White Hell
- August 12, 2021
- KeleSoft
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"White Hell" is a free demo of a retro-style first-person shooter, where player Jarmo navigates through frozen wastelands of Finland after waking up from hibernation. The game features a variety of weapons, from classic shotguns to eldritch energy swords, and pits players against two opposing extremist groups. The journey takes players through various environments, including overtaken cities, secret facilities, and even into another dimension.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features excellent level design with a variety of interesting and expansive environments to explore.
- Combat is engaging and fun, with satisfying gunplay and unique mechanics like the SISU mode that enhances gameplay.
- The humor and charm of the game, along with its nostalgic retro FPS style, make it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- Some enemy AI can be quite poor, leading to frustrating moments where they fail to navigate properly.
- The game can sometimes feel too easy, especially on lower difficulty settings, which may not provide enough challenge for experienced players.
- There are occasional issues with level navigation and confusing layouts that can lead to players getting lost.
- music21 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack composed by hakita, known for his work on Ultrakill, as superb and fitting the game's vibe. Some players highlighted specific tracks as standout, while others criticized the music as shockingly bad, suggesting players turn it off in favor of their own tunes. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect of the game's experience, contributing to its unique atmosphere and enjoyment.
“An absolutely fantastic retro FPS merging many of its scenes' stylings into a bombastic rollercoaster of a game with absurdly large and unique set pieces and areas to traverse, a stylish soundtrack made by hakita, and an incredibly fun array of enemies and weapons to boot.”
“The music is just awesome - hakita really did a great job with the soundtrack for the game.”
“Soundtrack is superb and fits the feel perfectly.”
“Music: 1/10”
“I listed music first on the list above because the music in this game is shockingly bad; turn it off and listen to your own tunes to enhance the experience.”
“The OST is composed by Hakita of Ultrakill fame, and is, well, okay.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its charm stemming from intentionally silly AI, amusing enemy designs, and clever references. Many find the comedic elements, such as funny animations and quirky sound effects, enhance the overall experience, although some humor may resonate more with players familiar with Finnish culture. While the game is not without flaws, its lighthearted approach and engaging humor contribute significantly to its appeal.
“It feels in every way designed to be fun above all else, such that some of its rudimentary aspects like the hilariously dumb AI become part of the game's charm.”
“Fun, humorous boomer shooter in the vein of Quake, with a hilarious weapon bob animation and pretty satisfying weapons.”
“It's funny to see Jarmo be classified as a communist by the fascists and vice versa on the wanted posters.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a blend of retro charm and simplistic design, evoking nostalgia while also being criticized for their lack of polish. While some players appreciate the unique aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles like Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein, others find the visuals underwhelming and lacking in detail. Overall, the graphics contribute to the game's fun atmosphere, though opinions vary on their execution.
“The graphics and sound have their own charm with a splash of humor.”
“Nice retro-styled graphics.”
“The level design is top tier and the whole aesthetic kicks ass.”
“The art style leaves a lot to be desired.”
“This game is one of those cases where the art style can be deceiving.”
“Visuals: 4/10”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "White Hell" is praised for its blend of old-school fun and modern controls, featuring unique mechanics like the sisu system and kick parries that introduce a risk-return tradeoff. While not as complex as some movement shooters, it offers enjoyable mechanics and a solid early access experience with 4-5 hours of gameplay across several levels. Overall, it stands out for its engaging mechanics and nostalgic feel.
“From what I can see, it was made by 3 people, which is amazing in itself. It's just like games when they were fun and not all about graphics being amazing and no gameplay.”
“Finally, the kick parries are an interesting risk-return tradeoff mechanic.”
“A great mix of old school gameplay and modern control.”
“Mechanically, White Hell isn't that complex.”
“Overall, 'White Hell' is a good experience, but it offers a limited number of levels, amounting to at least 4-5 hours of gameplay.”
“Heck, one of the levels even seems to encourage this mechanic, which I kind of appreciate.”
- story7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal yet effective, allowing players to piece together the narrative through environmental storytelling and scattered posters rather than heavy dialogue. Set in a Finland overrun by winter and conflict between neo-nazis and hardcore communists, the retro shooter incorporates numerous references to both classic and contemporary games, enhancing its lore through the game world itself. Overall, the storytelling relies more on atmosphere and context than on explicit narrative.
“The game never force feeds you any dialogue or story, but you can piece it together with all the posters that have been situated around the levels.”
“This retro shooter has references to old games, references to new retro games, and a lot of environmental storytelling.”
“Where the environment does more storytelling of the game universe than the game writing.”
“The game comes with a story where Finland was overrun by the winter cold nationwide, and the opposing parties of neo-Nazis and hardcore communists are ruling the country.”
“Where the environment does more storytelling of the game universe than the game writing.”
“There isn't really much of a story, which is a plus for a game like this.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging design, effectively immersing players despite potential language barriers.
“I like the game's atmosphere, even though I have no idea how to speak Finnish (except for 'perkele', but that's probably the most well-known Finnish word to non-Finnish speakers).”
“The whole atmosphere is engaging and has a good design.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's well-balanced difficulty curve and its open-world design, which contribute to a high level of replayability.
“The game features a well-balanced difficulty curve that enhances its replayability and open-world experience.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes encourages players to revisit the game multiple times.”
“Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, making it highly replayable.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on the positive impact of the music on the overall mood.
