Bloodshed Review Summary

Combines retro FPS with roguelike: The game is frequently described as a blend of '90s boomer shooters like Doom and Blood with Vampire Survivors-style gameplay. This combination is praised for its addictiveness and unique feel, successfully merging retro FPS action with modern roguelike elements.

Appealing retro aesthetic and atmosphere: Many reviewers highlight the game's well-executed retro aesthetic, reminiscent of classic 90s shooters. The visuals, sound design, and overall atmosphere contribute to a nostalgic and appealing experience.

Good variety of weapons/characters/upgrades: Reviewers appreciate the variety of weapons, characters, and upgrades available in the game. Unlocking and experimenting with different builds adds depth and replayability.

Satisfying and impactful gunplay: The shooting mechanics and gunplay are consistently praised for feeling satisfying and impactful. Reviewers appreciate the responsive controls, well-designed sound effects, and the visceral feedback of the weapons.

Fast-paced, frantic, addictive gameplay: The game is noted for its fast-paced and frantic gameplay, encouraging constant movement and quick reflexes. This contributes to an engaging and addictive experience.

Lacks sufficient content/feels incomplete: Many reviewers feel the game is incomplete and lacks sufficient content, especially considering it's out of Early Access. They cite a limited number of levels, short playtime, and repetitive gameplay loops. This lack of content makes the game feel rushed and not worth the price.

Performance issues and repetitiveness: Reviewers report performance issues like stuttering, frame rate drops, and hitches, even on systems that should handle the game easily. The game also suffers from repetitive gameplay due to limited enemy and level variety, with missions often consisting of surviving for extended periods.

Aiming/Auto-fire issues: The auto-fire mechanic is divisive, with some finding it detrimental to the gameplay experience. The game requires constant aiming, even with auto-shoot enabled, detracting from the relaxed gameplay experience typical of the genre.

Grindy progression/expensive upgrades: The game's progression system is grindy due to the high cost of upgrades and the scarcity of currency. Unlocking new characters and abilities feels like a chore, and the upgrades themselves are often unexciting, failing to provide a satisfying sense of progression.

Uninspired blend of genres: The game struggles to blend FPS and survivor-like elements effectively. Missions are repetitive, often requiring players to survive for extended periods in closed arenas. The survivor-like aspects detract from the overall experience.

Varied characters with unique stats: The game features a selection of playable characters, each with unique stats and play styles, specializing in areas like magic, melee, and ranged combat. Characters also have different amounts of spell and weapon slots.

Automatic ability unlocks: Players unlock new abilities by maxing out others or through achievements. The process is automatic, revealing the ability's function only after unlocking. Leveling up offers a choice of random upgrades.

Offers auto-shoot option: The game offers both manual and automatic shooting options. Some players find auto-shooting preferable due to the large number of enemies, but the lack of a toggle can be detrimental in some situations.

Currency for permanent upgrades: Players collect money for permanent upgrades to health and damage. Currency and power-ups are obtained from respawning lamps at preset locations throughout the levels.

Weapons are upgradable and swappable: The game features a selection of weapons and upgrades. Weapons handle differently and are good for different situations, swapping between weapons is easy. Weapons can be upgraded up to 8 levels, with a choice of skills upon leveling up.

Crashes and long loading times: Several users have reported game crashes, sometimes frequently, leading to lost progress. Additionally, long loading times between launch and gameplay were mentioned as a negative aspect of the game.

Lacks Vsync setting: Some users have reported the lack of a vsync setting, resulting in screen tearing.

Runs smoothly on some systems: Some players report that the game runs smoothly, even on older hardware or the Steam Deck. This suggests that the game is well-optimized for some systems.

Optimization still in progress: One user mentioned that the game needs further optimization as development progresses, while another stated that the game is optimized quite well for being in early access. This suggests that the game's optimization is still a work in progress.

Loud GPU fan in menu: One user reported that their GPU fans were running loudly even in the menu, suggesting potential optimization issues or excessive resource usage even when the game is not actively being played.

Anticipation for future content: Many reviewers express strong anticipation for future content updates, hoping for more levels, weapons, features, and overall expansion of the game. Some reviewers are holding off on recommending the game until more content is added, while others are eager to see the game's potential realized through continued development.

Recommended for genre enthusiasts: The game is frequently recommended to fans of specific genres, particularly boomer shooters, old-school FPS games like Doom and Blood, and survivor-like games such as Vampire Survivors. Reviewers highlight the game's blend of these genres as a key selling point.

Disappointment with current state: Some reviewers express disappointment with the game's current state, citing a lack of content, performance issues, or other problems that make it difficult to recommend. Some reviewers are considering or have already requested a refund.

Great on Steam Deck: The game is well-suited for the Steam Deck, making it a great choice for gaming on the go. The lack of a save-on-quit feature is less of an issue on the Steam Deck, enhancing its appeal for casual gaming sessions.

Pixelated art style: The game's retro, pixelated art style may not appeal to all players. This is a subjective point, but it's worth noting for potential buyers who prefer more modern graphics.

Early Access, more content coming: The game is in Early Access, with limited content currently available. Reviewers anticipate future updates and content additions, including new characters, maps, and features, with a roadmap extending into 2025. Only the first episode is currently available.

Generic or uninspired design: Some reviewers question the game's core design, suggesting it feels like a generic or uninspired arena boomer shooter. It feels like a fake video game seen in movies or shows, with exaggerated button mashing.

Most objectives are completable: The reviewer completed almost all in-game objectives, except for two specific challenges. This shows that most of the content is accessible and completable.

Strategic, aim for the head: The game encourages strategic gameplay, emphasizing aiming for the head and caution around environmental hazards. This point highlights specific gameplay elements and strategies.

Request for more waifus: The reviewer wants more waifus in the game. This point is not constructive and doesn't provide specific details.