Info about 101 Ways to Die:

Official game description:
In this puzzle-platformer you'll play assistant to mad scientist Professor Splattunfuder - a scientist, inventor and weapons manufacturer of questionable sanity. Nearing the end of his career, he devoted himself to a terrible "recipe book" focused on the death and destruction of his enemies, preferably using the most stylish methods possible.  An unfortunate laboratory accident resulted in the destruction of the first draft - now it's down to you to assist him piece the fragments back together. The evil Professor has grown vats full of helpless creatures known as Splatts that he is using to aid him in a range of awful experiments - which is where you come in.  Using all your murderous creativity, a generous helping of weaponry, a passing knowledge of physics and a large dose of violence to the poor helpless Splatts, you'll help the Professor rewrite his classic book of recipes, titled... 101 Ways To Die!

Release date: Mar 17, 2016

Categories: Puzzle Platformer, Physics-based Puzzles, Trap-based Gameplay, Dark Humor, Trial and Error Gameplay, Level-based Progression, Single-player


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The community consistently indicates that the current price is too high and that the game is worth purchasing only at a discount. This suggests the fair base-game price is below the current asking price, likely in the range typical for discounted indie puzzle games.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 9.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 4.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Game completion is supported by two explicit reports: one Japanese review states full clear took about 11 hours, and one German review states all stars were collected in almost 7 hours, giving an average of about 9 hours. Session length is supported by a 4-hour continuous play session and a 1-hour short session, with the median around 4 hours. No evidence directly addresses story completion or endgame time, so those remain null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts as a repetitive kill fest, but becomes enjoyable once it introduces challenging levels; however, early boredom and technical issues may prevent players from reaching that point.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: The introduction of challenging levels
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: repetitive early gameplay; boring presentation; technical issues preventing tutorial completion
  - Unlock drivers: increasing challenge as the game progresses
  - Conditions: must progress past the tutorial; must reach later levels where challenge increases; player must tolerate early repetition
- Player Archetypes:
  - Frustrated Fairness-Seeker (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a fair, skill-based puzzle experience where success feels earned.
    - Playstyle: Methodical, attempts to solve levels logically, but feels the game is random.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Challenge & Dark Humor Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying intellectual challenge and dark, comedic violence.
    - Playstyle: Strategic, enjoys trial-and-error and physics-based puzzles.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Value-Conscious Gamer (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting good value for money.
    - Playstyle: Not specified, but likely plays if the game is discounted.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Easy to learn (weight 0.5): Players find the game simple to understand and pick up, with a gentle learning curve that becomes more challenging as they progress. This accessibility is a common positive point.
- Fun and entertaining (weight 0.5): The game is widely described as fun, entertaining, and amusing, with enjoyable gameplay that keeps players engaged. This sentiment is echoed across multiple clusters.
- Decent graphics (weight 0.45): While not groundbreaking, the graphics are considered decent and sometimes beautiful, with bright colors and polished visuals for an indie title. Some players note they are better than expected.
- Charming puzzle game (weight 0.4): Reviewers praise the game as a charming and well-made puzzle platformer, often highlighting its humor and clever design. It is considered a standout in the genre.
- Great dark humor (weight 0.4): The game's dark humor is a major highlight, with players enjoying the comical and politically incorrect tone. This humor adds to the overall appeal and replayability.
- Satisfying death replays (weight 0.3): The slow-motion replay of deaths is extremely satisfying, providing a rewarding payoff for setting up elaborate traps. This feature is frequently mentioned as a standout element.
- Precise physics mode (weight 0.27): The precise physics mode is impressive, offering a more controlled and analytical experience for players who want to fine-tune their trap setups. This feature is praised for its depth.
- Creative and imaginative levels (weight 0.24): The levels are highly imaginative and creative, requiring players to think strategically and use creativity to solve puzzles. This keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Challenging but fair (weight 0.24): The game provides a good challenge, with difficulty increasing smoothly and becoming quite challenging in later stages. It is challenging but not frustratingly hard.
- Satisfying trap setup (weight 0.2): Setting up traps and watching them unfold is satisfying, especially when everything comes together. This core mechanic is a major source of enjoyment.
