Wells
- January 29, 2017
- Tower Up Studios
"Wells" is a side-scrolling action game with 3D graphics, drawing inspiration from 90's Run and Gun games, set in a steampunk universe. Play as Wells, utilizing a wide range of unique steampunk weapons while battling enemies and massive bosses. Your gun can overheat, so manage your cooldowns carefully in this fast-paced, explosive adventure.
Reviews
- The game offers a charming aesthetic and unique mechanics that make it enjoyable.
- It has a variety of weapons and challenges, providing a good level of replayability.
- Many players found it to be a hidden gem, especially at its low price point.
- The controls are often unresponsive and frustrating, leading to a negative gameplay experience.
- The graphics and sound design are considered dull and lacking polish.
- Some players experienced issues with the game's performance, including frame drops and controller support problems.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the smooth mechanics and unique features, others find it average and hindered by issues like overheating guns that disrupt the flow. The game successfully evokes nostalgia with its old-school charm, engaging boss fights, and fun shooting mechanics, despite its simplistic visuals.
“The problems with long reloads mentioned in other reviews have been fixed, and gameplay is very smooth.”
“Even though it may be visually simple, it makes up for its unique mechanics and gameplay.”
“A very fun old school game with interesting shooting mechanics and boss fights.”
“It started off decent as a side-scrolling shooter, but the gameplay was average, and the dull graphics got to me eventually.”
“While I remember guns overheating in games like Metal Slug, I never remember them causing an extreme pause to the gameplay experience like they do in Wells.”
“Made me come back to the old days when I used to play a lot of games with bosses at the end of which level and a charismatic character to join the gameplay.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them decent and visually appealing, while others criticize them as dull and in need of improvement. Issues such as glitches in the Linux version and a lack of professionalism in the intro graphics were also noted. Overall, the visual presentation seems to vary significantly in quality, impacting the overall gaming experience.
“A nice little sidescroller with pleasing music and visuals.”
“The graphics are really cool as well as the fantastic soundtrack.”
“The graphics and color palette aren't great.”
“I would really change the voice-over and clean up the intro graphics; it would go a long way to making it look more professional and match the game itself.”
“It started off decent as a side-scrolling shooter, but the gameplay was average, and the dull graphics got to me eventually.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing and enjoyable, while others describe it as annoying and lacking quality. Overall, it is noted that the soundtrack complements the visuals well, contributing to a pleasing atmosphere in the game.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“A nice little sidescroller with pleasing music and visuals.”
“The graphics are really cool, as well as the fantastic soundtrack.”
“The sounds are terrible and the music is annoying.”
“Wells is a steampunk side scroller with decent enough graphics, but the music is just okay and the sound effects are kind of pathetic.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, highlighting that perseverance can lead to unexpected outcomes. Reviewers appreciate the engaging narrative alongside the game's strong controls.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The game features great controls and an engaging storyline.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is generally considered funny, with players enjoying its humor, though some find certain sound effects, like the character's jumping noise, to be a bit odd. Overall, the humor adds to the game's charm.
“This game is hilarious!”
“The voice and the 'hum hum' sound he makes when he jumps is a bit weird, but it's funny!”
“The humor in this game really stands out!”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users consistently highlight the game’s high level of replayability, indicating that it offers engaging content and experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs.
“It also has a high level of replayability.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is well-received, with users noting that it is fair and not exploitative, avoiding the pitfalls of a cash grab.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably inconsistent, particularly on the Linux version, which suffers from significant graphics glitches, detracting from the overall experience.
“While I am glad the game has extended platform support, the Linux version is garbage with graphics glitches throughout.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”