DEAD TRASH Review Summary

Engaging gameplay and satisfying shotgun fun mark a decent retro boomer shooter, but poor linear level design, short runtime, and missing quicksave, map, and options hold it back.

Gameplay is praised as engaging: Many reviewers highlight the smooth, well-made, and fun nature of the gameplay. It is described as engaging, punchy, and satisfying to play across multiple clusters.

Gunplay is satisfying and fun: The gunplay itself is repeatedly praised for being fun, impactful, and satisfying, with a strong sense of impact. It is considered a core strength of the game.

Shotgun is exceptionally good: The shotgun is specifically called out as one of the best from any game, being outrageously good and powerful. It is a memorable and enjoyable weapon.

Weapon audio is outstanding: The sound of the guns is a major point of praise, with comments on the loud, crispy, and punchy audio that enhances the shooting experience. Sound mixing is also noted as well done.

Visual style is excellent: The game's visual presentation is widely praised for being beautiful, unique, and top-notch. The art direction and aesthetic are consistently highlighted as standout features.

Level design is poor: The levels are widely criticized for being blocky, basic, boring, and lacking variety. Reviewers note the design is uninteresting and poorly executed in several areas.

Shotgun reload is slow: The shotgun's reload animation takes too long, making it unviable in fights and hazardous to use. Reloads cannot be canceled by swapping weapons, and the double-barrel variant takes about five seconds.

Gameplay is mediocre overall: Multiple reviewers describe the gameplay as uninspired, mediocre, or just okay, with no standout mechanics. It is neither notably good nor bad, resulting in a bland experience.

Lack of content and options: The game has insufficient content and lacks options like difficulty settings, explosives, and mouse invert. This reduces replayability and customization, making the experience feel sparse.

Game is too short: The game is consistently described as very short, with some feeling it plays like a paid demo. The lack of length limits content and makes the experience feel incomplete.

Old-school boomer shooter: The game is frequently described as an old-school Doom-style FPS, emphasizing retro shooter mechanics. It aligns with the boomer shooter formula of running forward and shooting.

Diverse weapon arsenal: Players have access to a wide variety of weapons, including melee options like hammers and axes, plus ranged guns like SMGs and shotguns. The weapon choices allow for different combat styles, and the variety is generally considered solid.

Linear levels with secrets: Levels are mostly linear but reward exploration with hidden rooms and secrets. The straightforward design makes it easy to navigate without getting lost.

Retro gory aesthetic: The game features retro, digitized sprite visuals with a gory, 90s-style or grindhouse aesthetic. This visual style contributes to the old-school feel and horror-themed atmosphere.

Challenging boss encounters: Boss fights occur regularly, often every couple of levels, and are described as challenging. The bosses have diverse attack patterns, adding variety to the combat.

Crash on loading screen: The game crashes at the loading screen after chapter 3, which is a specific and frustrating issue. This is a high-impact bug that blocks progression.

System lockup crashes: Crashes flash the screen and lock the entire PC, requiring a hard reset. This is severe and disrupts the user experience significantly.

Inability to tab out: Players cannot tab out or use alt+F4 to close the game, trapping them in the session. This is a usability and system-level annoyance.

Choppy performance without interpolation: Performance is choppy unless the interpolation option is enabled in video settings, making the game nearly unplayable without adjusting it. This is a technical hurdle.

Enemies disappearing bug: Bugs cause enemies to disappear, which breaks combat encounters and can halt progression. This is a gameplay-affecting issue.

Recommended for boomer shooter fans: Many reviewers recommend this game to fans of retro and boomer shooters, citing its atmosphere and old-school feel. It's described as a must-play for genre enthusiasts.

Highly recommended overall: Many reviews strongly recommend the game without major caveats, praising it as an enjoyable experience. This positive sentiment is widespread.

Buy on sale: A common suggestion is to purchase the game during a sale or at a discounted price. Some reviewers imply it's a good deal only when reduced.

Not recommended by some: A few reviewers do not recommend the game, citing rough edges, lack of challenge, or issues. Some suggest it's not worth it even at a low price.

Mixed or conditional recommendations: Some reviews give a mixed or conditional recommendation, such as only for certain audiences or if you like the style. Others mention it's not for everyone.

Community fair range: $2.00 - $3.00.

Game completion: 3.7h.

Story completion: 2.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

The game initially delivers an enjoyable old-school feel but becomes repetitive and dull after a short time, especially given its very brief length. Player reports conflict on whether the start is boring or fun, but the clearest temporal evidence shows a drop from initial engagement to later monotony.

Boomer Shooter Enthusiast: Blasts through levels quickly, soaking in the atmosphere and gore, often seeking out secrets and easter eggs. Motivation: Relive and appreciate the raw, nostalgic style of classic shooters with gritty visuals and satisfying gunplay. Stance: buy.

Achievement Hunter: Follows guides or exploits easy achievements, replays for missed ones, and optimizes playthrough time. Motivation: Complete all achievements quickly and efficiently, enjoying the satisfaction of a 100% run. Stance: buy.

Budget Casual: Plays at a leisurely pace, scavenging for items, not pushing for difficulty, and savors the atmosphere. Motivation: Enjoy cheap, short, and relaxing gameplay without any pressure or need for skill. Stance: sale.

Game is very short: Multiple clusters highlight that the game takes roughly 1.5 to 3 hours to complete, often finished in one sitting. This is the most frequently mentioned aspect, appearing in many reviews.

Good value for short experience: Many reviewers consider the game good for its low price, providing one or two enjoyable evenings despite its short length. This positive value assessment is common.

Low price point: The game is described as inexpensive, costing only a few euros or dollars, and frequently goes on sale. Reviewers often note it is cheap, sometimes less than a cup of coffee.

DLC and achievements added: The game has a DLC called Operation: Yellow Snow and has recently added achievements. Reviewers note the DLC is available or coming soon.

Developer and publisher known: The game is developed by Crowhill Studios and published by DOSman Games. Many reviewers are familiar with DOSman's other projects, which may influence their expectations.