Info about VLADiK BRUTAL:

Official game description:
  
ATTENTION: The game is done by one person, bugs and errors are possible!  
All events and heroes are fictional. Any coincidences with reality are random.  
\-Diverse opponents and allies  
\-12 types of different weapons  
\-Original plot  
\-Proven shooting and killing  
\-Managed locations with many easter eggs  
\-Brutal damage system  
\-Different puzzles and secrets  
In a fictional country located in East Europe, a dictator runs the country for many years. Ruler is really paranoid, he did a lot of sweeps and killed people, who were against him. In order to control ordinary people, people were chipped in the neck to track them. All people got the same clothes with a certain number and it all was controlled by the government. But it wasn't enough for the lord, he built a Big Research Centre to strenghten his assassins, but all the dirty work were on prisoners. Country had a lot of prisoners, because a lot of them fought and tried to break dictatorship, somebody got executed, somebody were thrown in jail and expoited as slaves.

Release date: Aug 9, 2024

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Action Horror, Exploration, Puzzle Solving, Single-player Story, Horror, Old-School Mechanics

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 20; verdict: Works with Proton Experimental; summary: The game has limited Linux feedback. One user requests Proton support, but another indicates it runs under Proton Experimental. No reports of crashes, glitches, or performance issues specific to Linux/Proton. The game appears to work well on Linux with Proton Experimental, though official support is lacking.
- Steam Deck: score 45; verdict: Playable with Tinkering; summary: The game offers a Steam Deck graphics preset and some users report smooth playthroughs, but significant barriers exist: mandatory use of Proton Experimental for many Linux users, a UI cursor lock that complicates menu navigation, and performance inconsistencies with high GPU load and frame drops. The overall experience requires tinkering and workarounds.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: On lower VRAM Windows systems, players mostly report a positive experience despite some crashes; mid-range VRAM shows mixed results with both stellar performance and notable bugs; the smallest cohort has only positive feedback.
  - Sample size: 100 (6% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 51 reports): Most players recommend the game, though some report occasional crashes and frame drops in specific locations.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (mixed, 25 reports): Performance is generally praised with high frame rates and good optimization, but a few users report bugs and freezes that sour the experience.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 18 reports): Only one player review available, which recommends the game without mentioning performance issues.
  - Caveats: 100 of 1733 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $6.00 - $12.00
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews cite specific prices that users consider fair value: $11 and $12 are described as 'worth it' or 'a good deal', while a $6 sale price is recommended. One reviewer hypothetically suggests $4.80 as an ideal price, but actual positive mentions cluster around $6–$12. The community broadly endorses the game as good value within this range, with some finding it worth full price (likely at the upper end) and others preferring a sale. Thus, the fair base-game price range is estimated at $6 to $12 USD.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 10.0h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 2.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence supports game completion at 10 hours from a hard-difficulty playthrough with exploration, and story completion at 6 hours from normal difficulty. The 7–9 hour campaign estimate corroborates a typical range. The endgame is supported by 2 additional hours spent on achievements after finishing the story. No reliable session-length metric is available.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game becomes enjoyable after a rough opening hour, though some players never find it fun and others report it becomes repetitive later.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: After the rough opening hour
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: rough opening hour; slow pacing; tedious intro section; boring early segments; repetitive battery puzzles; annoying enemy spawning
  - Unlock drivers: improved level design after early sections; more varied and intense combat scenarios; better pacing in later chapters; rewarding gameplay payoff
  - Conditions: player patience for early slow pacing; tolerance for repetitive intro sections; preference for fast-paced action; difficulty setting affecting enemy density; completion of the opening hour; willingness to overlook jank and unpolished elements
- Player Archetypes:
  - Old School Purist (buy)
    - Motivation: Reliving the golden age of FPS with no modern bloat, pure mechanical skill and level design.
    - Playstyle: Aggressive run-and-gun, seeks pure shooting challenge, explores levels for secrets, ignores handholding and story.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old school fan; classic shooter lover
    - Reference games: Half-Life; Doom; FEAR; Hotline Miami; Serious Sam
  - Casual Skeptic (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Seeking a casual, guided experience; found the game's pacing and difficulty off-putting.
    - Playstyle: Tries to progress but gets frustrated by repetitive encounters, unfair enemy spam, and vague objectives. Often quits or avoids high difficulties.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Half-Life
  - Solo Dev Champion (sale)
    - Motivation: Appreciation for solo development achievement and desire to support indie creators.
    - Playstyle: Forgiving of jank; enjoys the ambitious scope and passionate vision. Plays through despite flaws, often with added respect for the developer.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: solo dev supporter; indie enthusiast
    - Reference games: Half-Life; Metro; Cultic


