Info about Agony:

Official game description:
CHECK OUT THIS HORROR...
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TO BE CONTINUED IN...
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About the Game
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**Please bear in mind that Agony is quite an "old school" game; non-linear, with a semi-open world, a lot of different paths, endings, exploration possibilities as well as secrets to uncover. Playing Agony is notably different than what you can get from modern, mostly linear and corridor-style horror games
STORY MODE
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You will begin your journey as a tormented soul within the depths of hell, without any memories about your past.  
The special ability to control people on your path, and even possess simple minded demons, gives you the necessary measures to survive in the extreme conditions you are in.  
By exploring the hostile environment and interacting with other weary souls of the hellscape, the hero will soon understand that there is only one way to escape from Hell, and it will require meeting the mystical Red Goddess.
AGONY MODE
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Agony features a full-fledged story mode as well as an open challenge system that  
randomly generates levels for players to explore and survive to gain new Highscores. In  
addition to featuring in countless “Most anticipated Horror Games 2018” lists, the kick  
starter financed title is set to challenge players with its brutal and malevolent  
environments.  
Agony throws you in the midst of hell where you strive to stay alive  
and solve the riddle behind the mysterious Red Goddess; architect of this place of sorrow  
and pain, and the sole entity with knowledge of how escape… but there is more to the  
story than it seems. Haunted by nightmare creatures, You will gain the ability to possess  
demons and other souls to find a way out of hell.  
**

Release date: May 29, 2018

Categories: Action Horror, Walking Simulator, Stealth Gameplay, Puzzle Solving, Multiple Endings, Possession-based Gameplay, Survival Horror, Dark Fantasy

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 90; verdict: Broken: frequent crashes and required offline workaround; summary: The review set does not explicitly mention Steam Deck, small text, external launchers, or battery drain. The dominant technical barrier is severe crash instability: users report crashes after about a minute, an unresolved crash issue years after release, and a required offline workaround to avoid crashes. Secondary friction includes gamma-related darkness and conflicting control feedback. Because frequent crashes are reported, the experience falls in the Broken range despite acceptable in-game performance on mid-range PC hardware.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $7.49 - $14.99
  - Reasoning: The reviews show mixed acceptance of the current asking price. One reviewer says it is well worth its asking price and frames it as cheaper than a AAA game, which supports the current $14.99 level as an acceptable upper bound. However, multiple reviewers explicitly recommend waiting for a sale, a discount, or a bundle, and one calls it a bad game at 30 EUR while saying it is better only at 50% off or more. This suggests the community fair range is lower than the full $14.99 base price but still reaches it for more forgiving buyers, with common sale expectations around half price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 9.0h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 2.0h
  - Reasoning: The first quote provides a concrete first-completion time for Agony's campaign, supporting gameCompletion at about 9 hours. A separate review explicitly states the story length is about 6 hours, so storyCompletion is set to 6 hours. The third quote describes completing Agony as the Succubus, a post-campaign alternate mode, in about 2 hours, supporting an endgame estimate of 2 hours. Session length is left null because the remaining time mentions are total playtime or isolated single-session anecdotes rather than a consistent typical session duration.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially draws players in with visuals and story, but enjoyment generally drops as repetitive, clunky, and unclear gameplay dominates. Some players still find conditional value in its hellish art direction and worldbuilding.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Plot lacks depth; Clunky mechanics such as invisible walls, getting stuck, and repetitive cutscenes; Confusing level design; Puzzles limited to finding hard-to-see items; Extremely repetitive NPCs; Poor optimization and buggy progression
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Approaching it as an experimental horror art piece may reveal value in its vision and worldbuilding; Seeking tight mechanics, clear progression, or satisfying gameplay loops is likely to lead to disappointment; Low action and stealth-focused sneaking can be enjoyable; Players who get hooked will get hooked
- Player Archetypes:
  - Macabre Hell Tourist (buy)
    - Motivation: Soaking in the grotesque hellish atmosphere, gore, and bizarre imagery that the game offers as a sensory experience.
    - Playstyle: Slow exploration of hellish environments, enjoying the audiovisual spectacle, ambient horror sounds, and occasional monster chases rather than demanding tight mechanics.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: hell tourist
    - Reference games: Doom; Dead Space 2
  - Disillusioned Horror Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a genuinely well-crafted horror experience, then staying only to warn others after the game fails to meet the hype.
    - Playstyle: Critical, mechanics-focused playthrough where shallow systems, broken stealth, and repetitive cave navigation quickly breed boredom.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: hype victim
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Cautious Bargain Hunter (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Curiosity about the hell setting combined with strong price sensitivity and awareness of the game's flaws.
    - Playstyle: Treats the game as a short atmospheric curiosity (roughly six hours), often on easy difficulty or in the Unrated version, avoiding full-price commitment.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: masochist
    - Reference games: Agony Unrated
  - Stealth-Survival Mechanics Critic (sale)
    - Motivation: Wanting tense hide-and-seek survival horror gameplay that meaningfully rewards stealth and evasion.
    - Playstyle: Tests the stealth, stamina, and chase systems against expectations set by other survival horror titles, and loses interest when the mechanics feel trivial or nonfunctional.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Outlast


