Info about Hellish Quart:

Official game description:
Hellish Quart is a **local-only** (two players play on one PC, **not** online), physics-based sword fighting game. Set in 17th century Poland, it features a cinematic story and the most iconic sword fighter archetypes of this period.
With motion-captured fencing techniques and four gamepad buttons representing four attack angles, you'll need to use timing, technique, and speed to defeat your opponents. Choose from a variety of warriors and take part in cinematic story mode, arcade mode, safe sparring, quick fights, survival mode with online leaderboards, or **local** multiplayer. If you want to hone your sword fighting skills, you can spar with wooden weapons or train in modern HEMA gear. And for the ultimate experience, Hellish Quart also offers an optional VR mode.
Please note that the game is still in development and **only supports local multiplayer** (two players play on one PC, **not** online).
*   physical sword fighting using Active Ragdolls
*   cinematic story
*   online leaderboards
*   realistic historical fencing techniques
*   optional VR mode
Hellish Quart utilizes active ragdolls and real-time physics to get you the ultimate fencing experience. You can attack from four different angles using the four gamepad buttons. Different button combinations enable special attacks and combos. When you are not attacking, your character automatically assumes a defensive stance, blocking your opponent's attacks using the autoguard feature. Proper timing, technique, speed, measure, and wits are all crucial to winning, just like in real-world fencing.
The game is set in the historical 17th-century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the character models are based on 3D-scanned, reconstructed clothes from that period. The single-player campaign, once completed, will be firmly rooted in the reality of life in the region. You will duel against Zaporozhian Cossacks, Polish Hussars, Tatars, Turkish Janissaries, Swedish Reiters, French Musketeers, and more.

Release date: Feb 16, 2021

Categories: First-Person Melee Combat, Historical Setting, Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Physics Simulation, Realistic Combat, Combat, Sword-based Combat

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game runs well on the Steam Deck, providing a positive performance experience. However, there are significant issues with the control scheme, which users find non-intuitive and frustrating. Additionally, there is a desire for more content, such as a story mode or online multiplayer. The user interface and experience also need improvement, as some users find the menus clumsy.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $9.00 - $18.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth its price, especially when purchased on sale. The full price of $17.99 is mentioned as being worth it, but several users emphasize that the game is particularly good value when bought at a discounted price, often around $9. This suggests that while the full price is considered fair, the community sees even greater value at lower price points. The negative review mentioning a refund even at a sale price is an outlier but indicates some dissatisfaction at higher price points.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 100.0h
  - Story completion: 7.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 100.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided indicates varying playtime experiences. One player mentions having 100 hours of playtime due to the engaging physics and intense fights, suggesting a high total playtime for game completion and significant endgame content. Another player feels that even after 100 hours, they are still exploring the base mechanics, indicating deep gameplay and potentially high endgame hours. A different review mentions playing for 7 hours but feeling the game lacks freshness, implying that the story or campaign might be shorter. Finally, a player mentions getting engrossed in survival mode for 2 hours without realizing it, suggesting a typical session length of around 2 hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve that initially hinders enjoyment, but after a few hours of play, mastering the mechanics leads to a rewarding and fun experience.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Mastering the mechanics
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Complex mechanics; Lack of a proper tutorial
  - Unlock drivers: Understanding the mechanics; Mastering the combat system
  - Conditions: Patience to learn; Willingness to invest time in mastering mechanics; Interest in precision-based combat
- Player Archetypes:
  - HEMA Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Realism and historical accuracy in sword fighting mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on realistic and precise sword fighting techniques, often comparing in-game mechanics to real-life fencing.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: HEMA practitioner; fencing enthusiast
    - Reference games: Chivalry; For Honor
  - Hardcore Fighter (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoys challenging and punishing gameplay mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on mastering complex and realistic fighting techniques, often recommending the game to others who enjoy a challenge.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: hardcore gamer; fighting game enthusiast
    - Reference games: Mordhau; Kingdom Come: Deliverance
  - Multiplayer Advocate (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoys playing with or against others, seeking competitive or cooperative experiences.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on multiplayer modes, often playing with friends or participating in community tournaments.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: multiplayer enthusiast; competitive player
    - Reference games: Tekken; Soul Calibur


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Realistic sword fighting mechanics (weight 0.82): The game is praised for its highly realistic and historically accurate sword fighting mechanics. Players appreciate the physics-based combat and the authentic representation of fencing techniques.
- Intuitive and enjoyable combat system (weight 0.7): The combat system is noted for being intuitive and enjoyable. Players find the controls natural and the combat mechanics realistic and satisfying.
- Historical accuracy and realism (weight 0.62): The game is commended for its commitment to historical accuracy, including realistic gear, techniques, and character designs. This adds to the immersive experience.
- Variety of characters and fighting styles (weight 0.45): The game offers a diverse cast of characters, each with unique fighting styles and weapons. This variety adds depth and replayability to the game.
- Promising story mode (weight 0.2): The story mode is described as promising, enjoyable, and intriguing. Players appreciate the narrative and find it charming and fascinating.
- Excellent soundtrack (weight 0.14): The game's soundtrack is praised for being excellent and enjoyable. It enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Local multiplayer support (weight 0.12): The game supports local multiplayer, which is appreciated by players. It adds to the fun and social aspects of the game.
- Balanced and optimized gameplay (weight 0.12): The game is noted for its good balancing and optimization. Players find the fighters well-balanced and the game runs smoothly.
- Potential for future development (weight 0.12): Players see great potential in the game for future development and becoming a competitive game. The game is praised for what it is so far and its potential to grow.

