Info about Void Bastards:

Official game description:
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About the Game
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Forget everything you know about first-person shooters: Void Bastards asks you to take charge, not just point your gun and fire. Your task is to lead the rag-tag Void Bastards out of the Sargasso Nebula. You make the decisions: where to go, what to do and who to fight. And then you must carry out that strategy in the face of strange and terrible enemies.  
On board derelict spaceships you’ll plan your mission, taking note of the ship layout, what hazards and enemies you might encounter and what terminals and other ship systems you can use to your advantage..  
Move carefully through the dangerous ships, searching for supplies and manipulating control systems. React to what you find - will you detour to the generator to bring the power back online or will you fight your way into the security module to disable the ship’s defenses? Choose carefully when to fight, when to run and when just to be a bastard.  
Use your hard won supplies to improvise tools and weapons, from the distracting robo-kitty to the horribly unstable clusterflak.  
Navigate your tiny escape pod through the vast nebula. Flee from void whales and pirates, and politely avoid the hungry hermits. All the while you must keep scavenging for the food, fuel, and other resources that keep you alive.  
Void Bastards features a 12-15 hour campaign that you can complete with an endless supply of prisoners, each with their own unique traits. When one dies, another steps forward to carry on the fight. Don’t worry though, as any crafting progress you’ve made is retained from one to another.

Release date: May 28, 2019

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Roguelite, Procedural Generation, Crafting, Resource Management, Stealth Gameplay, Extraction Gameplay, Character Progression


- 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:
- Stylish comic-book art direction (weight 0.45): The comic-book aesthetic, cel-shaded graphics, and vibrant colors are widely praised for their uniqueness and visual appeal. The art style is described as timeless, captivating, and well-executed, adding depth to the game’s atmosphere.
- Unique genre-blending mechanics (weight 0.38): The game successfully combines FPS, roguelike, stealth, and crafting elements into a cohesive experience. Players highlight the unique take on the FPS genre and the seamless integration of roguelite mechanics like permadeath and progression retention.
- Humor and satirical writing (weight 0.29): The game’s British-inspired humor, witty dialogue, and raunchy comedy are frequently mentioned as standout features. The writing and tone add a layer of charm and entertainment, enhancing the overall experience.
- Diverse playstyles and tactics (weight 0.27): The game offers multiple ways to approach challenges, with varied weapons, enemy types, and randomized traits. Players enjoy experimenting with different strategies, whether stealthy, aggressive, or hybrid approaches.
- Polished and dynamic gunplay (weight 0.21): The gunplay is described as smooth, satisfying, and dynamic, with well-designed weapons that feel distinct and impactful. Players enjoy the strategic depth of combat and the variety of weapons available.
- High-quality sound design and music (weight 0.21): The atmospheric soundtrack, immersive sound effects, and audio cues are frequently commended. Sound design plays a critical role in gameplay, particularly for stealth and enemy detection, while the music complements the game’s tone and style.
- Replayability through challenges (weight 0.15): Randomized elements, unlockable challenges, and difficulty modifiers add significant replay value. Players appreciate the variety introduced by unique restrictions, such as unarmed runs or secondary-only playthroughs.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive core gameplay loop (weight 0.99): Players consistently report that the gameplay becomes monotonous and repetitive after a few hours, with limited variability in mechanics, missions, and enemy encounters. This reduces long-term engagement and replayability.
- Overpriced for content offered (weight 0.5): Players feel the game is overpriced relative to its short playtime, limited content, and lack of depth. The $30 price point is frequently cited as unjustified for the experience provided.
- Hollow progression and upgrades (weight 0.47): Upgrades and progression feel unrewarding, as they often only counter enemy health scaling without adding meaningful depth or tension. Late-game becomes too easy due to overpowered builds.
- Lack of narrative depth and engagement (weight 0.37): The story is described as shallow, anti-climactic, and unsatisfying, with abrupt endings and weak lore. Players feel there is no compelling reason to engage with the narrative or replay the game.
- Limited enemy and ship variety (weight 0.37): Enemies and ship layouts are repetitive, with few unique designs or meaningful variations. This leads to a lack of excitement and visual monotony during exploration and combat.
- Poor difficulty balance and RNG frustration (weight 0.33): The game's difficulty is criticized for being either too easy or punishingly hard due to RNG elements, leading to frustration. Sudden spikes in difficulty and luck-based mechanics overshadow skill-based progression.
- Roguelike mechanics feel mismatched (weight 0.27): The roguelike structure is criticized for not blending well with survival mechanics, leading to frustration with permadeath and repetitive playthroughs. Some players view the genre as low-effort.
- Ineffective stealth mechanics (weight 0.13): Stealth gameplay is poorly implemented, with inconsistent enemy awareness, lack of feedback, and narrow maps that hinder stealth play. Players find stealth mechanics largely useless or frustrating.
- Ammo scarcity and conservative playstyle (weight 0.11): Ammo management is a significant pain point, forcing players into repetitive scavenging or fleeing from combat. This mechanic is seen as tedious and detracts from the fun of the game.
- Lack of depth compared to peers (weight 0.04): The game is seen as lacking the depth and complexity of similar titles like *FTL* or *System Shock 2*, particularly in areas like tactical combat, crew management, and environmental variety.