- Good audio quality (weight 0.18): The audio and sound design are generally well-received, with players noting they are not bad and sometimes lovely. This contributes to the overall polish of the game.
- Long playtime (weight 0.18): The game offers a long playtime with a large number of levels, providing substantial content for players. This is seen as a positive, offering good value.
- Active developers (weight 0.18): The developers are praised for being active, kind, and quick to fix issues. This community engagement is seen as a positive aspect of the game.
- Political satire appeal (weight 0.17): The game's political incorrectness, including the ability to dismember Trump, is a draw for some players as a way to vent. This novelty adds to the game's charm.
- Improves on Bad Rats (weight 0.14): The game makes many improvements to the core gameplay of Bad Rats, refining mechanics and offering a better experience. This is appreciated by fans of the original.
- Suitable for everyone (weight 0.13): The game is considered suitable for a wide audience, with simple controls and no need for extensive English knowledge. This makes it accessible to many players.
- Good rhythm and pacing (weight 0.13): The game has a good rhythm, with maps starting easy and becoming more intricate. This pacing keeps players engaged without feeling overwhelming.
- Responsive controls (weight 0.08): Controls are responsive and intuitive, making the game easy to play and enjoyable. This is a key factor in the overall positive experience.
- No grinding needed (weight 0.08): Players appreciate that grinding is not necessary to progress, allowing them to enjoy the game at their own pace. This is a welcome relief from typical game mechanics.
- Helpful tips and hints (weight 0.08): The game provides useful tips and hints, helping players understand mechanics and progress smoothly. This is appreciated by both new and experienced players.

Common complaints:
- Game is buggy and unplayable (weight 0.56): Multiple clusters report severe bugs preventing gameplay, including crashes on startup, black screens, and inability to start the game. These issues are critical and make the game unplayable for some users.
- Lack of variety and creativity (weight 0.4): Players note limited trap placement, fixed tools per level, and small stages, which restrict creative solutions. The game also lacks variety in puzzles, enemies, and arsenal, making it monotonous.
- Puzzles are frustrating and illogical (weight 0.37): Players find puzzles frustrating because logical solutions often fail, and the game's rules seem inconsistent. This leads to trial-and-error gameplay that feels more about stubbornness than thought.
- Audio and music are lacking (weight 0.29): The music is off by default, generic, and doesn't fit the genre. Sound design lacks impact on kills and results, making the audio experience underwhelming.
- Gameplay is slow and boring (weight 0.26): The game is perceived as slow, repetitive, and lacking excitement, even with a fast-forward feature. This contributes to a boring and soulless experience.
- Controls are finicky and awkward (weight 0.2): Manual weapon controls are finicky, and PC controls are unusual, with menu navigation being hard to handle. This can get players stuck in certain areas if not done precisely.
- Game is too short and lacks replayability (weight 0.2): The game is very short, taking about 7 hours to complete, and has no replay value. Lack of Workshop or player-created content is a missed opportunity.
- Level completion feels unrewarding (weight 0.15): Completing levels doesn't feel rewarding, often due to random chance or dogged determination rather than solving puzzles. This reduces the sense of accomplishment.
- Camera and resolution issues (weight 0.14): Zooming in causes the camera to pan right, and there are resolution issues that make the game unplayable on certain screens. These are significant usability problems.
- Difficulty is inconsistent (weight 0.14): The game becomes too easy after a few hours, losing its challenge, while some puzzles are frustratingly hard. This inconsistency affects player engagement.
- Game not compatible with some systems (weight 0.14): The game is not available on Mac, and it doesn't work with recording software like Plays.TV and Action!. This limits accessibility for some players.
- No help or support available (weight 0.08): There is no real help or support available for players, which is problematic given the game's confusing rules and bugs.
- Game cannot be localized to Japanese (weight 0.08): The game cannot be localized to Japanese, which may be a barrier for Japanese-speaking players.
- Controller button not responding (weight 0.08): The L3 button on the Xbox One controller does not respond, causing control issues for console players.
- Game reacts to non-existent button presses (weight 0.08): The game sometimes reacts to button presses that were not made, which is confusing and frustrating.
