VLADiK BRUTAL

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,288 reviews

story37 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Impressive game made by a single developer, showcasing a strong passion for the genre.
Engaging gunplay with satisfying weapon mechanics and a variety of enemies.
Atmospheric design reminiscent of Half-Life and STALKER, providing a nostalgic experience.

Enemy AI is simplistic, often leading to predictable and repetitive combat encounters.
Some levels feel overly long and can become tedious, especially towards the end.
The story is minimal and lacks depth, with poorly translated dialogue that can detract from immersion.

story
159 mentions
23 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of the game is often described as minimal and incoherent, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Many reviewers note its similarities to the Half-Life series, with a straightforward plot that lacks depth and character development, often feeling like an afterthought. While some players appreciate the game's atmosphere and humor, the overall consensus is that the story is weak, poorly translated, and not a primary reason to engage with the game.
- “The storyline is also good for the game being made by one person.”
- “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.”
- “There isn't much of a story, or at least it seems to be about as shallow as the talking heads we see preaching on the news.”
- “Cutscenes are really bad, and if you came here for a story, you have nothing to search for.”
- “The story is barebones.”
gameplay
150 mentions
39 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, satisfying gunplay, and a blend of fast-paced action reminiscent of classic titles like Half-Life and Doom. While some players noted clunky controls and repetitive elements after extended play, the overall experience is described as fun and atmospheric, with a solid variety of weapons and combat scenarios. However, there are criticisms regarding level design and certain gameplay mechanics that could benefit from refinement.
- “Excellent gameplay, fighting enemies is fun and guns feel very impactful.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is a bit janky and the English translation isn't perfect, but you can feel the heart and soul put into this game.”
- “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.”
graphics
131 mentions
47 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the impressive visual aesthetics, extensive customization options, and the effective use of modern technologies like ray tracing and DLSS. However, some players note inconsistencies in quality, with certain textures appearing dated or grainy, and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, they vary significantly across different aspects of the game, reflecting both high potential and some shortcomings.
- “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 graphics range from ok-ish to downright awful.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
104 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intense, immersive qualities, drawing strong comparisons to iconic titles like Half-Life and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound design, music, and visual aesthetics to create a gritty, post-Soviet environment filled with dread and tension. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience and contributing to the game's appeal as a compelling shooter.
- “The atmosphere is amazing; this guy really captured a good mix of Soviet-era dread and Half-Life level design.”
- “The music adds a lot to the atmosphere; the natural sound effects are nice, and the gunshots and explosions are really voluminous and punchy.”
- “The atmosphere and story were awesome, and the combat was insane.”
- “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 dark, cold atmosphere also reminded me of Metro.”
- “He has done a simply incredible job of creating an intense brutal atmosphere, with punishing enemies, exciting weapon choices, and a very clean campaign.”
music
46 mentions
43 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the atmosphere and intensifying combat, with energetic tracks that complement the sound effects of gunfire and explosions. Reviewers highlight the effective interplay between the soundtrack and environmental sounds, noting that the music contributes significantly to immersion and excitement during gameplay. While some mention a reliance on asset packs, the overall consensus is that the original compositions and sound design elevate the gaming experience.
- “The music and sound design deserve special mention—energetic tracks build the tension during fights.”
- “The music is amazing, the weapons feel powerful and fun to use, and the graphics are great.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and when used in some set-piece 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 did get a bit tedious in the later bits; could have made good use of the ability to lean around corners, and a little more polish.”
optimization
44 mentions
41 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback. While many players praise its ability to run smoothly on lower-end PCs and appreciate the extensive graphics settings that allow for real-time adjustments, some report performance issues, including sudden FPS drops and lag in certain areas. Despite these concerns, the general consensus is that the game is well-optimized for a solo developer project, with many users achieving high frame rates even at maximum settings.
- “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.”
- “The game/graphics performance leaves something to be desired.”
- “It feels like there needs to be more optimization done or something, though.”
humor
33 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending absurdity with dark, edgy elements that resonate particularly well with fans of Russian culture and old-school shooters. Players appreciate the intentional jankiness and quirky Easter eggs, which contribute to a comedic experience, even if some jokes may be lost on non-Russian speakers. Overall, the game is described as both hilariously entertaining and charmingly flawed, making it a fun ride despite its shortcomings.
- “What really stood out to me was the blend of fast-paced gameplay and intentionally absurd humor.”
- “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.”
- “The English subtitles are hilarious at times, due to how badly translated they are from Russian (literal translation of idioms which make no sense in English).”
stability
17 mentions
29 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
The stability of the game 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 and is nearly bug-free, especially on certain platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, the game's stability seems to vary widely among users, with some appreciating its charm despite the technical flaws.
- “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.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the gunplay and atmosphere are praised, the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious, particularly in later stages where difficulty feels more frustrating than challenging. Players express disappointment with the pacing and hit detection, leading to a sense of mindless repetition rather than engaging gameplay. Overall, the grind detracts from the otherwise enjoyable experience.
- “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.”
monetization
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game primarily revolves around microtransactions for in-game purchases, which some players feel detracts from gameplay, particularly with mechanics like aiming down sights (ADS) that seem ineffective. Despite this, players appreciate the fast-paced nature of combat and the abundance of ammo, which reduces reliance on potentially costly mechanics.
- “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 both free and paid options, making it accessible for everyone.”
- “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
- “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
replayability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
While some users note that the game has limited replay value, many express a willingness to revisit it after some time, indicating a lasting appeal despite its shortcomings in replayability.
- “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.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a mix of emotional engagement and detachment in the gameplay experience, feeling a connection to the setting while also noting moments of frustration and ease in combat. The contrast between intense encounters and the subsequent ease of defeating enemies highlights a fluctuating emotional landscape throughout the game.
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative 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 disengaged from the story.”