Gameplay feedback:
- Roguelite core mechanics (weight 0.47): The game blends roguelite structure with permadeath, progression retention, and randomized elements. This creates replayability through multiple playthroughs and strategic adaptation.
- Procedural ship generation (weight 0.47): The game features procedurally generated ships with randomized layouts, loot, enemies, and modifiers, ensuring varied gameplay experiences. Specific room types (e.g., helm, oxygen room) and factions add depth to exploration.
- Crafting and persistent upgrades (weight 0.33): A robust crafting system allows players to build weapons, tools, and upgrades using salvaged materials (e.g., bio, slag, volt). Upgrades persist across runs, enabling long-term progression.
- Scavenging gameplay loop (weight 0.27): The core loop involves boarding ships, looting resources, upgrading gear, and managing risks (e.g., oxygen, enemies). Repetition is balanced by procedural generation and progression.
- Resource management critical (weight 0.22): Players must manage oxygen, fuel, food, and ammo, adding tension to exploration and combat. Scarcity forces tactical decisions, similar to FTL-style gameplay.
- Stealth and combat hybrid (weight 0.19): The game supports multiple playstyles, including stealth (e.g., crouching, hiding) and aggressive FPS combat. Enemies react to sound and line of sight, rewarding tactical approaches.
- Diverse enemy behaviors (weight 0.17): Enemies vary in design and tactics, requiring different strategies (e.g., teleporting ghosts, elite variants). Audio/visual cues help players anticipate threats.
- Tool and weapon variety (weight 0.15): Players access multiple weapons, gadgets (e.g., teleport, stun), and loadouts, enabling creative solutions to combat and exploration challenges.
- Character traits system (weight 0.11): Randomized traits (positive/negative) and perks affect gameplay, adding replayability. Traits may influence stats, combat, or resource management.
- Star map navigation (weight 0.1): A strategic star map lets players plan routes through a nebula, with branching paths and modifiers (e.g., fuel/food costs, enemy types) influencing each run.

Performance notes:
- High performance on modern hardware (weight 0.06): The game is optimized for high-end hardware, running smoothly at 4K with a 4070ti and at 1440p with max settings on a GTX1080. Players report excellent performance, including 144 FPS on specified setups.
- White screen bug during docking (weight 0.02): Players report encountering a white screen issue when docking, which requires a full game restart to resolve. This disrupts gameplay and immersion.
- Playable on older hardware with limitations (weight 0.02): The game is accessible on older hardware but may experience lag during intense moments, such as encounters with many enemies. Performance varies based on system specifications.
- Controller support with M&K preference (weight 0.02): The game supports controllers, but players recommend using mouse and keyboard for a better experience, suggesting potential limitations in controller functionality or precision.
- Granularity setting issue (weight 0.02): A specific setting related to granularity is causing problems for players, though the exact nature of the issue is unclear from the feedback.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for roguelite/FPS fans (weight 0.23): The game is highly recommended for fans of roguelites, FPS hybrids, and challenging shooters. Players who enjoy replayability and genre-specific mechanics will find it most appealing.
- Best bought on sale (weight 0.22): The majority of players strongly recommend purchasing the game only when discounted, citing its value as insufficient at full price. Many suggest waiting for a sale or bundle deal to justify the cost.
- Mixed recommendations at full price (weight 0.15): While some players praise the game's unique experience, others feel it lacks depth or content to justify the full price. Neutral or negative recommendations often stem from repetitiveness or unmet expectations.
- Not for immersive sim fans (weight 0.09): Players expecting depth or complexity akin to immersive sims (e.g., System Shock) may find the game disappointing, as it leans more toward roguelite mechanics.
- Optimal for short play sessions (weight 0.06): The game is well-suited for short, casual playthroughs (e.g., evening sessions) but may not sustain long-term engagement due to late-game stagnation or repetitiveness.
- Hard difficulty recommended (weight 0.03): Players suggest playing on higher difficulties (e.g., Ironman Hard) for the most engaging and rewarding experience, as easier modes may feel less satisfying.
- Early weapon upgrade advised (weight 0.02): A specific tip from players is to prioritize upgrading the electrical stun side weapon early in the game for improved effectiveness in combat.
- Sequel interest exists (weight 0.02): Some players express enthusiasm for a potential sequel, indicating satisfaction with the core gameplay loop despite its flaws.
- DLC suggestions for future (weight 0.02): Players propose future DLC content, such as building useful items for exploring special ships, to enhance replayability and depth.

