windowkill
- February 23, 2024
- torcado
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Windowkill" is a shoot-em-up game with both single-player and local cooperative modes for 2 players. It features split-screen gameplay and a unique mechanic involving a problematic window. The game has been updated to version 3.0 and is available on Steam. The soundtrack is by Keestak, and the game was originally created for Ludum Dare 54.
Reviews
- Unique and creative gameplay that effectively utilizes the concept of windows, making for an engaging experience.
- High replay value with a variety of unlockable characters, upgrades, and secrets to discover.
- Affordable price point for the amount of content and enjoyment it offers, making it a great value.
- Can become repetitive after a while, with limited enemy and boss variety leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
- Performance issues, especially in longer runs, can lead to lag and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems.
- Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, with some bosses and mechanics feeling unbalanced or overly punishing.
- gameplay123 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its unique integration of window mechanics, creating an engaging and addictive experience that blends bullet hell elements with innovative visual and interactive features. Players appreciate the creative character designs, challenging bosses, and the balance of skill required, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, it offers a fresh take on the genre, making it a standout choice for fans of unique mechanics and roguelike gameplay.
“The gameplay is engaging and offers a unique experience that sets it apart from other games.”
“The central concept is super creative, and the gameplay is wonderfully addictive.”
“A fun as hell little twin-stick shooter that utilizes its windows in a clever way - shoot walls to stretch your constantly shrinking playing field but also manage that and clearing the current wave and bosses before the next one shows up.”
“The shooting gameplay, the economy, and the window management don't synergize in the way that I wanted.”
“All enemies were repeats, all bosses were repeats, all the gameplay just boiled down to being a huge mess of shapes on my screen.”
“With upgrades this deterministic, the only ways to increase DPS are to buy as many fire rate and multishot upgrades as possible, so the gameplay is identical every run, and you'll have seen everything it has to offer within a few games.”
- music41 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its engaging and diverse soundtrack, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players describe it as addictive, with a mix of genres like drum and bass and breakcore that perfectly complement the game's chaotic and relaxing elements. While some users express a desire for more tracks or customization options, the consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
“The soundtrack in combination with never knowing what in the fresh heck is going on at any time ever grabs me by the tisms.”
“The game has good music along with multiplayer that is super chaotic and fun.”
“Genius concept, great soundtrack.”
“Needs more soundtrack, maybe boss specific music?”
“The game is good and all, but someone knows how to fix that there is no music?”
“I wish there were more options for maybe customizing sound effects and music, but that would just be the icing on the cake.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their cool designs and clean aesthetics, effectively utilizing a unique windowed mechanic that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the simple yet engaging visuals, which evoke a retro vibe reminiscent of early 2000s aesthetics, and the overall performance is noted to be well-optimized despite some minor stuttering issues. The combination of appealing graphics and a strong soundtrack contributes to the game's addictive nature and charm.
“The aesthetic is so lovely; I expected to drop it after the first playthrough, but there are so many unique playstyles with the characters.”
“Graphics are extremely clean and cohesive; the soundtrack is an absolute banger, customization is great, and the main menu looks amazing.”
“I love the aesthetic and the unique take on the gameplay using window size as a mechanic; it's really good.”
“The multiple window aesthetic is not just for show.”
“In terms of performance, on my fairly capable Windows 11 laptop, while connected to an external monitor, I do experience frequent stuttering, but it may be my own fault (needing to update my graphics driver, etc.). Other than the stuttering, the game is very well optimized, and I'm surprised by how smoothly the windows bounce around and respond to bullets and enemy movements.”
“It isn't the graphics (which are somewhat easy on the eyes), or the music (which is pretty heckin' good), or everything else the game contains... but it all comes down to the fact that it's a game that actually uses something from your system to its advantage.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews highlight a mixed perception of replayability across different games. While some titles are praised for their high replay value, unique mechanics, and unlockable content that enhance the experience, others are criticized for being repetitive or lacking depth, resulting in limited replayability. Ultimately, the replayability of these games varies significantly, with some offering exciting challenges and creative gameplay, while others fall short in providing lasting engagement.