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:
- Vivid Hell Atmosphere Praised (weight 0.25): Players consistently highlight the oppressive, grotesque atmosphere that makes the hell setting feel authentic and immersive. The ambiance is frequently described as beautiful and one of the game's strongest virtues.
- Excellent Environment and Level Design (weight 0.18): Environment design receives widespread praise for being visually striking, detailed, and never boring, with screenshot-worthy moments throughout. Level design is described as original, imaginative, and rich in world-building.
- Strong Graphics and Audio (weight 0.13): Both graphics and sound quality are rated highly, with audio specifically called excellent and superb. These production values contribute significantly to the overall experience.
- Outstanding Creature and Demon Design (weight 0.11): Creature design is repeatedly described as brilliant, spot-on, and utterly fantastic. The demons are considered legendary, impressive, and well-crafted.
- Enjoyable Core Gameplay (weight 0.09): The gameplay itself is generally enjoyable and holds player interest. Controls are simple, easy to understand, and easy to learn, making the experience accessible.
- Engaging Story and Cutscenes (weight 0.09): The story is interesting and maintains player engagement throughout. Cutscenes and trailers are high quality and gripping.
- Decent Visuals and Ultrawide Support (weight 0.08): Visuals are lovely and sometimes catch the eye. Partial ultrawide and 4K support is appreciated by players with compatible displays.
- Shocking Moments Enhance Experience (weight 0.05): The game features plenty of shocking moments that leave an impression. These moments contribute to the overall horror and tension.
- Good Value for Price (weight 0.05): Players consider the game reasonably playable for its price point. The overall value proposition is viewed favorably.

Common complaints:
- Excessive darkness harms visibility (weight 0.18): Players repeatedly report that levels are unreasonably dark with poor lighting, making it hard to see anything. This forces torch hunting or gamma increases to avoid getting stuck, and it hurts navigation in labyrinthine areas.
- Frustrating and confusing level design (weight 0.18): Level design is labyrinthine, uninspired, and frustrating, causing players to get lost frequently. The dark and jumbled environments make navigation cumbersome.
- Monotonous and boring gameplay (weight 0.15): Players find the gameplay extremely boring and monotonous, becoming dull quickly. It does not improve over time and often feels tedious.
- Clunky controls and movement (weight 0.15): Controls are described as clunky, wonky, and inconvenient, with unfluid movement and choppy animations. This makes basic navigation frustrating.
- Not scary or tense (weight 0.15): The game fails to be scary or create tension, even with headphones in the dark. This lack of scariness is especially problematic for a horror game.
- Weak and minimal story (weight 0.13): The story is minimal and told in a few words, failing to invest the player or convey tension. It lacks immersion and motivation.
- Poor voice acting (weight 0.1): Voice acting is widely criticized as terrible and awful, including NPC voices. This detracts from the overall experience.
- Unrated version removed (weight 0.09): Valve and developers removed the unrated version from players' libraries. This action upset players who had purchased it.
- Excessive endings hard to achieve (weight 0.07): The game has seven endings that are difficult to achieve and require multiple playthroughs. Players feel this is excessive and inflexible.