Other player notes:
- Short main campaign length (weight 0.06): Players report finishing the game in 6-12 hours, with most playthroughs lasting around 7-8 hours. A harder difficulty replay for rare achievements took only 6 hours.
- Satirical themes on society (weight 0.03): The game includes satirical commentary on capitalism, corporate culture, and modern punishment systems, which resonated with players.
- Desired gameplay improvements (weight 0.03): Players suggest adding features like an open workbench, balance changes, and new mechanics to improve gameplay depth and replayability.
- Strong audiovisual presentation (weight 0.02): Players praise the comic-style visuals and immersive sound design, enhancing the overall experience.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.2): Players frequently cite repetitive gameplay loops, lack of variety in locations and mechanics, and unmet expectations as key sources of disappointment. Many also express dissatisfaction with underwhelming endings, short playtime, and perceived lack of depth or content for the price, leading to a sense of wasted potential.
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Frustration stems from repetitive or monotonous gameplay, unfair difficulty spikes, and poorly balanced mechanics (e.g., ammo/oxygen limitations, RNG reliance). Technical issues like lag, clunky controls, and disruptive bugs (e.g., docking problems) further exacerbate dissatisfaction, alongside perceived developer neglect and lack of meaningful updates.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Players enjoy the game's fast-paced, engaging mechanics, humorous tone, and creative gameplay elements like unique weapons and crafting. The early-game experience, replayability, and satisfying progression systems are frequently highlighted as sources of fun and entertainment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction arises from mastering the game's systems, completing challenges (e.g., achievements, full loot escapes), and enjoying polished progression and loadout customization. Players appreciate the rewarding gameplay loop, persistent upgrades, and the sense of accomplishment from overcoming difficult or long-term goals.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Excitement is driven by the game's unique mechanics (e.g., hacking, traps), intense and dynamic gameplay, and strategic depth. Players also express enthusiasm for the game's atmosphere, presentation, and anticipation for sequels or late-game power fantasies.
- Amusement (weight 0.07): The game's humor, including satirical writing, funny NPC dialogue, and quirky mechanics (e.g., putting enemies in 'time out'), consistently amuses players. Unique perks, bizarre story elements, and the game's overall tone contribute to its comedic appeal.
- Boredom (weight 0.06): Boredom sets in due to repetitive gameplay loops, lack of variety in procedural content (e.g., ship designs, enemies), and shallow progression. Players report losing interest after mastering mechanics or completing the main storyline, especially during endgame grinds or 100% completion.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the game's unique art style, comic-book aesthetics, clever design, and underrated qualities. The concise and polished content, voice acting, and innovative mechanics are often praised as standout features that elevate the experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): The game evokes nostalgia through references to classic immersive sims (e.g., System Shock, Deus Ex) and retro FPS games. Players fondly recall revisiting the game after years or draw comparisons to beloved titles from their past.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Players are pleasantly surprised by the game's depth, unexpected mechanics, and engaging gameplay loop, especially after initial skepticism. Discovering new strategies or content even after significant playtime contributes to this emotion.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from unclear narrative direction, misleading marketing (e.g., mismatched trailers), or poor initial guidance, leaving players unsure of the game's purpose or mechanics.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players express long-term interest in the game or its potential sequel, often driven by the unique mechanics, enjoyable gameplay, or desire to explore further content.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express deep affection for the game's narrative, art style, weapons, and unique blend of genres. The overall experience resonates strongly, creating a lasting emotional connection.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): The game's tense, unpredictable, and addictive gameplay, combined with immersive storytelling (e.g., Sallie Walker's arc), keeps players deeply engaged and eager to return for more.
- Discomfort (weight 0.01): Physical discomfort, such as motion sickness or eye strain from granularity settings, detracts from the experience for some players, making prolonged play sessions challenging.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players enthusiastically praise the game's originality, humor, aesthetics, and variety, often highlighting its standout mechanics and overall appeal as reasons for their excitement.
- Attachment (weight 0.01): Players develop emotional attachment to the game's characters (e.g., long-lived prisoners) or express a strong desire to revisit the experience, indicating a meaningful connection to the game world.}