Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior
- October 10, 2013
- RuneStorm
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior" is a first-person cleaning simulator set in the world of the Shadow Warrior reboot. Players are tasked with cleaning up the gore and debris after intense battles. The game combines humor with satisfying cleanup mechanics, allowing players to use various tools and equipment to dispose of trash and blood. It can be played solo or cooperatively, providing a unique and entertaining experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a surprisingly fun and humorous take on the janitorial experience, with witty one-liners from the character.
- It's a short and satisfying game that provides a unique perspective on the aftermath of violence in video games.
- The game is free with the purchase of Shadow Warrior, making it an easy addition for fans of the original game.
- The gameplay can become tedious and repetitive, especially when searching for hidden bloodstains or body parts.
- There are bugs and glitches that can hinder the experience, such as items getting stuck or not registering as cleaned.
- The game lacks depth and replayability, with only one level and minimal achievements to pursue.
- humor99 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from the absurdity of playing as a janitor tasked with cleaning up the aftermath of violent action, which initially elicits laughter through witty voice lines and dark comedic scenarios. However, many players note that the humor quickly becomes repetitive and tiresome, with the novelty wearing off after a short period. While the concept is amusing and provides some entertaining moments, it often lacks depth and can feel more tedious than funny over extended gameplay.
“The absolute absurdity of the situation made me laugh... not just because of what the janitor says while going through the levels, marveling and agonizing over the complete gore-fest that awaits him, but also because it added a surreal sense of realism to all the FPS games I'd ever played and never thought twice about.”
“It's a fantastic concept, a hilarious rib at violent shooters, and one of those questions that you may ask yourself while playing a game ('gee, I wonder which poor sod is going to have to clean up this mess...').”
“The switch from high-octane action to meticulous cleaning provides a humorous, albeit grotesque, change of pace that effectively plays with the contrasting themes.”
“And not funny.”
- gameplay70 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it entertaining and addictive, while others criticize it for being repetitive, clunky, and lacking depth. Many noted the janky physics and simplistic mechanics, which can lead to frustration, but also acknowledged that it serves as a decent introduction to the core gameplay of the Viscera Cleanup Detail series. Overall, the experience is described as a quirky janitor simulator that may appeal to fans of the genre, but may not meet the expectations of those seeking more complex gameplay.
“Its a great, medium sized level that won't take you terribly long to complete, even to a superb level of cleanliness which is a good way to get yourself used to the core mechanics of the main game, without becoming overwhelmed.”
“Good graphics and simple, clean gameplay.”
“The tasks were repetitive, but not in an annoying way; it felt a lot more like playing something that keeps you coming back despite staying the same mechanically, like Tetris, than it did actually doing a chore like mowing the lawn or shoveling the sidewalk.”
“The gameplay is clunky and the physics work against you at all times.”
“Clunky controls, glitchy physics, repetitive, tedious, pointless, and above all boring gameplay.”
“The idea that after a shooter takes place, someone has to come along and clean up the arena is rather clever... but the gameplay in practice is an incredibly tedious scavenger hunt with very little direction.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with some players finding them rudimentary and reminiscent of "Shadow Warrior," while others appreciate their bright and colorful aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are described as functional and adequate, with some noting that they run well on modern hardware. While not groundbreaking, the graphics are generally considered good for the game's style and mechanics.
“I also enjoyed both the music and graphics.”
“But aside from that, the graphics in this DLC are very nice.”
“The graphics are beautiful and amazing.”
“Genuinely so ugly visuals-wise, and cleaning has got to be the most boring thing ever.”
“Graphically, the DLC doesn't diverge from the original 'Viscera Cleanup Detail' style, maintaining the somewhat rudimentary but functionally appropriate visual aesthetic.”
“The graphics are pretty basic Shadow Warrior style, and there is no music, only sound effects that you need to locate items.”
- music33 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic homage to the original Shadow Warrior through its catchy soundtrack, while others find it repetitive and mismatched with the game's tone. The background music is described as relaxing, but the inability to turn it off easily has frustrated some users. Overall, the music enhances the atmosphere for some, but detracts from the experience for others, leading to a polarized reception.
“Beautiful voice acting, beautiful music, simple game, simple achievements 👍”
“All the while paying great homage to the original Shadow Warrior with its music and audio quotes.”
“I found the background music relaxing and the achievements achievable.”
“In the other games, it can easily be turned off; however, in this one, if you want to stop the music, you need to either disable it from the settings or burn the radio.”
