VLADiK BRUTAL

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,128 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
VLADiK BRUTAL Game Cover
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In "Vladik Brutal," experience a fictional East European dictatorship's brutality, where citizens are chipped, monitored, and dressed uniformly. Navigate managed locations filled with easter eggs, diverse opponents, and allies. Wield 12 types of weapons, solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and engage in proven shooting gameplay in this one-person developed game. The dictator's Big Research Centre exploits prisoners for nefarious purposes, and you must navigate this harsh world. Please note that bugs and errors are possible due to the game's one-person development.

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Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,128 reviews
story32 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • Incredible achievement for a single developer, showcasing impressive graphics and engaging gameplay.
  • Fun and satisfying gunplay, with a variety of weapons that feel impactful and enjoyable to use.
  • Captures the essence of classic FPS games like Half-Life and combines it with a unique Slavic atmosphere.
  • Enemy AI can be frustratingly simplistic, often leading to predictable and repetitive combat encounters.
  • Some levels feel overly long and padded, with a lack of meaningful story progression.
  • The final boss encounters can feel unbalanced and tedious, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story142 mentions

    The story in the game is generally viewed as weak, incoherent, and often serves merely as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Many players noted issues with translation and voice acting, leading to confusion and a lack of emotional investment in the characters or plot. While some appreciated the game's homage to the Half-Life series, they felt that the storytelling was underdeveloped and at times nonsensical, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The story is a bit all over the place but comes together at the end well enough.”
    • “The story is hilarious and it is clear that there is a lot of love for the above mentioned games baked in, I was thoroughly impressed by the amount of gameplay and the polish available for the price.”
    • “The atmosphere and story were awesome and the combat was insane.”
    • “The story is barebones.”
    • “The plot is straightforward and rather basic; while it wants to be a story of revenge and revolution against tyranny, about a criminal turning into a hero of the people, above all it feels like a parody due to the terrible voice acting and the mangled translation.”
    • “You definitely don't play this game for the story!”
  • gameplay138 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, fast-paced combat, and satisfying gunplay, drawing clear inspiration from classic titles like Half-Life and Doom. While many players appreciate the fun and atmosphere, some note that the gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, with certain mechanics feeling underdeveloped or overly simplistic. Overall, it offers a solid experience with a mix of action and humor, though it may benefit from additional polish and variety.

    • “What really stood out to me was the blend of fast-paced gameplay and intentionally absurd humor.”
    • “The combat mechanics are simple yet incredibly engaging: fast-paced battles against hordes of enemies and a constantly changing arsenal of weapons keep the excitement going.”
    • “The gameplay is punchy, fast-paced, and satisfying.”
    • “Unfortunately, the first section of the game is the worst in terms of actual gameplay.”
    • “I was entertained and managed to do a playthrough, but there's a lot of poor enemy and item placement, that combined with repetitive gameplay started to get to me.”
    • “It needs a bit of polish and variety in its gameplay to really flourish.”
  • graphics119 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many praising the impressive visual aesthetics and extensive customization options, particularly for a solo developer project. While some users highlight the atmospheric environments and solid performance, others note inconsistencies in quality, with certain elements appearing dated or poorly executed. Overall, the game is recognized for its engaging art style and optimization, despite some graphical glitches and a few low-quality assets.

    • “The setting, art style, and level design is drop-dead gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics are great for one developer working on it and it plays great.”
    • “The graphics, atmosphere, gunplay, level design, optimization all top notch!”
    • “The game runs smoothly but its visuals feel dated and it comes off as more of a paid mod than a full game.”
    • “Don't expect a graphical marvel, especially in the details; everything looks quite simple and basic.”
    • “There's some weird pixelation with the graphics at times.”
  • atmosphere90 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its intense, immersive qualities, drawing heavy inspiration from post-Soviet themes and classic titles like Half-Life and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Reviewers highlight the effective sound design, gritty visuals, and a sense of paranoia that enhances the overall experience, making it feel both chaotic and captivating. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing to a gripping and memorable gaming experience.

    • “Amazing game with addictive gunplay and gripping atmosphere!”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is 10/10.”
    • “The atmosphere is intense.”
    • “It has a creepy atmosphere, but no real effort is put into setting any kind of horror atmosphere and the gameplay is too generic to have it fall into a good action shooter.”
    • “The hunt (2008, russia) blatantly steals the horror atmosphere and fisticuffs of condemned: criminal origins.”
    • “Very dark and oppressive atmosphere.”
  • optimization44 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback; while many players report smooth performance and high frame rates on various settings, some experience significant frame drops and performance issues, particularly with ray tracing and certain graphical settings. The extensive graphics options and their categorization by performance impact are praised, but there are calls for further optimization to address inconsistencies and lag in specific areas. Despite these concerns, many users find the game well-optimized for a solo developer project, achieving impressive performance even on lower-end hardware.