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:
- Strong Half-Life similarities (weight 0.95): Reviewers strongly compare the game to Half-Life, often mentioning it feels like Half-Life 2, Metro, or a mix of classic shooters. This nostalgic resemblance is a major draw for fans of those franchises.
- Satisfying and powerful gunplay (weight 0.77): The gunplay is highlighted as powerful, satisfying, and reminiscent of Doom. Weapons feel punchy and feedback is excellent, contributing to the fun shooting experience.
- Great value and old-school feel (weight 0.74): Players consistently note the game offers great value for its low price, often calling it a worthwhile purchase. It is praised as an old-school shooter with nice modern graphics.
- Amazing solo developer achievement (weight 0.57): Players frequently express astonishment that a solo developer created this game. They praise the scope and quality achieved by a single person working on a small budget.
- Excellent and immersive atmosphere (weight 0.43): The game is praised for its magnificent atmosphere, which stands out as excellent and unique. Players describe it as beautifully achieved and immersive.
- Outstanding soundtrack and sound (weight 0.33): Reviewers commend the soundtrack and sound design, calling them excellent and a standout feature that enhances the game's atmosphere.
- Good performance and optimization (weight 0.3): The game runs well with good performance at high frame rates, even at 4K. Optimization is praised as great, making for a smooth experience.
- Good and simple story (weight 0.22): The story is considered good, simple yet enjoyable. Players appreciate the narrative and find it a positive aspect of the experience.
- Great level design (weight 0.22): Level design is well thought out, with clear paths and variety. Players find it excellent and a contributor to the overall quality.
- Pleasant surprise for players (weight 0.18): A few players express being pleasantly surprised by the game's quality, describing it as shockingly good and a very nice surprise given its budget nature.

Common complaints:
- Dull and average story (weight 0.44): The story is consistently rated as average, not captivating, simple, or unclear, with many feeling it fails to engage or make sense. This is a common complaint.
- Technical glitches present (weight 0.42): Players note several small glitches, janky moments, and rough edges that detract from the experience. These issues indicate a lack of polish.
- Poor voice acting (weight 0.37): Multiple reviewers criticize the voice acting as poor, boring, or average, with complaints about empty dialogues and lackluster delivery. This issue appears frequently across the feedback.
- Poor enemy AI (weight 0.36): Enemy AI is described as dumb, rushing without tactics, and behaving like zombies. This makes combat feel unrealistic and unchallenging, as enemies charge blindly.
- Disappointing boss battles (weight 0.22): Boss fights are called nuisance, boring, or too easy, with specific mention of a dull helicopter battle. This reduces game challenge.
- Too short for price (weight 0.22): The game is described as too short and not worth the full price, suggesting poor value for money. This is a common feedback point.
- Unfair enemy accuracy (weight 0.22): Enemies with weapons can aim through walls and hit instantly, while others strafe fast and are hyper accurate. This makes combat feel unfair.
- Rushed ending (weight 0.21): The ending is described as rushed and the story falls short, leaving questions unanswered. This impacts player satisfaction.
- Repetitive second half (weight 0.13): Several reviewers find the second half boring and frustrating due to repetitive gameplay. This suggests a lack of variety in later stages.
- Broken grenade physics (weight 0.12): Grenade throwing physics are specifically criticized as terrible, indicating a mechanical flaw that affects gameplay. This appears in a small but focused cluster.
- Useless weapons (weight 0.12): Some weapons are considered useless or annoying, which limits player choice and can frustrate combat. This issue is noted by a couple of reviewers.
- Unfair level design (weight 0.12): Levels, especially the final one, are considered unfair and atrocious, causing frustration. This indicates balance issues.
- Inconsistent difficulty (weight 0.12): The difficulty is criticized as both very hard on easiest and too easy on hard, indicating poor balancing. This confuses players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Half-Life 2 clone (weight 0.85): Players describe the game as a clone of Half-Life 2 adapted to a Russian setting. The design, puzzles, mechanics, and storytelling are directly inspired by the Half-Life series.
- Classic old-school shooter (weight 0.47): The game is consistently identified as a classic, old-school first-person shooter reminiscent of the 2000s. It features Doom-style violence and horror elements typical of retro shooters.
- Doom-like brutality (weight 0.3): The gameplay is described as brutally violent and similar to Doom, with fast-paced action and gunplay akin to that series.
- Mixed genre inspiration (weight 0.27): Reviewers note a fusion of Half-Life's gameplay, Metro's atmospheric survival, and other titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fear. This blend gives the game a unique mood and pacing.
- Powerful weapon feedback (weight 0.27): Players enjoy the impactful feel of weapons, describing shooting and explosions as meaty. Some weapons are specifically called out for their strong kick and satisfying power.
- Diverse enemy types (weight 0.26): Enemy variety includes mutated monsters, zombies, and soldiers. The mutated enemies and classic zombie-like foes add to the horror and challenge.
- Varied weapon roster (weight 0.26): The game offers around 12 weapons with a diverse arsenal that encourages switching during combat. This tactical variety is praised by players.
- Horror and gore focus (weight 0.22): The title is classified as a horror FPS with intense combat and a high level of gore. Blood and violent effects are a key part of the experience.
- Mobile aggressive monsters (weight 0.12): Monsters are noted to have higher mobility and appear in greater numbers compared to Half-Life 2, increasing the challenge.
- Dynamic fast gameplay (weight 0.12): The shooter is dynamic, with fast-paced movement and combat that keep the action engaging throughout.
- Comparable to Sam (weight 0.12): Comparisons to both Half-Life and Serious Sam are made, suggesting a blend of narrative-driven and over-the-top arcade action.
- Broad retro homage (weight 0.12): The game pays homage to an eclectic mix of classics: Half-Life 2, STALKER, Metro, Aliens, and Serious Sam, appealing to fans of retro shooters.
- Puzzle-like levels (weight 0.12): Level design includes puzzles and gimmicks that require thinking, adding a cerebral layer to the shooting.
- No modern mechanics (weight 0.12): The game is an old-school story-driven FPS without tutorials, RPG mechanics, or modern attachments, staying true to retro conventions.
- Walker-shooter style (weight 0.11): Some players refer to the game as a walker-shooter with a focus on shotgun combat, indicating a methodical pace in certain sections.
- Allies and enemies (weight 0.11): Beyond enemies, there are also ally NPCs, adding to the variety and tactical possibilities in encounters.
- Bonus mini-games (weight 0.11): The game includes mini-games as extra content, offering a break from the main corridor shooting.
- Bunnyhop movement (weight 0.11): Bunnyhopping is possible, a classic movement technique that appeals to veteran FPS players.

