Info about RAD:

Official game description:
  
RAD is a 3D action rogue-like set in a post-post-apocalyptic world, where humanity has faced armageddon not once, but twice.  
Playing as a teenage protagonist, you must venture into the Fallow — an ever-changing, radioactive wasteland filled with unknown and unspeakable creatures.  
But humanity’s future comes at great personal cost, as the deeper you journey into unknown lands, the more you will expose yourself to gnarly toxins which will wreak havoc on your fragile human form.  
The fate of the world depends on you, your trusty bat, and whatever strange new abilities you gain as the world around you ravages your body — twisting and mutating you into something far less than human, but far more powerful.  
But forget all that — go grab that sweet bat and help save the world…or what’s remaining of it anyway!

Release date: Aug 19, 2019

Categories: Roguelike, Action, Character Customization, Post-apocalyptic, Top-Down Perspective, Mutation System, Multiple Endings


- 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:
- Unique and charming visual style (weight 0.97): The game features a distinct and appealing art style that combines retro-futuristic and post-apocalyptic elements, creating a cohesive and confident presentation. The visuals are consistently praised for their charm and uniqueness, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic appeal.
- Excellent sound design and music (weight 0.93): The game's soundtrack and sound effects are highly praised for supporting the retro mood and enhancing the overall atmosphere. The audio design is noted for its excellence and originality, complementing the game's visual style and setting.
- Unique 80s aesthetic and setting (weight 0.73): The game's strong 80s style and setting are highlighted as unique and appealing. The nostalgic elements, including slang and visuals, create a distinctive atmosphere that resonates with players.
- Fun and imaginative mutation system (weight 0.69): The mutation system is a core mechanic that adds variety and replayability to the game. Players enjoy the unpredictability and the significant changes mutations bring to character appearance and combat effectiveness.
- High replayability (weight 0.29): The game offers high replay value due to its variety of mutations, arsenal, and multiple endings. Players appreciate the abundance of content to unlock and the different experiences offered in each playthrough.
- No microtransactions for unlockables (weight 0.1): The game provides unlockable content without relying on microtransactions, which is appreciated by players. This approach enhances the overall value and enjoyment of the game.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive and shallow combat (weight 0.41): The combat system is described as shallow, repetitive, and overly reliant on RNG. Players find the mechanics too simple and the bosses disappointing due to their predictable patterns.
- Ineffective mutations (weight 0.39): Mutations are randomized and often useless or weak. Players find them not varied enough, leading to a lack of useful build options.
- Frustrating level design (weight 0.32): Levels are filled with respawned enemies and continuous hazards, leading to inevitable death and repetitive environments. The procedural generation lacks variety, making the gameplay tedious.
- Over-reliance on RNG (weight 0.26): Success in the game relies heavily on random mutations and RNG, which can lead to frustrating and tedious gameplay.
- Boring environments and story (weight 0.22): The environments are described as empty, boring, and homogeneous. The story and characters are uninspired and hollow.
- Long and unrewarding runs (weight 0.22): Runs are described as long and unrewarding, which can make the gameplay feel tedious and not compelling enough for replayability.
- Lack of variety and explanations (weight 0.18): The game lacks variety in mutations and build options. Many things are unexplained, leading to a lack of choice and understanding.
- Visually unappealing (weight 0.09): The game is described as visually ugly with sub-par graphics and low-poly character models.
- Limited longevity (weight 0.09): The game has limited playtime compared to other roguelikes and lacks the longevity that keeps players engaged.
- No invulnerability period (weight 0.08): The game lacks an invulnerability period after taking damage, which can make combat more frustrating.
- Characters lack uniqueness (weight 0.08): All characters are effectively the same despite visual differences, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
- Lack of healing items (weight 0.08): Healing items are sparse, making it difficult for players to recover during runs.