- Story is non-existent (weight 0.08): The game lacks a story, which may reduce narrative engagement for players who expect a plot.
- Price is too expensive (weight 0.08): Players feel the game is overpriced relative to its content and quality, which may deter purchases.

Gameplay feedback:
- Trap-based gameplay (weight 0.56): Core gameplay revolves around placing traps to kill enemies, often described as a tower defense-like or Rube Goldberg-style puzzle experience. Players set up various traps and activate them to eliminate targets in creative ways.
- Dark comedy puzzle platformer (weight 0.52): The game is consistently described as a dark comedy puzzle platformer, blending humor with puzzle-solving mechanics. It is also compared to Lemmings, but with a twist where the goal is to kill the characters instead of saving them.
- Progressive difficulty curve (weight 0.41): The game eases players into its mechanics, starting easy and becoming more challenging as they progress. Difficulty increases with later levels, and some areas like Sector Zero are notably harder.
- Level structure and stars (weight 0.4): The game is divided into five parts with over 50 levels, each offering Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty settings. Players earn up to three stars per level based on clearing, bonus conditions, and high scores.
- Strategic planning required (weight 0.31): Players must plan and activate items at the right moment, with brain-twisting strategy needed for some brutal kills. The game rewards chaining different weapons and abilities together.
- 101 ways to die (weight 0.27): A central goal is to discover 101 ways to kill the Splatts, with a book tracking these death recipes. This provides a completionist challenge and encourages experimentation.
- Physics-based puzzles (weight 0.26): The game is described as a physics-based puzzle game, with environmental physics and chain reactions playing a key role. Players must consider timing and physics to solve levels.
- Variety of traps (weight 0.21): The game features around 10 types of traps, including bumpers, cannons, bombs, and teleportation devices. Players have a limited number of traps to place, encouraging careful planning.
- Fast forward feature (weight 0.2): Players can speed up the action with a fast forward or speed up feature, allowing them to accelerate the gameplay. This is useful for watching trap sequences play out more quickly.
- Trial and error gameplay (weight 0.2): The game relies on trial and error, with inconsistent rules and level design that could be improved. Some players may find this frustrating, but it also encourages experimentation.
- Multiple enemy types (weight 0.15): There are several enemy types, including standard, slow and tough, and fast and weak variants. This variety adds strategic depth to trap placement and activation.
- Multiple solutions per level (weight 0.15): Each level can be completed in many ways, offering high replayability. Players can experiment with different trap combinations and approaches to achieve objectives.
- Creative later levels (weight 0.15): The game gets more clever and creative later on, with increasing objectives and more complex puzzles. This keeps the gameplay engaging as players advance.
- Training and tutorial levels (weight 0.14): The game includes training levels that ease players into the mechanics. Important parts are illustrated, so English is not required to understand the gameplay.
- Unlock progression system (weight 0.14): Unlocking new levels requires completing tasks and finding effective trap combinations. This progression system adds a layer of goal-setting beyond just clearing levels.
- Indie game with medium requirements (weight 0.14): The game is an indie title with medium system requirements, making it accessible to a wide range of players. It does not demand high-end hardware.
- Zoom and visor features (weight 0.14): Players can zoom in and out to get a better view of the action, and a visor highlights active points. These tools help with planning and execution.
- Action button difficulty (weight 0.08): Some traps are activated by pressing the A button, which can be difficult for players not skilled at action games. This adds a timing element to the puzzle gameplay.
- Thematic content warning (weight 0.08): The game is noted for its dark humor and violent themes, with one reviewer suggesting it appeals to those with aggression problems or sadistic tendencies. This is a niche aspect of the game's appeal.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes on startup (weight 0.23): Multiple users report the game crashing on startup or being unable to launch after installation, making it unplayable. This is a critical issue preventing any gameplay.
- Black screen issues (weight 0.16): Users experience black screens when starting the game or levels, sometimes requiring a computer restart. This severe visual bug disrupts gameplay and can lock up the system.
- Resolution and display problems (weight 0.15): Users report resolution issues that make the game unplayable on certain displays, such as a 32-inch flat screen TV, and the screen never settles properly for desk use. These display problems affect usability.
