Herald of Havoc Review Summary

Fast, satisfying combat with versatile weapons and excellent level design will please Quake and Doom fans, though generic art and almost no story hold it back.

Versatile and Satisfying Weapons: Clusters 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15 highlight that the game offers a wide variety of weapons, each with unique firing modes and satisfying feel. Players appreciate that every weapon feels useful, powerful, and fun to use, with creative designs.

Excellent Level Design: Clusters 4, 7, and 20 praise the levels as interesting, well-designed, and non-monotonous. The levels flow well, are short but packed with action, and maintain high quality throughout.

Fast-Paced Combat and Movement: Clusters 9, 15, and 18 emphasize that combat is fast, demanding, and satisfying, with solid movement and gunplay. Players enjoy the fast-paced action that keeps them engaged.

Overall Game Quality: Clusters 6 and 13 state that the game is great, fantastic, and definitely worthwhile. It is well worth playing and extremely solid overall.

Retro Shooter Excellence: Clusters 8 and 18 describe the game as a fantastic retro shooter with Quake 1 vibes, one of the best throwback shooters that outperforms many others. It delivers a nostalgic yet superior experience.

Generic graphics and art: Graphics and art design are often described as generic, uninspiring, and lacking atmosphere. Many feel they are too clean or flat.

Almost no story: The game lacks a substantial narrative, with reviewers describing the story as barely there or non-existent. This leaves the game feeling shallow for those expecting a plot.

Overpriced for content: Reviewers feel the game is not worth the full price due to its short length and lack of content. Many suggest waiting for a discount.

Mediocre level design: Level design is often criticized as mediocre, bland, and lacking in creativity. Some maps feel like empty hallways or filler.

Difficulty imbalance: Difficulty settings are unbalanced: easy is too boring, normal is too hard, and hard is extremely punishing. There is no satisfying middle ground.

Old-school retro FPS style: Reviewers frequently describe the game as an old-school, retro-inspired first-person shooter in the style of classic 90s shooters. This nostalgic appeal is a major draw for fans of the genre.

Large varied weapon arsenal: The game offers a substantial arsenal of around a dozen weapons, including shotguns, rocket launchers, and lightning guns, each with unique characteristics. Weapon variety is a standout feature.

Pistol start each level: Every level begins with only the starting sword and pistol, stripping any weapons collected previously. This design enforces a consistent reset and is a core part of the retro shooter identity.

Fast-paced action combat: Combat is consistently praised for being fast-paced, dynamic, and intense, with a strong emphasis on movement and shooting. The high speed keeps players engaged throughout.

Massive enemy hordes: Many levels feature overwhelming numbers of enemies, from dozens to hundreds, creating chaotic and thrilling battles. This horde-style combat is a signature element of the game.

Excellent Overall Performance: Most players report smooth, well-optimized performance, even with large numbers of enemies on screen. The game is easy to run and does not demand high-end hardware.

Crashes Reported: A few players experience constant crashes, including system-level crashes that reboot the PC. This appears to be a minority issue.

FPS Drops With Many Enemies: Performance dips occur when around 80 enemies spawn simultaneously, likely due to CPU load from enemy count rather than poor level optimization or particle effects.

Steam Deck Compatibility: Runs great on Steam Deck with specific settings: using WASD gamepad with mouse and lowering sensitivity.

Appeals to Quake and Doom fans: Many reviewers strongly recommend the game for fans of classic shooters like Quake, Doom, and old-school FPS titles. It is repeatedly called a must-have for those nostalgic for the original games.

Positive general recommendations: A large number of reviewers give the game a straightforward recommendation without specific caveats. It is widely praised as a good game worth playing.

Mixed opinions on pricing: Some reviewers recommend buying only on sale, citing insufficient content or high price for the length. Others suggest supporting the developer at full price.

Recommended for boomer shooter fans: Numerous reviewers recommend the game specifically to fans of the boomer shooter genre. It is seen as a solid entry that will satisfy enthusiasts of retro-style shooters.

Short but engaging experience: Reviewers note the game is compact but intense, perfect for a quick session. It is described as a great way to spend an afternoon or a few evenings.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 7.0h.

Story completion: 3.0h.

Some players find the arcade combat immediately engaging, but the clearest time-to-fun signal is that enjoyment grows toward later levels as the aesthetic and level design improve. Per-level resets and shallow enemy damage cause others to bounce off before that point.

Friction: Low-poly graphics feel weak or overly simple; Enemies die in one or two hits, making combat feel boring; Arena room locking is only enjoyable when core gameplay is strong; Weapons, HP, and armor reset each map with no carry-over; Weapons are constantly stripped at each map, undermining progression; Rocket launcher is tedious due to easy self-damage in Endless Mode.

Unlock drivers: Aesthetic grows on the player toward the end; Later levels are interesting and well-designed; Per-level reset creates new pacing, progression, and combat scenarios; Secrets are satisfying and rewarding without breaking level progression; High enemy volume makes choosing weapons against rushes engaging.

Retro Boomer-Shooter Veteran: Fast run-and-gun single-player shooting, often on higher difficulties, with an eye for weapon feel and pacing. Motivation: Reliving and continuing the fast, weapon-focused old-school FPS rush. Stance: buy.

Casual Price-Conscious Newcomer: Casual single-player sessions on easier difficulties, prioritizing fun and value over mastery. Motivation: Cheap, easy-to-pick-up action fun without needing deep story or high skill. Stance: sale.

Indie Retro Gem Supporter: Single-player campaign completion, appreciating compact design and moderate challenge; may hope for future multiplayer. Motivation: Discovering and supporting a polished solo-developed retro FPS gem. Stance: buy.

Quake and Doom comparison: Reviews consistently compare the game to classic Quake and Doom titles, often calling it a Quake-like or boomer shooter with Doom influences. The combat and level design evoke these older shooters, though some note it lacks the full polish of genre peers.

Short campaign duration: Many players report the main campaign lasting only 2.5 to 4 hours, with a few extending to 6-9 hours. This brevity is frequently mentioned, sometimes positively as short and sweet, but often as a drawback.

Serious Sam similarities: The game is often compared to Serious Sam for its arena shooter style and mix with Quake and Doom elements. This indicates a shared audience and gameplay loop.

Dusk comparisons: Players compare the game to Dusk, noting similar spirit but with a more Quake/Unreal aesthetic and meatier combat. Some feel it is less ambitious or polished than Dusk.

Replayability and extra modes: The game offers good replay value, including an endless arena mode with waves and multiple maps. This adds longevity beyond the short campaign.