    • “One thing that really impressed me is that all the graphics settings are sorted by impact on performance, what a brilliant way to do it!”
    • “What this solo dev managed to achieve is quite impressive: eye-candy isn’t lacking in the game, its visuals are up to par with the most modern high-budget releases, with solid optimization.”
    • “The performance is astonishing considering how good the game looks, I have never seen a game with so many graphics settings, which can be adjusted in real time without restarting the game.”
    • “For the money, it's a good game, but it's very poorly optimized and laggy at moments.”
    • “Game performance needs optimization or something (40-60 fps on i7 + GTX 2080 on medium settings + lots of stuff turned off).”
    • “I had some really weird performance issues in the part after the gas station until you are on the train again (constant sub 30 fps while the rest of the game is maxed out at 180).”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its energetic tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during combat sequences. Reviewers noted a diverse soundtrack that blends atmospheric horror, metal, and post-punk influences, contributing to an immersive atmosphere. While some mentioned the use of asset pack music, many expressed a desire to support the developer by purchasing the soundtrack, highlighting its overall quality and effectiveness in elevating the game's intensity.

    • “The music and sound design deserve special mention—energetic tracks build the tension during fights.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic and when used in some setpiece fights it really helps pump the mood up.”
    • “Effects, lights, AI, sound, music, voice-overs, gunplay, etc. are low quality or even plainly bad.”
    • “Just needs more ambient music and more environmental sound effects; felt a bit too quiet sometimes.”
    • “The music, atmosphere, and graphics are all fantastic.”
  • humor31 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by a blend of absurdity, dark comedy, and cultural references that resonate particularly well with those familiar with Russian humor. Players appreciate the intentional jankiness and quirky elements, which often lead to hilarious moments, though some humor may be lost on non-Russian speakers. Overall, the game successfully combines fast-paced action with a unique comedic charm, making it an entertaining experience despite its flaws.

    • “What really stood out to me was the blend of fast-paced gameplay and intentionally absurd humor.”
    • “Honestly a great game with funny little easter eggs all around.”
    • “The game has a unique charm, blending Soviet-inspired elements with a sense of humor and creativity that makes it stand out from mainstream titles.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting bugs, glitches, and occasional freezes, particularly during high activity. While some players experience significant issues, others find the game runs smoothly with minimal problems, especially on certain platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, the stability varies widely, with some praising its performance and others highlighting the need for further bug fixes.

    • “The game is almost bug free and it looks gorgeous.”
    • “Game runs great on Steam Deck and I've just booted it up.”
    • “Runs great!”
    • “Needs bugs fixing; when there is a lot of activity, the game lags and freezes.”
    • “This game is hilariously buggy; I picked up the crowbar at the beginning of the game and it turned into a pink, not-textured AK-47.”
    • “It's a buggy pile of shit with poor translations.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the game features enjoyable gunplay and well-balanced puzzles, the grinding aspect can become tedious, particularly in later stages. Players noted that the high difficulty often feels frustrating due to poor hit detection and fast-moving enemies, detracting from the overall experience. The challenge is perceived as more about completing content rather than engaging gameplay, leading to a sense of monotony.

    • “Don't be fooled by the trailers; the action is not as fast-paced as shown in the videos, and the high difficulty is just a tedious mess of bad hit detection and enemies scooting around at 900 km per hour while the character you control has trouble running for more than 6 seconds.”
    • “Games in this style, the challenge is in completing the content, not mindlessly farming the content for achievements.”
    • “It’s not challenging or engaging—just tedious.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game primarily revolves around microtransactions for in-game purchases, which some players feel detract from gameplay, particularly with the ineffective aiming down sights (ADS) mechanic. Despite these concerns, players appreciate the fast-paced nature of combat and the abundance of ammo, which reduces reliance on ADS and mitigates the impact of monetization on overall enjoyment.

    • “Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
    • “The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
    • “I appreciate that the monetization model allows for free play while offering optional purchases.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    While the game is noted for having limited replay value, players express a willingness to revisit it after some time, indicating a lasting appeal despite its lack of extensive replayability features.

    • “Even if the game offers hardly any replay value, I will definitely play it again in a few years.”
    • “Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
    • “Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Users express a mix of emotional engagement and detachment in the gameplay experience, feeling a connection to the Russian setting while also noting moments of frustration and ease in combat. The contrast between intense encounters and the subsequent ease of using powerful weapons contributes to a complex emotional landscape within the game.

  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be hindered by poor character design and some bugs, which detracts from the overall experience. While the gameplay is fun and challenging, improvements in player movement mechanics are needed to enhance the character's responsiveness and fluidity, particularly during parkour and jumping sequences. Overall, players express hope for a sequel that addresses these issues.

    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in character development left me feeling disconnected from the story and its characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
2-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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