Gameplay feedback:
- Demon Possession Mechanic (weight 0.28): A core feature lets the player possess demons and other creatures, sometimes with unique traits and the ability to execute NPCs. This is a central and frequently praised mechanic.
- Walking Simulator Design (weight 0.27): The game is widely described as a walking simulator, often paired with survival horror, stealth, or puzzle-platformer elements. Some players note it involves little more than pressing forward and collecting items.
- Stealth Gameplay (weight 0.23): Stealth is a primary means of survival, involving hiding, crouching, stamina management, and avoiding demons. Some players find it optional due to AI behavior.
- Horror Atmosphere (weight 0.2): The game features a dark, hell-themed aesthetic with horror elements. It blends horror with survival and stealth mechanics.
- Puzzles and Collectibles (weight 0.19): Puzzles involve finding items to assemble a broken body, and there are many collectibles on a large map. The puzzles are generally considered easy.
- Succubus Mode (weight 0.16): A Succubus mode is unlocked after completing the story, allowing players to play as the main seductress of Hell and eliminate creatures. It is a distinct and popular mode.
- Maze-like Hell Setting (weight 0.15): The game is set in a maze-like hell that the player must escape. Environments are maze-like with limited checkpoints, and levels are mostly linear.
- Multiple Endings (weight 0.15): The game includes seven different endings with individual criteria, adding replay value. This is a notable and frequently mentioned feature.
- Checkpoint System (weight 0.14): The game uses a checkpoint system called soul mirrors. Checkpoints are limited and can vanish after a few deaths, sending players back further.
- Light Gore and Nudity (weight 0.08): The game contains blood, gore, and nudity, but the gore is light and darkness is not excessive. Some players note bizarre and sexual content.
- Jumping and Story Mode (weight 0.08): The game includes jumping sections required to progress and a story mode with difficulty options. These are minor but present features.
- One-Hit Kills (weight 0.05): Enemies can kill the player in one hit, adding tension and difficulty. This is a notable challenge mentioned by players.

Performance notes:
- Widespread bugs and glitches (weight 0.33): Numerous bugs are reported, including getting stuck in textures, falling through floors, enemies teleporting or freezing, and demon AI issues. These glitches significantly disrupt gameplay and immersion.
- Frequent crashes and instability (weight 0.31): Players report frequent crashes to desktop, often occurring within a minute of play or during specific actions. Many cannot launch or progress due to these issues, making the game unplayable for some.
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.25): Many players experience poor optimization, leading to low FPS, stutters, and performance drops even on capable hardware. These issues are often attributed to the Unreal Engine and persist despite adjustments.
- Graphics and visual problems (weight 0.21): Players report low-resolution textures, graphical glitches, and visual settings that are difficult to configure. Issues like excessive darkness, screen tearing, and strong motion blur further degrade the experience.
- Positive performance reports (weight 0.14): Some players report smooth performance with no crashes, even on max settings. These experiences suggest that the game can run well on certain configurations.
- Hardware compatibility and driver problems (weight 0.13): Crashes occur on newer processors, old drivers cause purple tones, and system requirements seem inflated. Some players report issues despite meeting recommended specs.
- Stutter and framerate issues (weight 0.1): Constant stutters and erratic framerates are common, with some experiencing drops from 60 to 30 FPS. These issues detract from smooth gameplay and are often unresolved.
- Freezing and black screen issues (weight 0.09): The game freezes during menus, when closing, or during gameplay with a black screen and audio. These freezes often require forced restarts.
- Control and input responsiveness issues (weight 0.08): Controls feel unresponsive, animations are stiff, and camera shakes cause nausea. These problems hinder precise movement and overall enjoyment.
- Settings and accessibility limitations (weight 0.07): Field of view has no slider, gamma cannot be adjusted after starting, and the 30 FPS cap requires disabling VSync. These restrictions limit player control over the visual experience.
- System configuration interference (weight 0.05): The game alters monitor or graphics settings, and cannot be tabbed out of easily. These intrusive behaviors disrupt the overall experience.
- Improvements over time (weight 0.05): Some performance issues and bugs were present at launch but have been improved over time. This indicates ongoing developer support.
- Ultrawide and 4K support partial (weight 0.03): Support for ultrawide and 4K resolutions is only partial, which may disappoint players with high-resolution displays.
- Uncensored patch inaccessible (weight 0.03): Players report that the uncensored patch cannot be downloaded from SteamDB. This limits access to the intended uncensored content.
- Offline play requirement for stability (weight 0.03): The game may crash unless played offline, according to one report. This suggests connectivity-related stability issues.

