Hands of Necromancy Review Summary

Excellent complex level design, varied weapons, shapeshifting and resurrection, and good enemy variety shine, but weak-feeling weapons and confusing, mazey navigation hold it back.

Excellent level design: Levels are consistently praised for being well-constructed, varied, and fun to explore. The design often features complex, vertical, and interconnected areas that enhance the experience.

Varied and unique weapons: The weapon arsenal is diverse, with many weapons featuring secondary fire modes and distinct mechanics. This adds tactical depth and keeps combat engaging.

Solid old-school FPS: Reviewers consistently describe the game as a great old-school first-person shooter with solid action. It successfully captures the essence of classic FPS games.

Shapeshifting and resurrection mechanics: A standout feature is the ability to resurrect monsters and transform into them, granting new attacks and enabling secret discovery. This mechanic is frequently highlighted as innovative and fun.

Generally well-received: The game receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many calling it excellent, well-balanced, and worth playing. It resonates well with its target audience.

Weapons feel weak and unsatisfying: Many players report that weapons lack power and impact, making combat feel unsatisfying. This is a recurring complaint across multiple clusters.

Level design is confusing and mazey: Players frequently get lost due to complex, labyrinthine level layouts with unclear progression. The maps often require excessive backtracking and searching for keys.

Necromancy mechanics feel tacked on: The necromancy system is underutilized and poorly implemented, with dumb minion AI making it borderline useless. Players feel it doesn't integrate well with the core gameplay.

Weapons use slow projectiles only: Most weapons fire slow-moving projectiles with no hitscan options, which players find frustrating. This contributes to the overall feeling of weak combat.

Map is unreadable and navigation poor: The in-game map is difficult to read, and navigation is overly complex, leading to frustration. This exacerbates the confusion caused by the level design.

Hexen and Heretic inspiration: The game draws heavily on Hexen and Heretic for its structure, tone, and overall design. Many reviewers describe it as a spiritual successor or hybrid of those classic titles.

GZDoom engine foundation: The game runs on the GZDoom engine and is frequently described as a Doom total conversion or standalone GZDoom project. Its technical roots are a defining characteristic for players.

Metroidvania exploration elements: The game incorporates Metroidvania-style progression, where new powers allow revisiting and accessing previously blocked areas. This gives the level design a nonlinear, exploratory feel.

Magic weapons and spells: The arsenal includes a variety of magical weapons and spells, such as fireballs, ice rings, and tornado magic. Combat blends spellcasting with traditional shooter weapons.

Hub-based level progression: The game uses a hub-based structure similar to Hexen, but often more accessible and streamlined. This allows for nonlinear exploration and revisiting of areas.

Boss fights cause severe lag: Boss encounters spam arenas with effects and enemies, leading to massive framerate drops. Episode 1 boss is specifically called out as causing severe performance issues.

Lava level performance problems: A massive lava level causes long load times and framerate dips into the 40s. Some note this may be an engine limitation affecting everyone on that level.

Extremely resource-heavy for GZDoom: The game is reported to be very resource-heavy compared to typical GZDoom titles, with performance dropping to 20fps on hardware that runs 2016 Doom better.

Game-breaking progression bug on Earthen Depths: Users report a consistent, reproducible crash and soft lock on the map Earthen Depths. This prevents progression and requires reloading a save.

Ultrawide performance is excellent: The game runs beautifully on 1440p ultrawide without any framerate issues or stuttering, even on the biggest maps. This highlights that performance issues are not universal.

Ideal for Hexen veterans: Many reviews recommend the game specifically to fans of Heretic and Hexen. It is frequently described as a true successor to those classic titles, appealing to players nostalgic for their design.

Great value for money: Numerous reviewers highlight the game's low price and high value, stating it is well worth the money even at full price. Some suggest waiting for a sale for an even better deal.

Appeals to retro shooter fans: The game is widely recommended for enthusiasts of retro FPS games and boomer shooters. Reviewers often compare it to classic Doom and other 90s shooters.

Not for everyone: Several reviewers note that the game may not appeal to all players, particularly those who dislike Hexen-style gameplay or want simple run-and-shoot action. A few negative reviews cite low effort compared to free mods.

Requires patience for maze exploration: The game features complex, mazey maps that can be frustrating for some players. It is recommended for those who enjoy getting lost and backtracking to find key doors and paths.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00.

Game completion: 14.0h.

Story completion: 10.0h.

Session length: 0.8h.

Reports suggest a delayed click: early confusion, slow pacing, and missing guidance often block enjoyment, but players who stick with it cite less cryptic progression and monster transformations as points where combat and pacing improve. A substantial minority never reaches that point or later finds the game repetitive.

Friction: Unclear progression and confusing, mazey map layouts; No tutorial or in-game guidance on where to go; Tutorial messages vanish too quickly; Misleading starter sword tutorial; Deflect lacks required ammo; Slow pacing with slow projectiles and sparse enemies; Transformations are teased in the tutorial but absent for a while.

Unlock drivers: Unlocking monster transformations adds two-fire-mode weapons and combat depth; Progression in finding switches and keys becomes less cryptic; Game picks up the pace later and tests spatial awareness; Gentle progression gives players chances to practice skills; Balanced mix of fast-paced exploration and combat.

Retro FPS Nostalgist: Run-and-gun through retro shooter levels, leaning on reflexes and genre familiarity. Motivation: Reliving and celebrating classic 90s FPS action and fantasy atmosphere. Stance: buy.

Hexen-style Metroidvania Explorer: Methodical exploration, key hunting, inventory management, and backtracking through mazes. Motivation: Uncovering key-gated paths, solving spatial puzzles, and mapping interconnected levels. Stance: buy.

Combat-Focused Resource Manager: Aggressive dodging and non-hitscan shooting, using shapeshifting forms to conserve ammo. Motivation: Enjoying enemy-dense fights and mastering skill-based combat under resource pressure. Stance: buy.

Level Design and Hub Structure: The game features complex, hub-based levels inspired by Hexen, with some describing them as labyrinthine or Dark Souls-like. Opinions on level design vary, with some finding them overly long.

Lengthy Campaign and Good Value: The game offers over 10 hours of gameplay, with some reporting 20+ hours to complete. Many consider it a great value, especially at its low price.

Comparison to Doom and Quake: Reviewers compare the game to classic Doom and Quake, noting similarities in style and gameplay. Some find its weapons feel weak compared to Doom's starting pistols.

Compared Unfavorably to Other Retro Shooters: Some reviewers compare it negatively to games like PowerSlave, Amid Evil, DUSK, CULTIC, and others, citing better combat, variety, or polish in those titles.

Perceived as Paid GZDoom Mod: Several reviewers feel the game is essentially a WAD or mod sold for money, comparing it to free community mods. Others defend its quality and content relative to price.