- System lockups during tutorial (weight 0.09): The game can seize and lock up the computer during the tutorial, forcing a restart. This stability issue occurs early in the game, hindering progress.
- Crash when changing video settings (weight 0.09): Changing video settings can cause the game to crash, preventing users from adjusting graphics to their preference. This limits customization and can lead to frustration.
- General bugginess and slowdowns (weight 0.08): Some users report the game being buggy with slowdowns, indicating performance issues that affect the overall experience. This is a vague but common complaint.
- Incompatibility with recording software (weight 0.08): The game does not work with recording software like Plays.TV and Action!, which is a niche issue for content creators. This prevents them from capturing gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.31): Several reviewers suggest the game is worth purchasing, but advise waiting for a sale to get better value. This reflects a positive but cautious recommendation.
- Recommended for puzzle lovers (weight 0.3): The game is specifically recommended for puzzle enthusiasts, though some note it requires patience or is only for those desperate for puzzles. This suggests a niche appeal.
- Game is recommended (weight 0.27): Multiple reviewers clearly recommend the game, with some stating they would recommend it to others. This indicates a generally positive reception.
- Not recommended by some (weight 0.14): A few reviewers do not recommend the game, with one saying they would advise their past self not to get it. This indicates some negative experiences.
- Recommended for specific audiences (weight 0.14): The game is recommended for kids and teens, puzzle lovers, those who hate zombies, or latent evil geniuses. This highlights its targeted appeal.
- Recommendation with reservations (weight 0.08): One reviewer gives a recommendation but with reservations, suggesting the game may not appeal to everyone. This adds nuance to the overall positive sentiment.
- Cannot recommend due to unplayability (weight 0.08): A reviewer cannot recommend the game because it cannot be played, likely due to technical issues. This is a critical negative point that may indicate bugs or performance problems.
- Recommended for dark humour fans (weight 0.08): One reviewer recommends the game for those who appreciate dark humour and need stress relief. This suggests a particular tone that may resonate with certain players.
- Recommended if description appeals (weight 0.08): A reviewer highly recommends the game if you like what you read in the description, implying that the game matches its advertised content. This is a conditional recommendation.
- Nice game for in between (weight 0.07): One reviewer describes the game as a nice game for in between, suggesting it is a good filler or casual play option. This indicates a moderate level of enjoyment.
- Just play the game (weight 0.07): A reviewer recommends simply playing the game without overthinking, implying that the experience is best enjoyed directly. This is a straightforward endorsement.
- Recommended with spare money (weight 0.07): One reviewer recommends the game if you have some spare money, indicating it is a worthwhile purchase when budget allows. This is a conditional positive recommendation.

Other player notes:
- English not a barrier (weight 0.2): English is not a concern due to simple settings and illustrated important parts, making the game accessible to non-English speakers. This is a positive for international players.
- Lemmings-like but with murder (weight 0.15): The game is compared to Lemmings, but instead of rescuing characters, you must kill them in horrific ways. This dark twist may appeal to players seeking a more macabre puzzle experience.
- Presidential and election editions exist (weight 0.14): The game offers special editions featuring Hillary and Trump, as well as an election edition. This is a notable marketing feature that may attract or deter players based on political interest.
- Trap-setting zombie puzzle game (weight 0.09): The core gameplay involves setting traps to kill zombies, which is a unique twist on the puzzle genre. This defines the game's primary mechanics and appeal.
- Compared unfavorably to Bad Rats (weight 0.09): One reviewer compares the game to Bad Rats, noting that while there are improvements, the end result is worse. This suggests the game may have fundamental design or execution issues.
- Developers provide support and updates (weight 0.09): The developers and staff provided support and released updates to fix issues, showing active maintenance. This is a positive sign for long-term player satisfaction.
- Outclassed by genre peers (weight 0.09): The game is compared to other games in the genre that do the same thing better, suggesting it may not stand out. This is a critical point for potential buyers.
- Classic early 2000s puzzle graphics (weight 0.08): The game features graphics reminiscent of early 2000s puzzle games, which may appeal to nostalgic players but could feel dated to others. This is a common point of feedback for indie titles.