“Extremely fun and massive replay value.”
“Has awesome amounts of replayability and has such a unique gimmick to the whole experience.”
“Windowkill is, despite its seemingly simple concept, a very deep game with many secrets and high replay value, especially given the different characters you can unlock that give new ways of killing enemies.”
“What it lacks in depth and replayability, it makes up for in being creative.”
“Lacks replayability and gets repetitive quickly.”
“6 weeks later - this is a 10/10 game idea with a 6/10 execution, still worth it but not much replay value.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing performance issues, particularly when using real system windows, which can lead to lag during intense gameplay. However, many have found that adjusting settings, such as switching to fake windows or disabling the Steam overlay, can significantly improve performance. Overall, while there are occasional stutters, the game is generally well-optimized and offers a smooth experience once the right adjustments are made.
“Even when the game was lagging before I optimized the performance in the options menu, I couldn't stop playing, and it rekindled that childlike wonder I used to have with computers.”
“I didn't expect to be blown away just as much, if not more, as the first time with the sheer amount of concepts and content that Torcado has added, as well as the subtle but very welcome changes and performance tweaks.”
“In terms of performance, on my fairly capable Windows 11 laptop, while connected to an external monitor, I do experience frequent stuttering, but it may be my own fault (needing to update my graphics driver, etc.); other than the stuttering, the game is very well optimized, and I'm surprised by how smoothly the windows bounce around and respond to bullets and enemy movements.”
“The game can use real system windows, but it's only usable for the first 20 minutes until it starts getting laggier with so many enemies/bosses/windows spawning that you'll have to use fake windows to regain performance.”
“There is still a bit of a performance problem, but at this point it's almost certainly due to any computer not expecting 20 windows being moved simultaneously; you can go into a pseudo-mode where it fixes that completely by faking the windows and having it be one big one, although it removes some of the charm.”
“If you are having performance problems then consider turning off Steam overlay, and if that doesn't work then turn on fake windows.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both creative and entertaining, particularly in its unique concepts and characters like the "funny smiley guy." Many reviews highlight the game's ability to provide a humorous experience, even in endless modes, contributing to its overall enjoyment. However, some players also note that the humor can lead to physical strain, such as carpal tunnel.
“You can go for 30 minutes in endless mode to make the game pure stimulation, which is really funny compared to the normal gameplay.”
“Love the game, really funny and creative.”
“Very cool game with a funny concept.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while some players appreciate the lack of grinding in the game, others find the setup process and shared resources among players to be tedious and cumbersome. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but may require significant effort in coordination and management during multiplayer sessions.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Lastly, having to share a health bar, shop, upgrades, and an exclusive ability is really tedious, as two players can only use the same ability if they are the same character.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game "Windowkill" is praised for its gameplay but criticized for lacking a story mode, which contributes to a quick completion time.
“There is no story.”
“Windowkill is a really good game, but the only problems I have with it are that the game can be beaten really quickly and there is no story mode.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report stability issues, particularly with the game freezing when using the laser character and experiencing buggy window positions in multi-monitor setups. There is hope for these problems to be addressed in future patches.
“Great game, but it freezes when I use the laser character. Hopefully, they fix it.”
“Another issue is that the window positions tend to get a bit buggy when you enable multi-monitor, but hopefully this will be fixed in patches.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, highlighting feelings of frustration and claustrophobia. The experience is described as overwhelming, with some finding it difficult to manage the game's demands, while others appreciate the concept despite their emotional challenges.
“The game stopped responding in the middle of a good run; I will never emotionally recover from this.”
“I've never played a game that made me feel claustrophobic. There was way too much to keep track of on top of managing your window size. Definitely not my cup of tea, but it's a cool concept.”