Performance notes:
- Excellent overall optimization (weight 0.54): Multiple players report excellent optimization, with smooth performance on a range of systems including low-end PCs. Mentions of crisp, stable, and fast performance are common across these clusters.
- Performance issues in specific scenarios (weight 0.39): Some players experience framerate drops in intense scenes such as boss rooms with many enemies or due to accumulated dead bodies. Occasional freezes, crashes, and specific spots causing issues are noted.
- High FPS on powerful hardware (weight 0.29): High-end systems achieve very high framerates, often above 120 FPS at max settings. Specific reports include 144 FPS, 240 FPS with DX11, and even 600 FPS on ultra settings.
- Low hardware requirements met (weight 0.24): The game has low hardware requirements and runs well even on integrated graphics or low-end laptops. Examples include running at 60 FPS on a Ryzen 3500U with Vega 8 graphics.
- Impressive ray tracing graphics (weight 0.18): Ray tracing graphics are described as beautiful and worth the performance cost. The game offers many adjustable graphics settings including ray tracing, with visual comparison photos to help players decide.
- Appealing art style (weight 0.07): One player appreciates the low poly art style, calling it elegant. This suggests the game's visual style is a positive point for some.
- Needs Steam Deck tweaking (weight 0.06): One player notes that Steam Deck requires additional configuration to run properly, indicating less than ideal out-of-box support.
- Fast loading times (weight 0.06): One player notes fast loading times compared to other shooters, which contributes to a positive experience.
- Default FOV disliked (weight 0.05): A single player finds that the default FOV setting is not good. This is a subjective complaint that could affect comfort for some.
- Unstable with cheats (weight 0.05): One player reports that using cheats causes the game to become unstable. This may be expected but is noted as a negative for modders.
- High load causes loud fans (weight 0.05): A single player mentions that high system load causes fans to spin loudly like a Boeing aircraft. This is a niche complaint about noise.
- Moderate optimization rating (weight 0.05): A single player rates optimization as 3/5, suggesting it is acceptable but not outstanding.
- Steam Deck preset available (weight 0.05): One player mentions a Steam Deck preset exists, which is a positive for handheld users but not detailed.