“Except for the 'polka' soundtrack, that one is god-awfully horrible.”
“The music comes from a scratchy, tinny radio set which you can carry around from place to place to listen to as you work.”
- story31 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, primarily revolving around the mundane task of cleaning up after a protagonist's violent rampage, with players taking on the role of a janitor. While some players appreciate the subtle storytelling elements found in environmental details and notes, many criticize the lack of a compelling narrative or character development, making the experience feel tedious. Overall, the game serves as a light-hearted side mission rather than a fully fleshed-out story-driven experience.
“I love how the storyline progresses and really made me think about my life.”
“The natural charm lies in the details—such as the notes and evidence of the epic battle—that enrich the storytelling aspect of an otherwise straightforward task.”
“Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior allows the player to explore the opening mission from Shadow Warrior from a completely new perspective of someone who has to clean up the mess left behind after the carnage takes place.”
“There is no story in this game, which is fine.”
“Do not look for the why and how in this game because there is no storyline, no charismatic characters, no actions, no shootouts, nothing for nothing.”
“Plus, since it is VCD, there really isn't much of a story going on, nor is one compelled to buy it for any sort of reason.”
- grinding29 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being extremely tedious and repetitive, often described as a chore that can quickly become boring. While some players find enjoyment in the simulator-style gameplay, many agree that the novelty wears off rapidly, leading to frustration and a lack of meaningful rewards for the effort put in. Overall, the experience is best suited for those who specifically enjoy grinding through monotonous tasks.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“No amount of quirky dialogue or story concept can save it from the extremely tedious task of cleaning up a place.”
“The overall game can be a chore as it's a lot of back and forth with taking away body parts and cleaning your mop which can get tedious quickly.”
“While it sounds like an interesting and amusing idea (and for the first 5-10 minutes it is), once the novelty wears off the game becomes very tedious and boring.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can interfere with gameplay, such as physics issues and problems with achievements. While some players have experienced minor glitches without significant hindrance, others find the overall stability lacking, making it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. Despite these issues, the game remains fun for some, particularly for those who appreciate the chaotic nature of the gameplay.
“Just like the other Viscera Cleanup games, this game is also riddled with bugs and glitches, but it is still fun to play.”
“The game is buggy; stuff flies randomly, items sink through the floor... ugh.”
“Let down by terrible physics, repetitive character comments, buggy achievements, and boring gameplay.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has low replayability, primarily due to its limited content, featuring only one map and a short playtime. While some players find enjoyment in speed runs and achievements, which can add a bit of challenge, the consensus is that the game lacks substantial replay value.
“The achievements add some spice to the game; some are quite challenging and will add some replayability.”
“Replay value aplenty - this is just one map, but if you buy the full game, you get them all.”
“That said, this one map has a fair bit of replayability.”
“No replay value (just one location).”
“Very short with little in the way of replay value, save for speed runs and multiplayer.”
“Doesn't have any replayability.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant performance issues, such as low frame rates even on capable hardware. While it is considered better optimized than similar titles, many users report janky controls and major performance drops, suggesting that optimization remains a critical concern.
“When compared to Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa’s Rampage, this one is far better optimized.”
“If you're OCD, project-oriented, or process-optimization-oriented, then this can turn into crack cocaine for you.”
“This game is so poorly optimized that even though I run Shadow Warrior just fine, the game here is running about 15 frames per second with all settings as low as possible.”
“Major performance issues; I have a 1055T @ 3.6GHz, 16GB RAM, HD6950, and only get around 25-30 FPS.”
“Janky controls, quirky performance, easily tipped buckets, and a hell of a mess.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional response to the game, with some experiencing intense feelings of sadness and frustration, particularly during gruesome scenes involving body parts. The game's mechanics evoke a sense of accomplishment for those with obsessive tendencies, but also lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and cheated, impacting overall enjoyment.
“I cried when the water bucket machine started spewing body parts.”
“At first, you'll just wander around aimlessly, trying to wash away all the blood and incinerate all the body parts, but you'll track so much blood everywhere and make so much more mess that you'll want to cry and hand in your notice.”
“But no game ever made me feel like working as this did.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized for featuring an empty section that serves as a paid advertisement for another game, leading to frustration among users who feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“There is an entire section that is empty as if the developers completely forgot to put stuff to do; its intention is to be an advertisement for another game, except it is an advertisement that you pay for.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, as it pushes players to spend money to enjoy basic features that should be included in the game.”
“I feel like I'm constantly bombarded with prompts to spend money, which takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
