Info about G String:

Official game description:
News on the Ultimate Edition
============================
**Hello everyone.**
**After a couple of very rough years, especially this year, I am, once again, picking up the pieces and deciding not to walk away. I almost did, in fact I was told to do so, why bother?**
**Due to developments beyond my control progress on the game came to an almost complete halt this summer of 2025. The situation and environment I was in was burning me out mentally and financially. I was in a bad place and the game was dying before my eyes. Indifference, endless delays, and apathy were killing it like they killed many other projects I have learned about over the years.**
**It wasn't easy but I had to make a choice.** 
**And my choice is to move on and deliver the Ultimate Edition in whatever capacity I can. I have made some good friends along my journey who will help me where they can but mostly I have to assemble this puzzle on my own now. It's my cross to carry as it has been for nearly two decades.** 
**So the G String - Ultimate Edition is now under full development again. Here are some comparison images to give you an idea on what I am aiming for. There will be frequent updates on the game's Discord server and X. I will also try to put out a gameplay trailer on YouTube and a more detailed article on MODDB towards the end of the year.**
**If you click the "View the quick reference" link you will find the BEAUTY SECRETS PDF file. It's a document that expands on the features, lore and development of G-String.**
**Please be advised that it contains SPOILERS.**
**Needles to say this PDF will be updated and edited for the Ultimate Edition together with the OST. Other than Steam there are no supported versions of the OST released.**  
**Please help spread the word as I don't have much time and many resources to promote, and I never had much help with that anyway. Anything helps. If you enjoyed the game tell a friend about it... and maybe follow me on my social media. On Discord and X I try to put out weekly updates.** 
**Thank you.**
About the Game
==============
**Slip into the Standard Issue Biosuit as Myo Hyori, a gifted Korean teenage girl who must face the perils of the future. Survive many hazards, explore a seemingly endless metropolis and beyond as the world around you implodes and history marches towards its inevitable conclusion.**
**This is a cyberpunk inspired first person shooter with light environmental puzzles and a long, detailed singleplayer campaign focused on story and world building. G-String aims for an old school approach where there is minimal hand holding and your biosuit automatically keeps track of your health stats, ammunition count and armor condition.**
**You need supplies to heal yourself, replenish your ammo/armor but your suit automatically takes care of your lights, sprinting and breathing (open air and underwater). Your on-board neuro-enhancers, air filters and light sources automatically recharge using movement and/or sunlight.**
**Courtesy of Bortz Bioengineering your biosuit is very resilient but you do have to be careful: prolonged exposure to toxins will lead to fatal failure! You need to watch out for all sorts of environmental hazards, especially later on when the pace picks up considerably.**
**Your telekinetic/pyrokinetic abilities will be available from the start and throughout most of the game, they should be enough to make progress until there are more means of input available. Worthy to note that initially your night-vision will be disabled as your biosuit was damaged presumably in earlier lab experiments.**
**Despite the title Myo never comes across any explicit mature situations. If she wants she can also find ways around some of the fights as well. The game responds to her behavior: the less aggressive she is the less enemies she is likely to encounter down the line.** 
**FEATURES**
**LEARN about the troubled future of a space faring, shattered mankind.**
**ESCAPE the ruthless, uncompromising powers governing Earth.**
**SURVIVE acid rain, storms, a crumbling infrastructure and the omnipresent smog.**
**EXPLORE many highly detailed maps with multiple routes and hidden secrets.**
**PICK your fights; the more violent you are the more enemies you'll encounter.**
**SOLVE environmental puzzles of varying complexity.**
**REACH for the stars and beyond in your quest for answers.**
**ADDITIONAL NOTES**
**As long time fans know G-String took well over a decade to complete because it was a solo project for the most part; all assets and the lore had to be developed from scratch.**
**My sincere hope is that this does not impact the game's quality, scope and scale negatively. From the slums of Greater Chinatown to Low Orbit Earth and Beyond your adventure will take you through several distinct locations. No important story elements were cut and the game was not divided into episodes- yet another reason why development took long.**
**The finished product is not perfect nor will it ever be perfect however it has reached a stage when it's hopefully good enough for release considering the time and resources available to me at the moment.**
**The goal with the initial release is just to put out a game that can be played form start to finish with no issues. There are no achievements and translations available yet. Those will probably be included in later updates if there is interest in the title. Of course if I had missed anything and there are any urgent problems they will be fixed in an early update as quickly as possible.