Recommendations:
- Not Recommended for Purchase (weight 0.29): A large number of reviewers explicitly do not recommend the game due to technical problems, censorship, and poor optimization. Many suggest refunding or avoiding it entirely.
- Mixed or Conditional Recommendations (weight 0.25): Several players recommend the game with reservations, often citing a complex plot or unique experience. Others simply cannot recommend it due to its current state.
- Niche Appeal for Horror Themes (weight 0.25): The game is recommended for fans of bizarre, gory, and sexual content, as well as those interested in hellish atmospheres. Curious players who enjoy niche horror may find value.
- Purchase Only During Discounts (weight 0.2): Many reviewers strongly recommend waiting for a sale or significant discount before buying. Full price is widely considered unfair given the game's issues and short length.
- Agony Unrated Recommended (weight 0.18): Players consistently advise opting for the Agony Unrated version instead of the base game. Buying the standard edition often grants free access to Unrated, making it the cheaper and better option.
- Strong Atmosphere and Art Style (weight 0.14): Despite flaws, some players praise the game's visual impact, dark atmosphere, and unique art direction. It is recommended for those who value artistic experiences over polished mechanics.
- Not for Casual or Faint-Hearted (weight 0.14): The game is recommended only for psychologically resilient players who can handle disturbing content. Those seeking tight mechanics or clear progression may be disappointed.
- Positive Overall but with Flaws (weight 0.1): A few players give positive recommendations despite acknowledging obvious problems. They appreciate the complex plot and unique experience.
- Collectibles and Exploration Focus (weight 0.07): For players who enjoy finding secrets and exploring, the game offers some appeal. It is recommended for collectors and those who like uncovering hidden details.
- Play on Easy or Story Mode (weight 0.07): Reviewers suggest playing on easy difficulty or story mode to enjoy the world without frustration. Quick progression is recommended for those just wanting to finish the game.
- Watch Instead of Playing (weight 0.07): Some reviewers suggest watching a playthrough on YouTube or streams rather than buying the game. This is seen as a way to experience the content without the technical issues.
- Disappointment with Trailers and Hype (weight 0.06): Many players were disappointed because the trailers promised more than the final game delivered. Trusting the marketing led to unmet expectations.
- Adult Content and Mature Audiences (weight 0.06): The game is intended for mature audiences due to horror themes, gore, and sexual content. It is not suitable for minors or those easily offended.
- Game Has Potential but Squandered (weight 0.06): Some reviewers acknowledge the game's potential but feel it was wasted due to poor execution. It could have been better with more polish and fixes.
- Refunded or Avoided by Many (weight 0.06): Several players have refunded the game or decided not to buy it at all. The negative reviews and technical issues swayed their decision.
- Worth It for Specific Gameplay Styles (weight 0.05): The game appeals to fans of Doom-like action or horror stealth. It is recommended for those who enjoy high-difficulty horror stealth or similar genres.