- Runs on any computer (weight 0.08): The game is lightweight and can run on virtually any computer, making it accessible to a wide audience. This is a positive aspect for players with low-end hardware.
- Not suitable for children (weight 0.08): The game is not for children due to its gore factor, which may limit its audience. This is an important consideration for parents and younger players.
- Lack of Workshop support (weight 0.08): The absence of Workshop or player-created content is a missed opportunity, as it could extend the game's longevity. This is a common request for puzzle games.
- 101 Death Recipes to unlock (weight 0.08): The game features 101 Death Recipes to unlock, providing a large amount of content for players. This is a positive point for those who enjoy unlockables.
- Over 50 gory levels (weight 0.08): The game has over 50 gory levels, offering a substantial amount of content. This is a positive for players seeking a lengthy experience.
- Grind only for final achievements (weight 0.08): The only grind in the game is for the final achievements, which may be a minor annoyance for completionists. This suggests the main gameplay is otherwise free of excessive grinding.
- Average price point (weight 0.08): The game is priced at an average level, which is generally considered fair for its content. This is a neutral point that may influence purchase decisions.
- Not available on Mac (weight 0.08): The game is not available on Mac, which limits its audience to Windows users. This is a negative point for Mac players.
- Xbox One controller support (weight 0.08): The game can be played with an Xbox One controller, offering an alternative to keyboard and mouse. This is a positive for players who prefer gamepads.
- 51 stages excluding training (weight 0.08): The game includes 51 stages excluding training, providing a decent number of levels. This is a neutral point about content quantity.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.32): Players are frustrated by technical issues such as crashes, black screens, and startup failures, which prevent the game from running properly. Additionally, gameplay problems like inconsistent physics, misleading UI instructions, and poorly designed puzzles that require trial and error contribute to the frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.17): Players enjoy the game for its fun and engaging puzzle mechanics, high-quality graphics and audio, and the creative and clever level design. The game is described as solid, well-made, and inviting, with many players planning to continue playing.
- Amused (weight 0.08): The game's traps and gadgets are hilarious, and the ability to dismember Trump in creative ways provides amusement. Players find the game funny and one of the funniest puzzle games they have played.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players feel satisfaction from experimenting to find the right solutions and from watching slow-motion replays of deaths. The game also provides a satisfying way to vent through politically incorrect content.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players are disappointed by the game's repetitive and soulless nature, despite improvements, and completing levels does not feel rewarding. The music is also lacking and does not fit the genre.
- Amusement (weight 0.05): The novelty and dark humor of the game are amusing, with highlights like playing pinball with a splat. The black humor is well-received and adds to the entertainment value.
- Frustrated (weight 0.05): Players are frustrated by manual weapon controls that can get them stuck, puzzles that become unwinnable if fast-forwarded, and camera issues when zooming. These problems can lead to hours of being stuck on the same level.
- Disappointed (weight 0.03): Some players are disappointed because they do not get much enjoyment from puzzle games, and others are disappointed that the game is not available on Mac.
- Satisfied (weight 0.03): Players are satisfied with setting up traps and watching the outcomes, as well as finding 101 Death Recipes for Trump. The game provides a satisfying experience through creative kills.
- Irritation (weight 0.02): The puzzles require more stubbornness than expected, leading to irritation among players.
- Indifference (weight 0.02): The game was not for the reviewer in the long run, leading to a sense of indifference.
- Impression (weight 0.02): The precise physics mode is impressive, leaving a strong impression on players.
- Entertained (weight 0.02): The game is quite entertaining, providing enjoyment to players.
- Relieved (weight 0.02): The game provides stress relief before and after elections, which is a relief for players.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Players are excited that the game finally worked after updates and fixes, resolving previous issues.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players are grateful for the developers and staff who were helpful and quick to fix issues.
- Love (weight 0.02): The game is described as awesome, with fun and blood-splattering awesomeness, leading to love for it.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): The game becomes too easy after a few hours, losing its challenge and leading to boredom.
- Fun (weight 0.02): The game is a fun puzzle platformer, providing enjoyable gameplay.
- Fulfillment (weight 0.02): Killing Splatts in ingenious ways and listening to their noises is fulfilling for players.}