**
**The game's retro glitch art infused aesthetic draws heavily upon science fiction films released between the late 70s and early to mid 90s. Exceptions to this rule might include 1969's Space Odyssey or The Matrix. The world's design is very low key and as realistic as possible, everything was put together with feasibility and mass production in mind. The HUD and hints are also kept to a minimum.**
**When work started on this project I was going through difficult times and G-String reflected this by touching on some troubling issues. Over the years even elements of horror and surrealism have found their way into the mix. Everything changes though and this work should not be viewed as mouth piece for anyone's views or beliefs. Everyone is encouraged to make up their own minds about the concepts they are presented with.**
**The game is 10 to 15 hours long, combat is spaced out and can be harsh. Sometimes fights with humans can be avoided and multiple paths are available. There are a few cut-scenes in G-String but they are brief and depict things that would otherwise be impossible to show from the player's point of view.**
**The different post-processing FX settings such as "Film Noir", "70mm" or "Sin City" can give the game a radically different feel so try to experiment to see what fits your gameplay style the most.**
_POSSIBLE SPOILERS if you choose to view the "quick reference" PDF. Beauty Secrets will be updated after the release of the Ultimate Edition._
_Thanks to everyone at VALVe / Steam for their help! Thank you very much!_

Release date: Oct 16, 2020

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Cyberpunk, Exploration, Environmental Puzzle Solving, Parkour, Single-player Story, Atmospheric Horror (Light)

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Improvement in Navigation and Storytelling; summary: The primary issues highlighted by users revolve around navigation difficulties and story comprehension. Many users found themselves relying on external walkthroughs and guides to progress through the game, indicating a lack of clear in-game direction. Additionally, some users felt the need to look up the game's story on Wikipedia to fully understand it, suggesting that the narrative could be better conveyed within the game itself.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with controller support and Linux compatibility. Controller support is particularly problematic, with users expressing dissatisfaction with the game's control scheme and overall experience. Linux compatibility is mixed, with some users able to get the game running but others facing difficulties. These issues suggest that the game may require additional configuration and is not optimized for a seamless experience on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The majority of the reviews suggest that the game is best purchased on sale, indicating that the current base price of $17.99 is considered high by the community. Several users explicitly state that they would only recommend the game at a discounted price, implying that a fair price range would be lower than the current base price. The sentiment that the game is worth buying only on sale suggests that a fair price range would likely be below $15.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 13.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple mentions of the total playtime required to complete the game. Several reviews indicate that it takes around 10 to 15 hours to finish the game, with specific mentions of 10 hours, 12-14 hours on Hard difficulty, and nearly 17 hours. These quotes help establish a typical range for game completion time. There is no specific evidence regarding the typical time to finish the main story, session length, or endgame hours, so those fields are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts as a slog with repetitive and tedious gameplay, but improves and becomes more enjoyable after the first few hours.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: After the first few hours of gameplay
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive levels; Unclear progression paths; Tedious gameplay elements
  - Unlock drivers: Improvement in level design and pacing; Intriguing world and skylines
  - Conditions: Interest in the game's world and setting; Appreciation for the game's art style and music
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Source Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and appreciation for the Source engine.
    - Playstyle: Explorative and immersive, enjoying the atmosphere and storytelling.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Source engine fan; cyberpunk enthusiast
    - Reference games: Half-Life 2; Sin Episodes Emergence; E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy
  - Indie Supporter (buy)
    - Motivation: Support for solo developers and appreciation for unique indie projects.
    - Playstyle: Supportive and exploratory, enjoying the distinctive style and storytelling.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: indie game supporter; solo developer fan
    - Reference games: Cruelty Squad; Inside
  - Artistic Story Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Appreciation for artistic expression and deep storytelling.