Other player notes:
- Censorship Controversy (weight 0.18): The game faced significant controversy over censorship, including poorly justified decisions by the developers and conflicts with rating boards. This sparked discussions about the game's content and release.
- Agony Unrated Edition Details (weight 0.18): Agony Unrated is an uncensored version that includes fixes and new features, and was originally bundled with the base game. Buying the standard version grants access to the Unrated edition for free.
- Hype and Delays (weight 0.15): The game was heavily hyped by a demo and had a long development period, raising anticipation since its 2016 announcement. The actual release in 2018 came after almost two years of waiting for many players.
- Kickstarter Funded (weight 0.09): The game was funded through a prominent Kickstarter campaign, with community financing and support from backers. This crowdfunding background played a role in its development and reception.
- Post-Release Patches (weight 0.09): The game has received patches since early reviews that improved some aspects, but it still requires many patches to fix technical issues. This ongoing support indicates both progress and persistent problems.
- Indie Horror Action Adventure (weight 0.09): The game is an indie action/adventure horror title with a price point typical of indie horror games. It is generally considered slightly better made than usual for the genre.
- Comparisons to Other Games (weight 0.09): Reviewers frequently compare it to titles like Outlast, Hellblade, DOOM (2016), Amnesia: The Dark Descent, and Evil Within. These comparisons highlight similarities in gameplay and horror elements.
- Unfulfilled Promises (weight 0.06): The game falls short of what developers promised, not matching the trailers and demo. This disappointment is a common sentiment among players.
- Developer and Publisher (weight 0.05): Developed by Madmind Studio and published by Playway S.A., the game's creation involved these companies. This information is relevant for understanding the game's background.
- Pricing and Discounts (weight 0.05): Many players bought the game at a discount rather than full price, finding the price inviting. This suggests that the game's value proposition is strong when discounted.
- Anti-Censorship Patch Status (weight 0.05): An anti-censorship patch for the PC version was cancelled, but there is still potential for a patch to break censorship. This remains a point of interest for players seeking uncensored content.
- Localization Features (weight 0.05): The game includes translations but lacks dubbing in some languages, such as Portuguese, while offering subtitles. This affects accessibility for non-English speakers.
- Indifference to Controversy (weight 0.04): Some reviewers were not concerned about the censorship or delays, indicating that these issues did not impact their enjoyment. This shows a range of player perspectives.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.52): Players are frustrated by frequent crashes and severe technical issues that make the game unplayable, often causing lost progress and forcing restarts. They are also annoyed by clunky movement, getting stuck in textures, confusing level design, and a punishing checkpoint system that sends them back far for repeated deaths.
- Disappointment (weight 0.51): Players are disappointed because the game failed to deliver on the high expectations set by its trailers, demo, and promised concept. The final product is seen as an unpolished, buggy mess with downgraded graphics, censorship, and shallow gameplay that squanders its potential.
- Anger (weight 0.16): Players are angry about unresolved crash bugs, the removal of the promised uncensored version, and what they perceive as developer dishonesty regarding censorship and cut content. They feel deceived and scammed, especially after backing the project or purchasing the game.
- Boredom (weight 0.11): Players find the gameplay repetitive and monotonous, consisting mainly of tedious walking, hiding, and searching. The repetitive loop and lack of engaging mechanics make the game boring quickly.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players feel satisfied when the game meets or exceeds their expectations, offering a unique horror experience with good atmosphere and visuals without major technical issues. Enjoyment is also derived from a captivating story and replayability.
- Admiration (weight 0.06): Players admire the game's bold art direction, meticulous environmental design, and its commitment to a disturbing concept. The atmosphere, sound design, and unique hellish settings are praised as masterfully crafted.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Players are annoyed by technical issues like crashes on specific systems, poor navigation, and censorship. Other irritants include excessive gore, bad voice acting, and unskippable cutscenes after death.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Players enjoy the game's impressive level design, rich world, and engaging atmosphere that lets them live out a hellish fantasy. The complex plot, exploration, and puzzles provide a fun and different horror experience.
- Disgust (weight 0.04): Players feel disgust at the game's grotesque, macabre-erotic content, and obscene scenes used for promotion. They are also disgusted by developer dishonesty, censorship, and poor graphical elements like terrible NPC faces.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the bold, atmospheric project that dares to make the player suffer, along with its excellent audio and good graphics. They also value the developers' continued support and the release of an improved Unrated version.
- Discomfort (weight 0.02): Players experience discomfort from the game's surreal and dark environment, which can cause nausea and motion sickness. The unfiltered terror, gore, and disturbing content also contribute to this feeling.
- Fear (weight 0.02): Players feel fear due to the game's tense, anguishing, and macabre atmosphere. Grotesque scenes and demons chasing the player at high speed create a constant sense of threat.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Players feel sadness because the game failed to deliver the experience promised by the trailers, leaving them disappointed after a long wait. The final product did not live up to the expected dark atmosphere or quality.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Players are surprised by genuinely shocking scenes, the amount of gameplay, and unexpectedly poor face textures on extras that cause surprise rather than fear.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Players feel excitement from the trailer, thrilling sneaking sections past demons, and the constant threat of something appearing. The game is also surprising and worth buying, with legendary demons.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Players dislike the game for being a walking simulator with no clear direction and for being one of the worst games they have ever played.
- Tension (weight 0.01): Players feel tension due to the game's sound design, atmospheric depth, and psychological horror that creates a constant sense of insecurity.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players feel confusion from slow and confusing gameplay, often getting lost in the game.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game's horror and lust atmosphere, and they are interested in the hell scenes.
- Nausea (weight 0.01): Players experience nausea, motion sickness, and dizziness from playing the game, even if they are not usually affected by 3D games.}