West of Dead Beta

About

West of Dead Beta is a single player action game. It was developed by Upstream Arcade and was released on March 31, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

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.…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 495 reviews

gameplay77 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a unique art style reminiscent of comic books, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
Ron Perlman's voice acting adds depth to the character and complements the game's narrative.
The gameplay is engaging and fun, with a mix of tactical cover mechanics and fast-paced shooting.

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 hinder progress.
The game can feel too easy at times, lacking challenge and variety in enemy encounters.

gameplay
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The gameplay has been described as a blend of mechanics reminiscent of "Dead Cells" and tactical cover-based shooting, offering a slower pace that emphasizes situational awareness and strategic positioning. Players appreciate the engaging gunplay and combo mechanics, though some have noted inconsistencies in weapon effectiveness and aiming precision. Overall, the gameplay is considered fun and addictive, with a solid foundation that shows promise for future improvements as the game continues to develop.
- “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
69%
29%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique and beautiful art style, often compared to the works of Mike Mignola, which enhances the atmospheric experience. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and presentation, some have noted issues with visibility and gameplay polish, suggesting that the graphics may overshadow other gameplay elements. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive quality.
- “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
64%
31%
5%
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 music that complements the game's setting. However, some users expressed a desire for a larger variety of tracks, as the current selection feels limited despite its overall effectiveness in creating an engaging ambiance.
- “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
69%
22%
9%
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 of western and eerie dungeon environments. However, some players feel that while the atmosphere is strong, it can occasionally detract from the overall 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
32%
58%
10%
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 compelling and well-integrated with gameplay, others note that it can be difficult to follow or feels incomplete at this stage. Overall, there is a strong sense of potential for deeper storytelling and character development as the game progresses towards its 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
100%
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 that minor bugs and clunky menu navigation do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is considered somewhat buggy but still enjoyable.
- “When it comes to gameplay, the only big complaint I have is that the camera is buggy at times, especially at the [spoiler] wendigo [/spoiler] boss battle.”
- “Sometimes my character glitches out and automatically aims at someone I don't want them to when there's a dude right in front of him.”
- “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.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
Overall, users express mixed feelings about the game's replayability. While some highlight its fun factor and potential for replay value through randomly generated elements, others feel that it currently lacks sufficient replayability, particularly 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.”
- “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
40%
60%
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, particularly with menu navigation and aiming, which detracts from the overall experience. Users are hopeful for more graphic control options in future updates to enhance optimization further.
- “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
100%
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 accompanying soundtrack also enhances the 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
100%
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, but the lack of progression mechanics leaves some players wanting more.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly immersive, allowing players to truly connect with their characters and experience their growth throughout the story.”
- “The RPG elements, including character development and a loot system, add depth and enhance the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The attention to detail in character design and development is remarkable, making each character feel unique and integral to the story.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes strong emotional connections, likening the experience to reading a captivating Hellboy comic, which enhances their desire 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
300%
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 to level up or gather resources can become frustrating and dull.”