    - Playstyle: Immersive and reflective, enjoying the atmospheric and narrative depth.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: art game enthusiast; story-driven player
    - Reference games: Do androids dream of electric sheep?; Inside


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:
- Praised world and level design (weight 0.76): The game's world and level design received significant acclaim for being unique, detailed, and visually appealing. Players appreciated the intricate environments and atmospheric world-building.
- Cyberpunk theme and setting (weight 0.66): The cyberpunk theme and setting were highlighted as standout features. Players enjoyed the dark, dystopian atmosphere and the unique take on the cyberpunk genre.
- Unique and immersive atmosphere (weight 0.4): The game's atmosphere was described as unique, immersive, and captivating. Players enjoyed the bleak and fascinating world-building and the overall atmospheric experience.
- Visuals and aesthetics (weight 0.33): The game's visuals and artistic style were highly praised for being stunning, detailed, and aesthetically pleasing. Players appreciated the effort put into the visual presentation.
- Comparison to Half-Life 2 (weight 0.26): Many players drew comparisons to Half-Life 2, noting similarities in gameplay mechanics and overall feel. The game was seen as a worthy successor or complement to Half-Life 2.
- Impressive Source engine utilization (weight 0.25): The game was praised for its impressive use of the Source engine, showcasing the engine's capabilities and delivering a high-quality experience.
- Enjoyable and fun gameplay (weight 0.24): Players found the gameplay to be entertaining and fun, with cool design elements and unexpected surprises that added to the enjoyment.
- Excellent sound design (weight 0.17): The sound design was praised for being well done, outstanding, and spectacular. Players appreciated the fitting music and sound effects that enhanced the overall experience.
- Ambitious and monumental work (weight 0.15): The game was recognized as an extremely ambitious and monumental project, with players acknowledging the sheer scope and complexity of the work involved.
- Complex and interesting puzzles (weight 0.12): The puzzles in the game were noted for being complex and interesting, requiring players to think outside the box and engage with environmental and physics-based challenges.

Common complaints:
- Frustrating level design (weight 0.57): Many players found the level design to be confusing, frustrating, and poorly executed. The levels are often described as cluttered, hard to navigate, and labyrinthine, leading to a negative player experience.
- Difficult navigation (weight 0.45): Navigation is a significant issue, with players often getting stuck or confused due to unclear paths and confusing map layouts. This problem is exacerbated by the game's dark and claustrophobic level design.
- Unengaging and confusing story (weight 0.41): The story is criticized for being abstract, nonsensical, and hard to follow. Players also found it lacking in explanation and overall engagement, making the narrative a weak point in the game.
- Weak gunplay and combat (weight 0.21): The gunplay and combat mechanics are described as weak, uninspired, and not enjoyable. Players found the combat system to be messy and tedious, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
- Over-reliance on vents and sewers (weight 0.2): A significant portion of the game involves traversing through vents, hallways, and sewers, which players found boring and repetitive. This design choice contributed to a sense of monotony.
- Bugs and glitches (weight 0.15): The game is reported to be buggy, with players experiencing crashes, graphical glitches, and menu issues. These technical problems detract from the overall gaming experience.
- Underutilized pyrokinesis (weight 0.14): The pyrokinetic powers are criticized for being underutilized and mostly useless. Players felt that this ability was not integrated well into the gameplay, making it feel like a wasted potential.
- Poor enemy placement (weight 0.08): Enemy placement is described as terrible and frustrating. Players found that enemies were often placed in ways that were not challenging but rather annoying and poorly thought out.
- Long and tedious gameplay (weight 0.08): Despite the game's short duration, it feels overly long and tedious. Players reported that the game's length was not well-paced, leading to a sense of fatigue and boredom.
- Long and uneventful cutscenes (weight 0.07): The cutscenes are criticized for being too long and uneventful. Players found that these cutscenes did not add much to the story and felt like a waste of time.
