buggy at times, but a lot of the bugs I personally encountered were fixed in the various patches that I saw come out after I beat the game.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional response to the game, experiencing feelings of anxiety and fear, particularly during tense moments like navigating alone in the terra labs. The atmosphere effectively heightens these emotions, with unexpected encounters and the pressure of hearing teammates in combat adding to the intensity.
“The atmosphere got us jumping and freaked out at some things (the monkeys in the terra labs!!) and having to go alone as the technician made me feel so anxious for enemies to pop out at me, often hearing my teammate in combat through the walls.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its impressive quality and notably lacks in-game advertisements, which enhances the user experience. Players discovered it through TikTok promotions, indicating effective marketing strategies without intrusive monetization tactics.
“An actually impressive game that, for some reason, has no advertising.”
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt the gameplay experience.”
“I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without pushing for purchases.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While some users note issues with animations and character design, they praise the game's immersive cyberpunk setting and the detailed construction of environments, which enhance the overall character development experience.
“The cyberpunk universe is brought to life with stunning attention to detail, from the gritty cityscapes to the intricate character designs.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its good graphics and solid performance, indicating effective optimization that enhances the overall gaming experience.
“The game features excellent graphics and performance optimization.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs on my system, showcasing great optimization.”
“The optimization in this game allows for smooth gameplay without sacrificing visual quality.”