Gameplay feedback:
- Mutation system central to gameplay (weight 0.82): The game features a central mutation system where characters gain random mutations that significantly affect gameplay and character appearance. These mutations can provide various abilities and bonuses, adding variety and replayability.
- Roguelike mechanics and elements (weight 0.32): The game incorporates roguelike mechanics, including procedural generation of worlds and levels, repetitive runs, and a focus on quick, action-packed gameplay loops.
- Top-down roguelite brawler (weight 0.26): The game is a top-down action roguelite brawler with a focus on combat mechanics and mutations. It combines elements of roguelike games with brawler gameplay.
- Lack of useful NPCs and items (weight 0.23): The world and NPCs in the game are not very useful. Merchants rarely offer useful items during runs, and healing items are scarce, making the gameplay more challenging and tedious.
- Post-apocalyptic world setting (weight 0.17): The game is set in a post-post-apocalyptic world where two nuclear apocalypses have occurred. The setting and slang are reminiscent of the 1980s, providing a unique and immersive environment.
- Multiple story-driven endings (weight 0.13): The game features multiple story-driven endings, with a total of 9 different endings to discover, adding depth and replayability to the game.
- 1980s aesthetic and soundtrack (weight 0.13): The game has a sharp aesthetic and tight controls, with a presentation that includes bright, saturated colors and neon lighting. The minimalist soundtrack complements the environment and evokes memories of low-budget apocalypse films from the 1980s.
- High difficulty curve (weight 0.1): The game has a semi-high difficulty curve, with players potentially needing multiple runs to beat the game. The lack of variety in content and the harsh RNG can make the game challenging and tedious.
- Unlockable content without microtransactions (weight 0.09): The game offers unlockable content, including characters and items, without the need for microtransactions. This provides players with additional variety and customization options.

Performance notes:
- Memory leaks and crashes (weight 0.11): The game suffers from memory leak issues, leading to crashes and fatal errors.
- Optimized for Switch (weight 0.06): The game is reported to run well on the Nintendo Switch.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for roguelike fans (weight 0.38): The game is highly recommended for fans of roguelikes and action games, offering a unique and challenging experience that blends roguelike and top-down gameplay elements.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.35): Many players suggest purchasing the game when it is on sale, particularly in the 5-8€ range, to get the best value for money.
- Enjoyable for experimental gameplay (weight 0.16): The game is enjoyable for those who like experimenting with unique powers and don't mind occasional rough edges, making it worth trying due to its low price.
- Positive value for money (weight 0.16): The game is seen as providing good value for money, with players feeling satisfied with their purchase.
- Avoid burnout with short sessions (weight 0.05): Players recommend doing an hour or two of gameplay at a time to avoid burnout, suggesting that the game is best enjoyed in short sessions.
- Niche recommendation for bagel lovers (weight 0.04): The game is worth playing if you like bagels, which is a very specific and niche recommendation.

Other player notes:
- Firewall authorization request (weight 0.06): Users are questioning why a single-player game requires firewall authorization. This suggests potential concerns about privacy and security.
- Cheat engine disclosure (weight 0.05): Players are discussing the use of cheat engines in the game. This indicates concerns or interests related to game integrity and cheating mechanisms.
- Mandatory EULA acceptance (weight 0.05): Players are expressing dissatisfaction with being forced to accept End User License Agreements (EULAs). This highlights issues related to user experience and legal agreements.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.32): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's unbalanced difficulty, clunky combat mechanics, and excessive randomness in mutations and levels. The lack of clear explanations for game mechanics, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues such as game crashes and input delays further exacerbate this frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.3): Disappointment stems from the game's lack of variety in content, repetitive gameplay, and uninspired story development. Players feel that the game's potential was not fully realized, leading to a lackluster experience that does not meet expectations.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Enjoyment is derived from the game's unique setting, charming graphics, and fun music. The mutations system and the overall aesthetic, including the 80s vibe and trippy art, contribute to a positive experience despite some bugs.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): The game's 1980s aesthetic and setting evoke a sense of nostalgia. The slang and overall vibe from that era resonate with players, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom is caused by the repetitive gameplay and lack of variety in weapons, monsters, mutations, and items. The lack of meaningful progress and repetitive mutations contribute to a monotonous experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement comes from the engaging gameplay and unique mechanics. The variety of builds and fun combat keep players on the edge of their seats.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is brought by the game's vibrant aesthetics and unique gameplay. The fun and imaginative weapons and equipment add to the overall enjoyment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is driven by the excellent music and enjoyable gameplay. The combination of these elements creates a highly engaging experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from the deep narrative and constant surprises within the game. Players are pleasantly surprised by the overall quality and enjoyment of the game.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.01): Satisfaction is derived from the visual mutations and stylistics. The high purchase satisfaction and unique visual elements contribute to a fulfilling experience.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is inspired by its post-apocalyptic/analogue era style. The unique aesthetic and setting create a strong emotional connection.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration comes from the game's unique aesthetic and replay value. Players appreciate the game's distinct visual style and the incentive to replay.}