- Ugly and bland weapons (weight 0.07): The weapons in the game are described as ugly and lacking in variety. Players found the weapon designs to be unappealing and bland, detracting from the overall visual experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Cyberpunk dystopian setting (weight 0.58): The game is set in a dark, detailed cyberpunk world with a dystopian atmosphere, featuring a unique and immersive environment.
- Half-Life 2 style gameplay (weight 0.57): The game features gameplay mechanics and gunplay similar to Half-Life 2, using the Source engine and drawing heavily from its level design and overall feel.
- Detailed level design (weight 0.37): The game offers a mix of linear and non-linear levels with detailed world design, although some levels can be confusing and challenging to navigate.
- Parkour and puzzles (weight 0.29): The game includes parkour sections and a variety of puzzles, such as environmental and physics-based challenges, adding to the gameplay diversity.
- Exploration-focused design (weight 0.19): The game encourages exploration, with multiple paths to progress and a focus on discovering different solutions and routes.
- Ventilation shaft navigation (weight 0.13): Players will crawl through ventilation shafts and tight spaces, which can sometimes feel like a mechanism to prolong gameplay.
- Psychic abilities (weight 0.12): Players can use psychic abilities like telekinesis and pyrokinesis, which are integral to gameplay mechanics.
- Environmental storytelling (weight 0.1): The game employs environmental storytelling techniques, using NPC sign-posts, loudspeakers, and visual elements to convey the narrative.
- Platforming sections (weight 0.08): Platforming is a significant part of the gameplay, with sections dedicated to navigating through various environments.
- Lengthy gameplay content (weight 0.08): The game offers a substantial amount of content, with playtimes ranging from 10 to 14 hours depending on the difficulty level.
- Cutscenes and scripted sequences (weight 0.07): The game features cutscenes and scripted sequences that enhance the story and gameplay experience.
- Environmental hazards (weight 0.07): The game includes environmental hazards, although they may not always be clearly signaled to the player.

Performance notes:
- Frequent crashes and bugs (weight 0.24): Players report various crashes, including those on Linux systems, during tutorials, and due to running out of memory. Specific bugs like the white bug and crashes related to lighting are also mentioned.
- Optimization and hardware compatibility (weight 0.21): The game has mixed reviews on optimization. Some players report good optimization and smooth performance on specified hardware, while others note poor optimization and issues with non-NVidia hardware.
- Graphical glitches and issues (weight 0.18): There are numerous reports of graphical glitches, including menu rendering issues, VGUI elements rendering incorrectly, and various visual bugs like missing textures and wireframe bugs.
- Dated graphics and engine (weight 0.15): The graphics and the Source engine are considered outdated by some players. Visuals can be nauseating, and there are recommendations to turn off post-processing and color correction for better visuals.
- Performance issues (weight 0.12): Performance issues are noted, including stuttering in some sections, constant stuttering, and choppy gameplay. Some players experience FPS drops and crashes during the finale.
- Gameplay and usability issues (weight 0.12): There are reports of unskippable cutscenes, alt-tab breaking the game, and text readability issues with resolution. Frequent load zones and black screens are also mentioned.
- Technical roughness and settings (weight 0.08): The game is described as having technical roughness, including settings that reset and initial crashing on launch. Some players mention poor technical condition overall.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for bleak sci-fi and cyberpunk lovers (weight 0.24): Fans of bleak sci-fi settings and cyberpunk aesthetics will find this game particularly appealing due to its strong atmosphere and world-building.
- Highly recommended for Half-Life 2 fans (weight 0.2): This game is frequently recommended for fans of Half-Life 2, as it captures the essence and style of the original game, making it a must-play for those who enjoy the series.
- Wait for a discount (weight 0.13): Several reviews suggest that the game is best purchased during a sale or significant discount, indicating that the full price might not be justified for all players.
- Recommended for unique indie FPS fans (weight 0.11): The game is suggested for players who enjoy unique and atmospheric indie FPS games, offering a distinct experience within the genre.
- Unique and immersive experience (weight 0.11): The game offers a unique and immersive experience, making it worth checking out for those interested in the genre or setting.