Recommendations:
- For old-school shooter fans (weight 0.53): The game is recommended specifically for fans of classic, old-school, and retro shooters like Doom and Quake. Players highlight the nostalgic, indie-style action but note rough edges.
- Buy on sale for value (weight 0.49): Many players advise buying the game on sale for the best value. They recommend it especially when discounted, as full price may not be justified for everyone.
- Strongly recommended overall (weight 0.44): Players give implied strong recommendations, stating the game is excellent, fun, and a must-play. Many say they enjoyed it more than some AAA titles and would buy a sequel.
- Excellent value for money (weight 0.36): The game offers excellent value for its price, with many saying it's worth full price or even a steal at its current cost. Players feel they got more than their money's worth.
- Not recommended by some (weight 0.35): Some players do not recommend the game, citing it as a waste of time and money. Issues include poor performance on low-end systems, low ratings, and a general lack of enjoyment.
- Players want more content (weight 0.32): Multiple players express interest in buying a sequel or DLC for the game, indicating they enjoyed the game enough to want more content with similar mechanics.
- Fast action stress relief (weight 0.22): The game is recommended for players seeking fast, brutal, and fun shooting action without complex story or pacing. It is ideal for stress relief and short gaming sessions.
- Worth trying with caveats (weight 0.19): Some players say the game is worth a chance or pretty fun, despite potential issues. They encourage trying it without guaranteeing a full recommendation.
- Ideal for short sessions (weight 0.17): The game is ideal for short play sessions, such as half an hour after work, as a way to unwind. It is not meant for long, story-driven experiences.
- Rated 9 out of 10 (weight 0.11): A few players give it a 9 out of 10 rating, implying a strong recommendation. This high score suggests the game delivers on its promises despite being indie or low-budget.
- Start on easy difficulty (weight 0.11): Some players recommend starting on easier difficulty levels for a more enjoyable experience. This suggests the game may be challenging on harder settings.
- Support the developer (weight 0.11): Players recommend the game because it was created with love and care by the developer, and they encourage supporting the developer financially.
- FPS fans must play (weight 0.06): One player specifically says FPS fans should not miss this game, implying it is a must-play for the genre. This is a very strong endorsement.
- Worth a look on sale (weight 0.05): One player suggests the game is worth a look on sale but does not give a full recommendation. This indicates a lukewarm endorsement with reservations.
- Avoid cheats for stability (weight 0.05): One player advises avoiding cheats for stability, implying the game may crash or have issues when using cheat codes or mods.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Players feel satisfied due to the game's refreshing experience, great gunplay, level design, and boss fights. It offers good value for money, runs well on low-end PCs, and has an atmospheric setting with diverse enemies.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): Enjoyment stems from the game's humor, soundtrack, brutal arcade-style combat, and satisfying gunplay with gore. Players appreciate the old-school gameplay, engaging atmosphere, and the game's ability to provide fun distraction.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment arises from technical issues like lighting problems, weak weapon sounds, and a rushed story with a poor ending. The game also suffers from few enemy types, short length, and repetitive level design, failing to meet expectations.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement is generated by the game's similarities to classic titles, insane gunplay with juicy shooting, and tense combat moments. Players enjoy the old-school FPS gameplay, intense atmosphere, and homage to classics like Half-Life.
- Frustration (weight 0.08): Frustration is caused by unfair level design, AI with instant kills, a terrible save system, and performance issues. Tanky bosses, repetitive gameplay, and motion sickness also contribute to the negative experience.
- Annoyance (weight 0.06): Annoyance comes from collision issues, overdone Half-Life references, and AI that ignores infighting. Performance problems like lag from spawned bodies and frame drops, along with a bad ending, further irritate players.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation is felt for the developer's effort in crafting a unique atmosphere with good music and sound. The well-designed post-Soviet levels, excellent gunplay, and soulful execution despite being a one-man project are highly valued.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): Nostalgia is evoked by references to Half-Life and Doom 3, a soundtrack from early childhood, and a thick Soviet atmosphere. The game reminds players of classic 90s shooters and Half-Life 2 era memories.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Admiration arises from the impressive gun feel compared to modern productions and the achievement of a single developer creating an engaging game. The game's engine performance and quality are seen as comparable to legendary status.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Surprise comes from monsters that scare players and the game's unexpected high quality, especially for a single-dev project. It exceeds expectations with combat more fun than Half-Life 1 and shocking scenes.
- Anticipation (weight 0.02): Anticipation is driven by hope for DLC and eager waiting for a sequel, as players are invested in continuing the experience.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the mix of Half-Life and Atomic Heart elements with Russian style, along with secrets to discover and challenging gameplay, despite a rushed story.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Gratitude is expressed towards the developer for creating a masterpiece with soul that embraces players from the start, showing appreciation for their effort.
- Fear (weight 0.01): Fear is induced by scary jump scenes and a dread of dungeons, which are numerous and contribute to a tense atmosphere.
- Pleasure (weight 0.01): Pleasure is derived from the powerful impact of every shot and reload, the great soundtrack, and the wild enjoyment of tearing enemies apart in a Soviet-themed setting.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from funny and stupid enemy AI, as well as the chaotic joy of running screaming exploding children, reminiscent of Serious Sam.
- Respect (weight 0.01): Respect is given for the solo level design and the fact that the game was made entirely by one person, highlighting their skill and dedication.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in after three hours when the game runs out of new content, leading to repetitive gameplay and dull dialogues in the later half.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Approval is given for the smooth performance and cool story, with the game being recognized as a good shooter in the spirit of Half-Life and Serious Sam.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is felt because the game ends too soon, and players wish they had increased the difficulty earlier to extend the challenge.}