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West of Dead Beta

93%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
stability, replayability
93% User Score Based on 494 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows

About

Add Full Game to Wishlist About the GamePurgatory, Wyoming, 1888. A place of gun smoke and darkness, sin and damnation, wendigos and witches. A shifting, chaotic world that takes its form from the memories, culture or beliefs of the souls who pass through. When a dead man awakens with only the memory of a figure in black, he sets into motion a chain of events that have truly mythic consequences.…

West of Dead Beta screenshot
West of Dead Beta screenshot
West of Dead Beta screenshot
West of Dead Beta screenshot
West of Dead Beta screenshot
West of Dead Beta screenshot
West of Dead Beta screenshot
West of Dead Beta screenshot

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 494 reviews
gameplay77 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions

  • The game features a unique and beautiful art style reminiscent of Mike Mignola's work, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
  • Ron Perlman's voice acting adds depth and character to the protagonist, making the narrative more engaging.
  • The gameplay mechanics, including cover systems and the use of light to stun enemies, create a fun and strategic combat experience.
  • The aiming system can be frustrating, with issues related to auto-targeting and visibility of enemies in dark areas.
  • There are several bugs present, including game-breaking glitches that can disrupt progress and soft-lock the player.
  • The game can feel too easy at times, with a lack of challenge in enemy encounters and a need for more diverse gameplay mechanics.
  • gameplay
    160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has been described as a mix of tactical cover mechanics and straightforward gunplay, reminiscent of titles like Dead Cells and Bastion, with a slower pacing that emphasizes situational awareness. Players appreciate the engaging combat and unique mechanics, though some have noted issues with aiming accuracy and the effectiveness of certain weapons. Overall, the game shows promise with its addictive gameplay loop and beautiful art style, despite some bugs and areas needing polish.

    • “Gameplay is great; you feel so good making combos with revolvers and shotguns.”
    • “Amazing game, artwork is fantastic, gameplay is fun, enemies vary, the cover mechanics are very well done, overall a very promising game.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and challenging, and it left me wanting more.”
    • “But the gameplay shows its shortcomings pretty quickly.”
    • “Bugs abound, both graphical and gameplay-related, and the content is stretched thin after a few runs.”
    • “Gameplay-wise it's a bit strained; the gunplay is very good but the cover shooting is strange and sometimes impossible to use.”
  • graphics
    153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and beautiful art style, often compared to the works of renowned artist Mike Mignola, which enhances the game's atmospheric setting. While many players appreciate the stunning visuals and engaging aesthetic, some have noted that the dark tone can be overwhelming and may detract from gameplay clarity. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some minor technical issues.

    • “The art style is beautiful and I recommend this game just for the looks.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and gameplay is fun.”
    • “The art style and music are phenomenal.”
    • “Bugs abound, both graphical and gameplay-related, and the content is stretched thin after a few runs.”
    • “However, it seems the developers focused far too much on polishing the graphics, and not the game.”
    • “There are some issues with environment fading in and out, and camera work could use some love sometimes, but the art style, oooh, it's wonderful.”
  • music
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its immersive and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players praised the quality of the voice acting, particularly noting the contributions of Ron Perlman, and highlighted the unique blend of styles, including western-themed tracks that complement the game's setting. However, some users expressed a desire for a larger variety of tracks, as the current selection feels limited despite its high quality.

    • “The theme, music, narrator, etc. is awesome and I wanted to have a go at it myself even though I can't make it far.”
    • “The art, soundtrack, and voice acting are amazing for this game.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, and there is humor.”
    • “I'd say there's about 3 to 5 tracks total, all with about the same song structure and tones.”
    • “Music is fitting, but nothing really pops.”
    • “I turned the music off temporarily and put the Hunt: Showdown OST soundtrack in the background, and it just felt more... complete.”
  • atmosphere
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique art style, immersive sound design, and fitting music, creating a captivating experience that enhances gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the combination of visuals and audio, which effectively evoke themes ranging from eerie dungeons to western afterlife settings. However, some players feel that while the atmosphere is strong, it can occasionally detract from the gameplay experience.

    • “The voice acting was tremendous, and the vibe of an eerie dungeon crawler rife with monsters and bandits was the perfect culmination to create an atmosphere that I have not experienced in gameplay before.”
    • “West of Dead (beta) is an interesting, fun, and beautifully atmospheric game that lets you dive into purgatory.”
    • “The atmosphere, enemies, sound, map design, and music are top-notch.”
    • “The magnolia-esque dark inkings give the whole game a very dark, almost Rembrandt painting atmosphere.”
    • “The good parts of this game are the atmosphere and the sense of badassery you feel.”
  • story
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is described as engaging and atmospheric, with a blend of intriguing lore and haunting visuals that draw players in. While some players find the narrative somewhat incomplete or difficult to follow, many express excitement for its potential and the unique storytelling elements, including voice acting and thematic depth. Overall, the story is seen as a promising aspect of the game, with hopes for further development in the full release.

