Info about DUSK:

Official game description:
_**DUSK**_ reintroduces you to a world where butchery and bloodshed must be mastered... if you're to survive 'til dawn. Inspired by _Doom, Quake, Blood, Heretic, Hexen, Half-Life, Redneck Rampage_ and all your '90s favorites, while featuring a soundtrack by metal music mastermind **Andrew Hulshult.**
In **_three distinct campaign episodes_** hand-crafted from straight outta the '90s, players will battle through an onslaught of mystical backwater cultists, possessed militants and even darker forces and attempt to discover just what lurks beneath the Earth. Featuring a vast arsenal of badass weaponry including **sickles, swords, crossbows, rifles, dual-wielded and double barreled shotguns and incredibly necessary grenade and rocket launchers**, _DUSK_ brings unapologetic retro action from start to finish.
In addition to the main campaign, _DUSK_ features an **_Endless Survival Mode_**, putting you front and center against wave after wave of merciless enemies.
And for those looking for an extra challenge, _DUSK_ also offers the chance to go head to head online to battle your friends in **_DUSKWorld arena multiplayer_**, where darkness hosts the worst of humanity in surprising new ways...

Release date: Dec 10, 2018

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Horde Shooter, Action Horror, Exploration, Single-player, Multiplayer, Survival Horror, Lovecraftian Horror

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 30; verdict: Playable with Minor Issues; summary: The game receives positive feedback for its simplicity, enjoyable gameplay, and design elements. It also has strong support for Linux and Proton, making it compatible with the Steam Deck. However, there are some reports of technical issues and bugs that need attention.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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:
- Polished and addictive gameplay (weight 0.97): The game offers a highly polished and addictive gameplay experience with smooth movement, satisfying gunplay, and a variety of weapons and enemies. The controls are tight and responsive, making the overall experience enjoyable and engaging.
- Retro boomer shooter feel (weight 0.27): DUSK captures the essence of classic 90s boomer shooters like Doom, Quake, and Half-Life. It features pixelated graphics, fast-paced action, and a variety of weapons and enemies reminiscent of the old-school shooters.
- Diverse and satisfying enemies (weight 0.18): The game offers a wide variety of enemies, each with unique designs and behaviors. Boss battles are well-designed and challenging, adding to the overall satisfaction of combat.
- Excellent level design (weight 0.13): DUSK is noted for its excellent level design, with each level being unique and memorable. The levels are engaging, varied, and feature cleverly designed secrets and hidden paths.
- Fantastic music and ambiance (weight 0.09): The game's soundtrack and ambiance are highly praised, with music that fits well and gives goosebumps. The sound design in the little details is incredible, contributing to the overall atmosphere.
- Horror and Lovecraftian themes (weight 0.08): DUSK features a distinct Lovecraftian gothic theme with horror elements, eerie lighting, and unsettling ambient sounds. The atmosphere is dark and immersive, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Homage to classic shooters (weight 0.08): DUSK is a good homage to classic shooters like Quake and Doom, blending elements from these games into a cohesive and enjoyable experience. It captures the foreboding atmosphere of Quake and the tight gunplay of Doom.
- Variety of satisfying weapons (weight 0.08): The game features a wide variety of weapons, each with satisfying feedback and impact. The weapon variety is top-notch, with different types of weapons introduced in each level.
- Steam Workshop support (weight 0.04): DUSK supports Steam Workshop, allowing for additional content and community-created modifications. This adds to the game's replayability and customization options.

Common complaints:
- Short and easy gameplay (weight 0.26): The game is described as being shorter than expected and relatively easy, especially on normal difficulty. This can lead to a lack of challenge and a shorter overall experience.
- Underwhelming boss fights (weight 0.23): The boss fights are described as boring, underwhelming, and predictable. Some bosses are simply beefed-up versions of regular enemies and do not offer much challenge or excitement.
- Visual and audio issues (weight 0.2): The game's visuals and audio are criticized for being outdated, unpleasant, or not fitting the game's style. Some players experience motion sickness or eye strain due to the visual design.
- Difficulty and progression issues (weight 0.2): The game has difficulty spikes that feel unfair, and the progression can be unclear. Players often get lost and do not know where to go next, leading to a confusing and disorienting experience.
- Lacks innovation and depth (weight 0.19): The game does not introduce any groundbreaking elements to the genre and lacks depth beyond its stylistic and nostalgic aspects. It becomes repetitive and does not attempt to reinvent the wheel in any notable aspect.
- Localization and translation issues (weight 0.15): The game's translation and localization are criticized for being poor or non-existent in some languages. This can lead to confusion and immersion-breaking experiences for non-English speaking players.
- Multiplayer is dead (weight 0.13): The multiplayer mode is described as dead or inactive, with very few players participating. This lack of activity makes the multiplayer aspect of the game unenjoyable.
- Not as good as alternatives (weight 0.07): The game is criticized for not being as good as other similar games, such as Ultrakill. Players feel that the mechanics, visuals, and overall experience are lacking compared to these alternatives.
- Review bombing (weight 0): Some reviews are purely political or external, with no gameplay value. These reviews do not provide constructive feedback or criticism related to the game itself.