Common complaints:
- Incomplete story mode (weight 0.25): The story mode is criticized for being short, unfinished, and not engaging.
- No online multiplayer mode (weight 0.24): The game lacks a proper online multiplayer mode, with players only able to use local multiplayer or workarounds like Steam Remote Play.
- Game feels janky (weight 0.22): Players report that the game feels unpolished and rough in various aspects, including controls and camera movements.
- Hit registration issues (weight 0.19): Players experience problems with hit registration, where hits do not always register correctly.
- Complex and unresponsive controls (weight 0.18): The controls are noted to be difficult, especially on keyboard, and are often unresponsive or poorly integrated.
- Insufficient tutorial (weight 0.14): The tutorial is described as ineffective, lacking interactivity, and not helpful for new players.
- Physics errors and inaccuracies (weight 0.14): The physics-based mechanics in the game are often inaccurate and buggy, affecting gameplay.
- Poor graphics quality (weight 0.13): Graphics are considered outdated and glitchy, with various visual bugs reported.
- Unreliable blocking system (weight 0.11): The blocking mechanics are flawed and do not always work as expected, leading to frustration.
- Sluggish movement (weight 0.09): Movements in the game feel slow and unresponsive, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- AI difficulty and behavior issues (weight 0.09): The AI in the game has difficulty spikes and behavior issues, often being too aggressive or unpredictable.
- Optimization issues (weight 0.09): The game suffers from optimization problems, leading to poor performance and AI behavior.
- Steep price and learning curve (weight 0.08): The game is criticized for having a high price and a steep learning curve, making it less accessible.
- Inconsistent mechanics (weight 0.08): Game mechanics are reported to be inconsistent and sometimes nonsensical, affecting gameplay.
- Lack of content (weight 0.08): Players feel there is not much to do in the game, indicating a need for more content.
- Memorization required for combos (weight 0.08): The game requires players to memorize complex combos and precise inputs, which can be challenging and not ideal for all players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Physics-based combat system (weight 0.96): The game features a highly praised combat system based on realistic physics and motion-captured animations. Players appreciate the realistic sword fighting, intuitive combat mechanics, and the use of historical fencing techniques.
- HEMA and historical fencing (weight 0.76): The game is noted for its Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) based fighting mechanics and historically accurate swordsmanship. This includes realistic fencing mechanics and the use of historical techniques.
- Multiplayer and dueling (weight 0.27): The game includes multiplayer functionality with a focus on competitive dueling. Players can engage in 1v1 fights and enjoy a balanced multiplayer experience.
- Addictive and challenging gameplay (weight 0.24): Players find the core gameplay mechanics addictive and challenging. The responsive gameplay and satisfying combat mechanics contribute to an engaging and enjoyable experience.
- Story and campaign modes (weight 0.22): The game offers a narrative-driven story mode with cutscenes and character interactions. Additionally, there is a story-driven campaign mode, providing variety in gameplay.
- Character balance and development (weight 0.1): The game includes a variety of characters with unique move-sets and development paths. Players can select and balance characters according to their preferences.
- Auto-blocking system (weight 0.09): The game features an auto-blocking system, which some players appreciate for its convenience, while others may find it less challenging.
- Open world exploration (weight 0.07): The game offers open world exploration, including horseback riding. This feature adds depth and variety to the gameplay experience.

