Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior screenshot

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,258 reviews

humor196 positive mentions

grinding54 negative mentions

The game is surprisingly fun and offers a unique perspective on the aftermath of a violent game.
The janitor's humorous commentary adds charm and entertainment to the cleaning process.
It's a great way to satisfy OCD tendencies while providing a short, enjoyable gameplay experience.

The gameplay can become tedious and repetitive after the initial novelty wears off.
There are bugs and glitches that can hinder progress, such as items getting stuck or not registering as cleaned.
The game lacks depth and replayability, with only one level and minimal achievements.

humor
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its absurd premise of a janitor cleaning up after the chaotic events of Shadow Warrior, which initially elicits laughter through witty voice lines and dark humor. However, many players find that the jokes quickly become repetitive and lose their charm after a short period, leading to mixed feelings about the overall comedic value. While some appreciate the quirky and silly nature of the game, others feel that the humor does not sustain engagement over longer play sessions.
- “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.”
- “And not funny.”
gameplay
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and tedious, often likening it to a "janitor simulator" that lacks depth and direction. While some appreciate the humor and simplicity of the mechanics, others criticize the clunky controls and janky physics, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, it serves as a light introduction to the series but may not satisfy those seeking more engaging 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.”
- “Gameplay is a lot of fun.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
graphics
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
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. Despite some criticisms, many players acknowledge the graphics as a positive aspect of the game, highlighting their appeal in the context of the gameplay.
- “The graphics are beautiful and amazing.”
- “But aside from that, the graphics in this DLC are very nice.”
- “Pros: graphically impressive as the Shadow Warrior (2013), as well as the sense of humor.”
- “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 a 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.”
music
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The music in the game primarily features a single catchy track from the Shadow Warrior remake, played through a portable radio, which some players find relaxing and fitting for the gameplay. However, there are mixed opinions, with some users disliking the music's volume and style, particularly criticizing a polka track. Overall, while the music adds a nostalgic touch, it can be intrusive, and players have the option to turn it off or replace it with their own playlists.
- “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.”
story
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
71%
13%
The game's story is minimal, primarily revolving around the player acting as a janitor tasked with cleaning up after a massacre, which some players find amusing and unique. While there are elements like notes and collectibles that add a touch of narrative depth, many reviews emphasize the lack of a compelling storyline or character development, making it feel more like a tedious chore than an engaging experience. Overall, the game serves as a light-hearted side mission rather than a fully fleshed-out narrative adventure.
- “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.”
grinding
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
5%
93%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being extremely tedious and repetitive, often leading to boredom after the initial novelty wears off. While some players may find enjoyment in the simulator-style gameplay, many agree that the experience can feel like a chore, requiring significant patience and persistence to endure. Overall, it appeals primarily to those who appreciate grinding through monotonous tasks for minimal reward.
- “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.”
- “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.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, affecting gameplay and achievements, which can be frustrating for players. While some users report a responsive experience despite these issues, others highlight significant problems with physics and object interactions. Overall, stability remains a concern, with mixed experiences regarding the severity of glitches.
- “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.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
65%
23%
Overall, the game has low replayability, primarily due to its single location and short length, with many users noting that it can be completed in one playthrough. While achievements and speed runs offer some incentive for replay, the general consensus is that the game lacks substantial content to encourage repeated play.
- “The achievements add some spice to the game; some are quite challenging and will add some replayability.”
- “[u]Replay value aplenty[/u] - this is just [b]one[/b] map, but if you buy the full game, you get them all.”
- “That said, this one map has a fair bit of replayability.”
- “No real replayability though, no highscores and so on, so in the end...”
- “As the game exists primarily as a joke, it is quite shallow; there is only one level to play, and there is little replay value.”
- “Low replayability.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
42%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting significant performance issues, such as low frame rates (15-30 FPS) even on capable hardware. While it is considered better optimized than "Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa's Rampage," many players still experience janky controls and quirky performance, leading to frustration. Overall, the optimization appears to be a major concern for a portion of the player base.
- “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.”
- “Major performance issues, I have [email protected], 16GB RAM, HD6950, and only get around 25-30 FPS.”
- “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.”
- “I'll see if there's a real reason for this, but for now I'm going to blame poor optimization.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional response to the game, with some expressing feelings of sadness and frustration as they navigate the chaotic task of cleaning up gruesome scenes. The experience evokes a sense of accomplishment tied to obsessive-compulsive tendencies, highlighting a unique blend of emotional engagement and gameplay challenge. Overall, the game elicits deep feelings, both positive and negative, that significantly impact the player's 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.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”