Gameplay feedback:
- Classic shooter mechanics and feel (weight 0.72): The game is heavily inspired by classic shooters like Doom and Quake, featuring retro mechanics, fast-paced gameplay, and a similar art style. It pays homage to the shooters of the 90s with its run-and-gun mechanics and level design.
- Variety of weapons and gameplay (weight 0.59): The game offers a wide array of weapons, including unique ones like soap and a super shotgun, each with satisfying mechanics. The gameplay is varied with different enemy types, boss battles, and interactive environments.
- Complex and well-designed levels (weight 0.58): Levels are well-crafted with a mix of linear paths and open environments, featuring secrets, hidden paths, and verticality. The design encourages exploration and experimentation, with each episode offering unique locations and challenges.
- Horror and atmospheric elements (weight 0.56): The game incorporates horror elements and a dark, immersive atmosphere, inspired by themes like Lovecraftian gothic and cult horror. The atmosphere is enhanced by a perfect soundtrack and suspenseful moments.
- Story and narrative elements (weight 0.54): While the story is present, it is not the central focus and is often told through environmental details and level design. The game features a narrative plot with hidden touches of humor and a conspiracy-themed setting.
- High mobility and movement mechanics (weight 0.52): The game features fast-paced movement mechanics, including bunny hopping, somersaults, and high jumping, which are essential for both combat and exploration.
- Interactive and customizable gameplay (weight 0.49): The game allows for detailed interactions with the environment and offers a high level of customization, including extended HUD settings and various play styles.
- Multiplayer and endless modes (weight 0.49): The game includes multiplayer and endless modes, providing additional replayability and challenges beyond the main campaign.
- Challenging and balanced difficulty (weight 0.49): The game offers a balanced difficulty curve, with challenging enemies and bosses that remain tough throughout. The difficulty settings cater to both casual and hardcore players.
- Retro and pixelated graphics (weight 0.28): The game's graphics are inspired by early boomer shooters, featuring low fidelity and pixelated visuals that evoke a retro feel. There is also an HD-remastered version available.

Performance notes:
- Game runs smoothly on low-end PCs (weight 0.07): The game is reported to run smoothly on low-end PCs, including devices like toasters and potatoes. This indicates that the game has low system requirements and is accessible to a wide range of hardware configurations.
- Game crashes on Linux (weight 0.02): There are reports of the game crashing on Linux systems when using Proton. This indicates a compatibility issue that needs to be addressed for Linux users.
- Eye strain issues (weight 0.01): Some players experience eye strain due to lighting and fast movement in the game. This could be a concern for players sensitive to visual effects and may require adjustments in the game's settings.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for shooter fans (weight 0.21): The game is frequently praised as a must-play for fans of classic 90's shooters, boomer shooters, and fast-paced FPS games. It is often compared favorably to games like DOOM, Quake, and Blood, making it a strong recommendation for enthusiasts of these genres.
- Worth the purchase price (weight 0.14): Many reviews indicate that the game is worth buying, especially on sale. It is considered a valuable addition to any game library, offering a satisfying experience that justifies its cost.
- Gameplay enhancement suggestions (weight 0.08): Some reviews suggest specific enhancements to improve gameplay, such as rebinding keys, playing in English, and trying different difficulty settings or modes like Intruder mode.
- Understanding retro FPS (weight 0.01): The game is worth playing for those interested in understanding the retro FPS genre better. It provides a classic feel with modern quality, making it a good entry point for exploring retro shooters.

Other player notes:
- HD textures not recommended (weight 0.02): Reviewers have noted that the HD textures in the game are not recommended, possibly due to performance or quality issues.
- Linux support available (weight 0.02): The game supports Linux, which is a positive aspect for users of this operating system.
- Content warning mentioned (weight 0.01): There are warnings about certain content in the game, indicating that some material may not be suitable for all players.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.23): Players are thrilled by the fast-paced combat, adrenaline-pumping gameplay, and the variety of weapons and enemies. The game's atmosphere, soundtrack, and level design also contribute significantly to this excitement, with many appreciating the retro FPS feel and modern polish.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.16): Players enjoy the game's solid mechanics, satisfying gunplay, and engaging level design. The atmosphere, music, and exploration aspects are also highly appreciated, making the overall experience fun and worthwhile.
- Frustration (weight 0.12): Players are frustrated by several aspects such as poor localization, bugs causing crashes, and the lack of checkpoints. The maze-like levels, difficulty in navigation, and issues with the manual saving system also contribute to this frustration.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.1): The game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic 90s shooters like Doom, Quake, and Blood. Players appreciate the retro FPS elements and the homage to beloved older games.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players feel disappointed due to the lack of depth in the game, poorly designed enemies, and level design issues. The game's length and lack of modern shooter elements also contribute to this sentiment.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Players experience joy from the fun levels, weapons, and overall positive gameplay experience. The game's music, smooth movement, and engaging combat contribute to this joyful experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players feel satisfied with the game's challenging yet fair difficulty, good weapon feel, and level design. The variety of weapons and the satisfying combat mechanics contribute to this sense of accomplishment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Players are enthusiastic about the game's fast and frenetic shooting, positive gameplay experience, and overall design. The game's mechanics and features are highly praised and recommended.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admire the game's well-designed levels, mechanics, and overall quality. The passion and effort put into the game's creation are highly appreciated.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Players are surprised by the depth of gameplay mechanics and the game's ability to hook them despite not typically enjoying shooters. Unexpected moments and horror elements also contribute to this surprise.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players find the game amusing due to its silly jokes, references, and mechanics like the flip and somersault. The humorous and dorky aspects of the game contribute to this amusement.
- Fear (weight 0.02): Players experience fear due to the game's terrifying atmosphere, dark levels, and sudden enemy attacks. The horror elements and scares are highly effective.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Players find the gameplay incredibly addictive due to its engaging mechanics and enemy designs. The overall experience keeps them coming back for more.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's detailed and atmospheric art style, controls, and soundtrack. The extreme level design and hand-feel tuning are also highly valued.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game's unique mix of Doom and Quake with cult and eldritch horror elements. The atmosphere and art direction are particularly admired.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the intriguing plot and the minimalistic yet effective narrative. The cryptic notes and environmental storytelling pique their interest.
- Amazement (weight 0): Players are amazed by the gameplay, lore, environmental storytelling, and monster design. The overall quality and depth of the game leave a strong impression.}