- Exceptional quality and engaging bullet hell Metroidvania gameplay
- Outstanding value for a free game
- Excellent soundtrack and sound design
- Stunning pixel art and visuals
- Difficulty can be inconsistent
- Game is too short
Emotions
Players expressed high satisfaction due to the game's overall quality, engaging gameplay, and polished mechanics, especially considering its free-to-play nature. Specific elements like challenging yet fair boss fights, responsive controls, appealing art style, and an enjoyable story contributed significantly to this positive sentiment.
Excitement stemmed from the game's high quality, fast-paced action, and engaging bullet-hell mechanics, often leading to addictive gameplay. Many players also expressed strong anticipation and enthusiasm for a potential sequel, 'Bloody Hell 2', indicating a desire for more content from the developers.
Players found the game highly enjoyable due to its fun and addictive gameplay loop, challenging boss fights, and engaging story. The game's art and audio design, combined with its overall entertainment value, contributed to a positive and memorable experience for many.
Frustration primarily arose from the game's high difficulty, particularly with certain bosses and the death penalty system. Issues such as inefficient fast travel, getting lost due to map design, and occasional bugs or optimization problems also contributed to player annoyance.
Disappointment was mainly linked to the game's short length, the lack of localization for various languages, and some perceived imbalances in difficulty or enemy variety. A few players also expressed dissatisfaction with the ending or specific unfulfilled expectations regarding game features.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 96% · Negative 4%. Score: 4 / 100
Positives:
- Players overwhelmingly praise the game's high quality, addictive nature, and engaging gameplay. It's frequently described as a masterpiece, fun, and polished, offering a challenging yet fair experience that keeps players hooked.
- A significant number of reviews highlight the game's incredible quality, especially considering it's free. Many players express willingness to pay for it, noting it surpasses many paid titles and is a 'steal' or 'gift'.
- The game's soundtrack and sound design are highly praised for being very good, perfectly complementing the gameplay, and enhancing the overall immersive experience. Many consider the music to be incredible.
- The game is highly praised for its successful combination of Metroidvania and Bullet Hell genres, often compared to popular titles like 'Enter the Gungeon' and 'Hollow Knight'. This blend creates a fresh and engaging experience.
- The game's pixel art style receives widespread acclaim for being gorgeous, clean, and full of personality. The visuals effectively convey the hellish theme while remaining vibrant and engaging.
Negatives:
- Player feedback on difficulty is mixed, with some finding the game too hard, especially for beginners or at specific points like the final boss, while others found it too easy or wished for more challenge. This inconsistency suggests an imbalance in the difficulty curve.
- Many players felt the game was too brief, with completion times ranging from 4-7 hours, leading to a desire for more content, bosses, and overall playtime. This brevity also contributed to a perceived lack of replay value and a sense of incompleteness.
- Players reported general optimization issues, various bugs, and design problems, including specific issues with doors, staircases, and game crashes. These technical problems detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
- Players reported issues with aiming, particularly when aim assist is off or on devices like the Steam Deck. The lack of a robust auto-aim option and uncomfortable controls for both keyboard and controller were also noted.
- A significant number of players expressed frustration over the lack of language support beyond English, specifically mentioning Chinese, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish. This limitation hinders plot comprehension and overall accessibility for a global audience.
Gameplay:
- The game is consistently described as a blend of bullet-hell combat and Metroidvania exploration, drawing frequent comparisons to 'Enter the Gungeon' and 'Hollow Knight'. Players engage in intense twin-stick shooting while navigating a sprawling, interconnected map.
- Players control Azrael, a bird-like angel (often described as a pigeon, duck, or chicken), on a divine mission to descend into Hell and defeat Satan. The narrative involves fighting various demons and bosses across different hellish biomes.
- The game features an upgrade system where players collect Tetris-shaped pieces that must be strategically fitted into a grid. This system allows for customization of playstyle and can be reset, though some players found it optional for completion.
- Dying in the game results in losing half of the collected currency (demon bones) and respawning at the nearest checkpoint with all enemies reset. The fast travel system is also noted as somewhat cumbersome, requiring multiple steps.
- Combat involves a 'demon ability' system where hitting enemies or taking damage fills a skull gauge. This gauge can be used to activate a powerful demon form or for healing, adding a strategic layer to the frantic bullet-hell encounters.
Performance:
- Despite some minor optimization issues, the game generally runs smoothly and is largely bug-free across various platforms, including Windows 7 and Steam Deck. This contributes to a positive and consistent player experience.
- Players appreciate that the game is accessible on low-end hardware, often referred to as 'potato PCs'. This broad compatibility allows a wider audience to enjoy the game without needing high-spec machines.
Recommendations:
- The vast majority of players enthusiastically recommend this game, often citing its engaging gameplay, challenging experience, and overall quality. Many consider it a must-play, especially for fans of specific genres.
- Players are eagerly awaiting the sequel, 'Bloody Hell 2', with many expressing intentions to purchase it regardless of price. This indicates strong satisfaction with the current game and high hopes for future installments.
- The game is particularly recommended for fans of Metroidvania, bullet hell, twin-stick shooters, and challenging 2D action games. Its appeal is strong within these specific niches.
- Players actively encourage supporting the developers, primarily by purchasing the soundtrack. There's a strong sentiment that the creators deserve recognition and financial backing for their work.
- Some players offered constructive feedback, such as suggesting multiple difficulty modes, improving localization, or reworking the upgrade system for the next project. These are specific points for potential enhancement.
Miscellaneous:
- Many players are driven to achieve 100% completion and collect all achievements, indicating a strong engagement with the game's content. Some even create guides or spend significant time pursuing these goals.
- The game is praised for its very low system requirements, making it accessible to a wide range of players, including those with older or less powerful PCs. This contributes to its broad appeal.
