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 secrets and engaging environments, making exploration rewarding.
- The gunplay is satisfying, with a diverse arsenal of weapons that feel impactful and fun to use.
- The humor and charm of the game, along with its unique Finnish setting, add a delightful layer to the overall experience.
- The AI can be quite poor, often leading to enemies getting stuck or failing to engage effectively.
- Some players find the difficulty curve inconsistent, with certain levels feeling too easy or lacking challenging enemies.
- There are occasional issues with level navigation and confusing layouts, which can lead to frustration when trying to progress.
- music23 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 13 % 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 highlight the catchy MIDI style and engaging themes, while a few critics find the music shockingly bad, suggesting players turn it off. Overall, the soundtrack is a significant aspect that enhances the game's atmosphere, despite some dissenting opinions.
“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
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro-styled aesthetic that some players find charming, reminiscent of classic titles from the N64 era. While opinions vary, with some describing the visuals as lacking and too simplistic, others appreciate the unique art style and level design, noting that it complements the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics evoke nostalgia for older games, though they may not appeal to everyone.
“But having said that though, the graphics and sound have their own charm with a splash of humor too.”
“➕ Nice retro-styled graphics.”
“The level design is top tier and the whole aesthetic kicks ass.”
“Visuals: 4/10”
“The art style leaves a lot to be desired.”
“This game is one of those cases where the art style can be deceiving.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "White Hell" is praised for its blend of old-school mechanics and modern controls, featuring unique elements like the sisu system and kick parries that create interesting risk-reward scenarios. While not as complex as some movement shooters, it offers a fun experience with a decent number of levels, providing around 4-5 hours of engaging gameplay. Overall, the game is noted for its enjoyable 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.”
“And I think the sisu mechanic does make the game unique in a way.”
“A great mix of old school gameplay and modern control.”
“Mechanically, White Hell isn't that complex.”
“Overall, 'White Hell' is a good experience, and offers a decent number of levels even now, at the start of early access, amounting to at least 4-5 hours of gameplay.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % 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 rather than explicit writing.
“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.”
“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.”
“This retro shooter has references to old games, references to new retro games, and a lot of environmental storytelling.”
- 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, such as the Finnish language. Overall, it creates a captivating environment that enhances the gaming experience.
“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
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % 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 great difficulty curve, offering plenty of replayability and an expansive open world to explore.”
“Each playthrough feels unique, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes available.”
“The variety of character builds and strategies encourages players to return for new experiences.”
- 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 experience.
