Worse Than Death
- October 8, 2019
- BancyCo
In "Worse Than Death," attend a high school reunion that turns into a horror adventure. Evade shadowy creatures, solve puzzles, and delve into Holly's past in this action-packed game. Features 3D positional audio, three difficulty modes, and support for keyboard/mouse and gamepads.
Reviews
- The pixel art and comic book-style graphics are visually appealing and well-executed.
- The puzzles are engaging and provide a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
- The atmosphere is creepy and effectively builds tension throughout the game.
- The story is clichéd and lacks depth, with predictable twists and an unsatisfying ending.
- Stealth mechanics are overly simplistic and do not contribute to a sense of fear or challenge.
- The game is relatively short and offers little replay value, with limited monster variety and no inventory system.
- story39 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players praising its intriguing plot, character development, and atmospheric setting, though some noted it suffers from pacing issues and plot holes. While the narrative is engaging and features compelling twists, it can feel short and occasionally relies on clichés. Overall, the story is a highlight for many, despite some criticisms regarding execution and depth.
“The atmosphere and the story are exceptionally well-crafted; they had me hooked, and I couldn't put the game down.”
“The story is intriguing, and I really like the art style, but the awful 'stealth' sections absolutely killed it for me.”
“The mystery surrounding the story will get you hooked.”
“My only gripe with this game is in the story where it is never explained neither in dialogue nor through pieces of world-building where the monster came from or how they were created. It's a minor thing, but I care about it.”
“Shit's stupid. It could have been an okay horror drama story, but they had to add a 'big monster' who isn't even related to the plot.”
“The story is a mass of clichés that aren't even that well put together.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the pixel art and comic book-style animations for their quality and atmospheric appeal. However, some players find the combination of different art styles jarring and feel that the overall visual experience is undermined by cliched storytelling and gameplay issues. Overall, while the art style is appreciated for its creativity and execution, it does not fully compensate for other shortcomings in the game.
“The artwork is excellent and the atmosphere is terrifying.”
“I really like the art style and animations; I think they're quite nice. The grainy filter the game has is a nice touch, and the sound and ambience are also quite nice. The intro music, especially, is a bop; I think it's custom made for this game, which makes me wonder if there's a full version somewhere out there.”
“The pixel art/graphic style is really good with well-designed backgrounds and levels.”
“Almost nothing in its cliched mystery, cookie cutter puzzles, bland writing, nor its cartoony art style feels fresh.”
“The story is intriguing and I really like the art style but the awful 'stealth' sections absolutely killed it for me.”
“But the art style switching between pixel and head shots is pretty good.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 92 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Worse Than Death" is characterized by a straightforward loop of hiding from enemies, managing stamina, and solving simple puzzles, which some players found lacking in depth compared to similar titles. While the mechanics are easy to grasp and the art style is praised for its atmospheric quality, the overall gameplay experience is described as bland and derivative, failing to elevate the horror elements or story significantly. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a smooth experience that keeps players engaged without excessive frustration.
“Taking a step aside from the completely narrative-driven home, Worse Than Death aims to deliver a more straightforward story while also expanding on the gameplay mechanics to present a more familiar horror game.”
“Worse Than Death won't win any awards on its gameplay alone, which consists of scrolling left to right through areas, avoiding enemies by hiding in convenient dark spots while also managing your stamina and solving puzzles along the way, but with the pixel art/drawn close-ups presentation and excellent audio, the sense of urgency is convincingly presented.”
“The art style varies between pixelated gameplay segments and flash-animated cut scenes in comic book style—and I loved both equally!”
“I was really excited to play this game on my birthday at night, and I was really into it for the first 10 minutes, until the mechanics of the gameplay loop were introduced (15 minutes in, it's basically: press a button to hide within the background, wait until the enemy passes by, pop back out).”
“Worse than death won't win any awards on its gameplay alone, which consists of scrolling left to right through areas, avoiding enemies by hiding in convenient dark spots while also managing your stamina and solving puzzles along the way, but with the pixel art/drawn close-ups presentation and excellent audio, the sense of urgency is convincingly presented.”
“While the pixel-art visuals are nice and atmospheric, bland gameplay and outright bad story prevent enjoying the game.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its spookiness and detailed art, creating a captivating and terrifying experience that keeps players engaged. However, some reviews note that despite the strong atmospheric elements, issues with gameplay and storytelling detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The atmosphere and the story are exceptionally well-crafted; they had me hooked, and I couldn't put the game down.”
“The artwork is excellent and the atmosphere is terrifying.”
“The atmosphere is really good and spooky and keeps you on edge the first time you play it.”
“But that doesn't save the bad writing, almost no horror or suspenseful atmosphere, and a really boring and tedious gameplay.”
“While the enemy mechanics are similar to Lone Survivor, Lone Survivor is a much better game in all aspects, including atmosphere.”
“- creepy and eerie atmosphere.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and contribution to the overall experience, with standout elements like the catchy intro track and well-suited ambient sounds. Reviewers appreciate the custom feel of the music, noting that it enhances the game's atmosphere effectively.
“The music is excellent and it really adds to the whole experience.”
“The sounds and music in the game were also really good.”
“I think the intro music especially is a bop; it makes me wonder if there's a full version somewhere out there.”
“The music feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”
“I found the soundtrack repetitive and uninspiring, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The audio quality of the music is poor, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, with some noting that it detracts from the overall experience due to poor writing and a lack of atmosphere.
“But that doesn't save the bad writing, almost no horror/suspenseful atmosphere, and a really boring and tedious gameplay.”
“My second and third (to hunt achievements) were more tedious.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is limited due to its short story length, which can be completed in a night or two. While different difficulty settings offer some incentive to replay, many users feel that the lack of substantial content reduces its overall replay value.
“The story is pretty short (can be beaten in a night or two), though the different difficulty settings encourage some replay value.”
“Each playthrough offers unique choices that significantly alter the outcome, making you want to experience it all over again.”
“The game features multiple endings and side quests, ensuring that no two playthroughs feel the same.”
“The story is pretty short (can be beaten in a night or two), though the different difficulty settings encourage some replay value.”
“Somewhat on the short side and little to no replay value, but at the price I got it on sale, I'd say it was a great bargain anyway.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is criticized for being underwhelming, with some reviewers feeling that the appealing character designs are not matched by meaningful growth or depth in the characters themselves.
“Honestly, it's really kind of a shame they wasted such a pretty character design on this schlock.”