- Worth playing but could be longer (weight 0.11): The game is considered worth playing, especially for fans of the cyberpunk genre and Source engine games, but some reviewers note that it could benefit from being longer.
- Potential for future improvements (weight 0.1): Reviewers see potential in the game and hope for future updates or editions that could enhance the overall experience.
- Recommended despite flaws (weight 0.08): Despite some flaws such as a confusing story, the game is still recommended for its strong atmosphere and unique experience.
- Recommended for patient and challenging gameplay (weight 0.08): The game is recommended for players who enjoy challenging games and are patient enough to appreciate its slow-burn story and detailed aesthetics.
- Consider other games in the genre (weight 0.06): Some reviewers recommend trying other games like Divine Cybermancy or Underhell instead, suggesting that while this game has its merits, there are other strong options in the genre.
- Technical issues and launch options (weight 0.03): Some players have reported technical issues, such as the game not opening, which can be resolved by adding '-novid' to the launch options.

Other player notes:
- Warning about epilepsy (weight 0.04): Players have noted that the game should include warnings about potential triggers for epilepsy due to flashing lights or patterns.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's labyrinthine and confusing level design, which makes navigation difficult. Additional frustrations stem from game crashes, poor combat and parkour mechanics, and issues with visibility and enemy placement.
- Admiration (weight 0.14): Players admire the game's unique atmosphere, detailed world-building, and the developer's dedication. The game's artistic style, effective use of the Source engine, and immersive environmental storytelling are also highly praised.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Players feel disappointed due to the game's poor level design, repetitive and tedious gameplay, and lack of engaging story. Additional disappointments include performance issues, unmet expectations, and the game's failure to leverage the Source Engine's mechanics effectively.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Players enjoy the game's unique cyberpunk setting, immersive world-building, and engaging combat. The story, atmosphere, and overall experience are also highlighted as key sources of enjoyment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's detailed world-building, unique atmosphere, and the developer's effort and dedication. The game's artistic direction, soundtrack, and improvements over previous versions are also noted.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the game's unique and immersive design, as well as the anticipation for the Ultimate Edition. The game's visual style, atmosphere, and combat mechanics contribute to this excitement.
- Confused (weight 0.04): Players are confused by the unclear narrative, lack of character motivation, and the abrupt disappearance of key characters. The ending and certain story elements are also noted as incomprehensible.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's old-school design and its similarities to classic games like Half-Life 2. The use of the Source engine and memories of playing the original mod also evoke this emotion.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Players are frustrated by the difficult navigation, unclear objectives, and unrewarding exploration. The high difficulty, lack of health, and instant death mechanics also contribute to this frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Players feel satisfied with the game's balanced difficulty, compelling narrative, and overall enjoyable experience. The sense of achievement and memorable moments are also highlighted.
- Immersion breaking (weight 0.02): Players find the immersion broken by the mix of languages, modern elements in a futuristic setting, and the lack of civilian descriptions. The use of actual photos for backgrounds also detracts from the immersive experience.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Players are confused by the unclear storyline, confusing level design, and incomprehensible ending. The excessive platforming and supernatural elements add to this confusion.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have an overall positive sentiment due to the game's unique design, detailed environments, and beautiful imagery. The game's ambition, value, and refreshing experience are also appreciated.
- Fascination (weight 0.02): Players are fascinated by the game's unique atmosphere, art direction, and narrative. The game's aesthetics and creativity contribute to this fascination.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game's graphics, setting, and storytelling. The exploration, soundtrack, and atmosphere are also key elements that players love.
- Impressed (weight 0.02): Players are impressed by the game's world-building, art style, and overall experience. The game's design and depiction of cyberpunk fiction are also notable.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed by the game's poor graphics, low-resolution textures, and uncomfortable visual effects. The lack of optimization and poorly thought-out gameplay decisions also contribute to this disappointment.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players are in awe of the game's beautiful environments, artistic vision, and the improvements in the retail version. The sheer collapse and dysfunction of the dystopian world also evoke this emotion.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players feel hopeful about the anticipation for the Ultimate Edition and the potential for a sequel. The game's deserving of more traction also contributes to this hope.}