how to kill a fly [ H2KAF ] Review Summary

Top-notch worldbuilding, hilarious ironic humor, and striking visuals meet varied characters and audio, but overwhelming dialogue options and confusing, difficult gameplay may frustrate.

Top-notch worldbuilding: The worldbuilding is described as incredibly good, fantastic, and top-notch, with a thought-out world and aesthetic that envelops the player. The dystopian cyberpunk setting is a highlight.

Hilarious and ironic humor: The game is frequently described as hilarious in a messed-up way, carrying a big sense of irony and being fun and humorous. The dialogue and writing contribute to this comedic tone.

Interesting and good visuals: The visuals are considered interesting and pretty good, with a solid dystopian cyberpunk aesthetic. The look of everything is great and contributes to the overall experience.

Satisfying and recommended experience: Reviewers are satisfied and looking forward to what's next, recommending the game for those in for semi-challenging art in a unique puzzle game format. The game stands well on its own and is incredible.

Incredible and unconventional style: Reviewers love the game's style, calling it incredible, unconventional, and full of style that oozes from the world. The aesthetic is a standout feature.

Overwhelming dialogue options: The vast array of dialogue options can feel overwhelming, and choosing the wrong one can lead to punishment or soft locks. This creates frustration and makes progress difficult.

Confusing and difficult gameplay: Multiple reviewers found the game confusing and surprisingly difficult, with unclear progression and tough challenges. This was a common theme across several clusters.

Permanent lockouts and soft locks: Players can be locked out of side quests or information without hints, and an intentional soft lock exists. This discourages exploration and completionism.

Unremovable screen overlay: An Act 2 easter egg puts something on the screen that cannot be removed, which can be annoying and intrusive. This is a specific technical issue.

Dialogue is core mechanic: The game revolves around selecting and using dialogue options, with players choosing from lines they have heard while exploring. This dialogue-centric gameplay is the primary interaction and puzzle element.

Mimicking NPCs to progress: Players must listen to NPCs and repeat their lines to progress, essentially mimicking what others say. This mechanic is central to the gameplay and is compared to improv or language problem-solving.

Assist mode for dialogue: An assist mode is available to help players manage overwhelming dialogue situations, making the game more accessible. This feature is appreciated for reducing stress from the dialogue-heavy gameplay.

Exploration for answers: The game requires digging through the world for answers, with side paths offering deeper choices. Exploration is key to finding the right dialogue options and understanding the story.

Game recommended for genre fans: Multiple reviewers recommend the game to fans of the genre and those who enjoy conversational storytelling and world exploration. The game is also praised for its unique puzzle format and semi-challenging art.

Worth checking out: A reviewer states they would definitely check out the game, indicating a positive overall impression. This adds to the general recommendation sentiment across the feedback.

Game completion: 5.0h.

Story completion: 2.5h.

Completionist Achievement Hunter: Methodical and thorough, actively seeking side content, planning runs for achievements and speed. Motivation: To achieve 100% completion and collect every achievement through repeated playthroughs. Stance: buy.

Art and Narrative Connoisseur: Immersive and observant, focusing on narrative details, visual style, and thematic resonance. Motivation: To experience distinctive writing, art direction, and thematic commentary on technology and society. Stance: buy.

Puzzle Horror Enthusiast: Analytical and genre-aware, solving puzzles and evaluating the game's contribution to the genre. Motivation: To enjoy challenging puzzles and innovative horror design within a unique game format. Stance: buy.

High replayability via secrets: The game's secrets and achievements encourage multiple playthroughs, with one reviewer noting a prize for 100% completion. This offsets the short length for some players.

Game is very short: Multiple reviewers note the game is only 2-3 hours long, with one estimating 6 hours for three playthroughs. This brevity is a common point of feedback.

Dystopian corporate nightmare setting: The game presents a dystopian corpo world where an employer strips players of original thought and uses people as tools. This setting is a key thematic element.

Comparisons to Cruelty Squad: Multiple reviewers compare the game to Cruelty Squad in terms of aesthetic and critique of dehumanizing technology, though one notes it has more characters and personalities.