Performance notes:
- Graphics and performance issues (weight 0.25): Players report various graphics glitches, performance issues, and optimization problems, especially on low-end devices and after updates.
- Bugs and technical problems (weight 0.18): There are numerous bugs reported, including slow-motion bugs, random lag, and various other technical issues that affect gameplay.
- Physics and gameplay improvements (weight 0.11): The game has excellent physics, but there are some issues with weapon physics and camera obstruction that need attention.
- Network and latency issues (weight 0.11): Some players experience network latency issues and problems with Parsec disconnects, but the game is solid enough for consistent PvP even at high latency.
- Compatibility and control improvements (weight 0.06): The game has compatibility with Wine/Crossover and improved responsiveness with gamepad support.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for martial arts enthusiasts (weight 0.26): This game is highly recommended for fans of historical martial arts, fencing, and realistic swordplay, including HEMA practitioners.
- Good value for price (weight 0.25): Many players suggest buying the game on discount and find it to offer good value for the price.
- Highly recommended to everyone (weight 0.13): Several reviews strongly recommend the game to a broad audience without specific preferences.
- Skill-based and realistic combat (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for those who enjoy skill-based, realistic, and physics-based combat mechanics.
- Potential for online multiplayer (weight 0.11): There is a hope among players for the addition of online multiplayer, including PvP and ranked systems.
- Recommended for specific experiences (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for those seeking unique experiences such as 1v1 combat, complex fighting mechanics, and dramatic gameplay.
- Support indie developers (weight 0.1): Players recommend the game to support indie developers and appreciate the continuous updates and love from the developers.
- Desire for more content (weight 0.09): Players express a strong desire for additional content, updates, and a full release of the game.
- Suggested gameplay improvements (weight 0.08): Reviews mention the need for improvements in optimization, camera controls, and core gameplay mechanics.
- New characters and game modes (weight 0.08): Players are hoping for the introduction of new characters, game modes, and additional content.
- Suggestions for additional features (weight 0.08): Reviews suggest adding more weapon variety, armored combat, and potential VR integration to improve the game.
- Request for character customization (weight 0.06): Players have suggested adding more character customization options to enhance the gaming experience.
- Comparison to other games (weight 0.06): Some reviews compare this game to others like Half Sword, suggesting alternatives or similarities.
- Mixed recommendations on purchase timing (weight 0.06): Some reviews suggest waiting for a sale or full release before purchasing the game.

Other player notes:
- VR Support Inquiry (weight 0.04): Players are inquiring or discussing the possibility of VR (Virtual Reality) support for the game.
- Early Access Availability (weight 0.04): The game is currently in Early Access, which means players can purchase and play the game while it is still in development.
- Star Wars Mod (weight 0.04): There is a mention or discussion about a Star Wars mod, indicating potential interest in modding or additional content.
- Swordsman's Nationality Representation (weight 0.03): There is a discussion or concern regarding the nationality of the swordsman character, represented with a flag.
- Pirated Version Due to Sanctions (weight 0.02): Some players have played a pirated version of the game for six months due to sanctions, highlighting issues related to game accessibility.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players are frustrated due to a combination of technical issues, unrealistic physics, and combat mechanics. Problems such as hit registration, AI behavior, and performance issues contribute to a sense of the game being unfinished and poorly optimized.
- Excitement (weight 0.15): Players are excited about the game's realistic sword fighting mechanics, historical accuracy, and the potential for future updates and online multiplayer features. The unique gameplay and engaging combat system also contribute to this excitement.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of content, unfinished state, and various gameplay issues. The slow development, lack of multiplayer, and unmet expectations based on marketing hype also contribute to this sentiment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the game's realistic combat mechanics, unique gameplay, and the ability to play with friends. The challenging gameplay, good music, and variety of characters also add to the enjoyment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players are satisfied with the game's realism, authentic combat mechanics, and the overall enjoyable experience. The realistic physics, good graphics, and smooth swordplay contribute to this satisfaction.
- Hope (weight 0.04): Players express hope for the game's future improvements, updates, and the addition of more content. They appreciate the game's potential and the developer's competence, looking forward to continued development.
- Excited (weight 0.03): Players are excited about the game's unique combat mechanics, historical setting, and the anticipation of future updates. The enjoyable gameplay and initial excitement about the game's features contribute to this feeling.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Players are frustrated with the game's optimization issues, AI behavior, and specific gameplay mechanics such as hitboxes and collision detection. Multiplayer issues and difficulty with certain boss fights also add to this frustration.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's unique combat mechanics, historical accuracy, and the developers' attention to detail. The realistic combat and the game's educational aspects are also highly valued.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's realistic and challenging combat mechanics, historical accuracy, and its relation to HEMA. The game's technical aspects and frequent updates also contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the developer's effort, the game's realism, and the beautiful visual style. The attention to detail and the game's historical realism are also highly praised.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have a positive outlook on the game's unique combat system, realistic fighting mechanics, and overall experience. The game's potential and responsive gameplay are also appreciated.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's comparison to the Bushido Blade series. The game's combat mechanics and historical setting evoke memories of classic games.
- Anticipation (weight 0.02): Players are looking forward to future updates, additional content, and the final product. The anticipation of new characters and online features also contributes to this feeling.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players are happy with the game's enjoyable animations, gameplay, and challenge. The excellent soundtrack also adds to their happiness.
- Hopeful (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for the game's future development, additional features, and the addition of stories for each character. They express a desire for continued improvement and development.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy from the game's fencing style, overall enjoyment, and the ability to play with friends. The game's unique mechanics and historical accuracy also contribute to this joy.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the game's issues with story mode, immersion, and graphical problems. Balance issues and unintuitive mechanics also contribute to this sentiment.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to long respawn times, misleading information about VR support, and the story mode being unplayable due to softlock. The lack of a tutorial and unclear mechanics also add to this anger.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed with the game's value for the price, gameplay mechanics, and overall quality, even in its pre-alpha stage. The game's attention to detail and historical accuracy are also highly regarded.}