    • “Love the lore and atmosphere, from the art style to Ron's voice acting telling the story bits.”
    • “Everything about it -- the haunting artwork, the endlessly dark and claustrophobic world, the storytelling through pulp-noir monologues by Ron Perlman -- is a beautifully crafted love letter to the work of master artist and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.”
    • “The story is mysterious, yet intriguing.”
    • “I really couldn't follow along with the story, but I can see this game having potential.”
    • “[b]verdict:[/b] no story so far, just death.”
    • “The story is not completely developed yet, but a chunk of it already exists to give you some sense of the setting you are in.”
  • stability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is marked by several bugs and glitches, particularly with the camera and character controls, which can disrupt gameplay during critical moments. While some players report game-breaking issues, others find the overall experience enjoyable despite these minor inconveniences. Overall, the stability is considered a mixed bag, with noticeable flaws that may affect immersion but do not completely detract from the fun.

    • “When it comes to gameplay, the only big complaint I have is that the camera is buggy at times, especially at the wendigo boss battle.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's a bit strained. The gunplay is very good, but the cover shooting is strange and sometimes impossible to use. It doesn't let you go out of cover short of a dodge roll. Speaking of the dodge roll, it's a bit inconsistent; if you roll over clutter on the ground, you will fly straight into a wall or off a ledge. Walls are super buggy; if you roll into some wall decorations or a barrel, for example, you are likely to clip on top of the barrel or over it into the void. Thankfully, you only get damaged and sent back, but the balance is weird and all over the place in a few ways.”
    • “The game is a little buggy, with two game-breaking issues that I found.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is seen as a mixed bag; while some players find it fun and engaging with potential for replay value due to random elements, others feel it currently lacks sufficient replayability, especially in its beta state. Improvements in controls and content could enhance this aspect in the future.

    • “Highlights: no politics, no agenda, just a game that is fun and very replayable.”
    • “First and foremost, for me it has very low replayability at this stage.”
    • “Replayability?”
    • “The randomly generated guns you start with and the randomly generated environment and encounters hint that this game should have a decent amount of replay value if that is progressed into the main game post beta.”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players have noted significant performance improvements in the latest version, indicating that the game is well-optimized. However, there are concerns regarding mouse and keyboard controls, including issues with menu navigation and aiming, as well as a lack of customizable graphics options. Additionally, some users have experienced frustrating camera panning and visibility issues with the cursor in menus.

    • “I've seen some major improvements since the last version, especially in performance.”
    • “I think it is well optimized, but I would like to have more control over graphics (I believe you will give us those options in later versions).”
    • “The cursor in the menu is not visible because it is the same color as the menu itself. Optimization of controls with keyboard and mouse is needed. It is difficult for me to see where I am pointing, which makes me take damage unnecessarily.”
    • “Only gripes right now are the camera panning having a bit of a mind of its own at times, as well as the menus not being optimized for mouse.”
    • “The game isn't mouse optimized; for example, the options at the pause screen wouldn't open when I click on them. The aiming is frustrating, and the camera is not very responsive.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it very funny and appreciating its clever storytelling, particularly the unique portrayal of the afterlife. The combination of humor and an engaging soundtrack enhances the overall comedic experience.

    • “Very funny!”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, and there is humor.”
    • “The tale of the east being the afterlife is a funny way to say things.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game's music, graphics, and character design are praised for their fidelity to the source material, reviewers express a desire for deeper character development and RPG elements, such as a loot system, to enhance the overall experience. The inclusion of Ron Perlman as the voice of Hellboy adds authenticity to the character portrayal.

    • “Adding some RPG elements like character development and a loot system will be greatly appreciated.”
    • “We've managed to make a game that completely captures the look and feel of Mignola's Hellboy comics, down to the most intimate details of color, use of negative space, and character design, and we even got Hellboy himself, Ron Perlman, to do the voice acting!”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game engaging, likening it to the immersive experience of reading a Hellboy comic, which compels them to continue playing.

    • “This made me feel like I was reading a Hellboy comic, and I just wanted to keep playing.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of exploring empty rooms in search of upgrades, chests, or traders.

    • “Walking around through empty rooms looking for upgrades, chests, or the trader can be tedious.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “Spending hours on end doing the same tasks just to level up becomes frustrating and dull.”

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