Info about Gish:

Official game description:
Gish isn't your average hero. In fact, he's not your average anything...you see, Gish is a ball of tar. A Sunday stroll with his lady friend, Brea, goes awry when a shadowy figure emerges from an open manhole and pulls Brea below ground. Following Brea's calls for help, Gish suddenly finds himself in the subterranean sewers of Dross, a long forgotten city filled with twisting corridors, evil traps, and some of the most demented creatures imaginable.  
With his gelatinous structure as his only means of defense, Gish must follow the echoing cries of his damsel in distress deep within the earth below. What freakish creatures dwell in this subterranean land? Who is Brea's captor? And just how far down does the rabbit hole go?  
Life isn't easy when you're a 12 pound ball of tar...  
*   Dynamic physics and lighting  
*   Destructible environments  
*   34+ story levels  
*   20+ collection levels  
*   80+ player-made levels available for download  
*   Six unique VS. modes  
*   Unlockable game modes  
*   Over 15 animated enemies  
*   Six deranged bosses  
*   Five "super secret" levels  
*   Level editor
**15 year ani. update features:**  
*   The Lost Levels  
*   Updated Physics engine  
*   Widescreen supported  
*   Updated menus  
*   Updated levels

Release date: Jul 20, 2007

Categories: 2D Platformer, Physics Simulation, Puzzle Solving, Multiplayer, Local Co-op, Character Customization, Level Editor, Secret Hunting


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $4.99 - $7.99
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently suggests that the game is considered worth purchasing only when it is on sale. This indicates that the community perceives the current base price of $9.99 as too high, and a discounted price would be more appropriate. The repeated mentions of waiting for a sale imply that a fair price range would be lower than the current base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 10.0h
  - Story completion: 5.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first piece of evidence suggests that the player felt the game was not worth their time, implying that the game can be completed or assessed within a couple of hours. The second piece of evidence indicates that achieving all in-game accomplishments takes around 15 hours, which involves multiple playthroughs. The third piece of evidence shows a player reminiscing about extensive playtime in the past, suggesting a longer engagement but without specific hours. The fourth piece of evidence describes a prolonged engagement over years, but actual playtime hours are not clear. Combining these insights, we can infer typical playtimes for different completion stages.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game offers fun through its multiplayer modes and initial story, but early enjoyment is hindered by tedious levels and frustrating physics. Multiplayer significantly enhances the fun factor.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Multiplayer modes
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: clunky combat; boring levels; frustrating physics
  - Unlock drivers: multiplayer modes; initial story mode
  - Conditions: playing with friends; engaging in multiplayer modes
- Player Archetypes:
  - Physics Platformer Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoys unique and challenging physics-based gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Explores and masters the unique physics mechanics, often seeking out secrets and achievements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Physics-based platformer fan; Speedrunner
    - Reference games: Gumboy - Crazy Adventures; World of Goo
  - Hardcore Challenge Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Seeks out and enjoys extremely difficult and challenging gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Persists through difficult levels, enjoys the sense of accomplishment from overcoming challenges.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Hardcore gamer; Edmund McMillen fan
    - Reference games: Super Meat Boy
  - Multiplayer Competitor (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoys competing with friends and exploring different multiplayer modes.
    - Playstyle: Engages in multiplayer modes, enjoys competitive and cooperative play.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Multiplayer enthusiast; Competitive gamer
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Fun and engaging gameplay (weight 0.48): The game offers enjoyable and unique gameplay mechanics that players find compelling and fun. This includes both single-player and multiplayer modes.
- Variety of multiplayer modes (weight 0.27): The game offers various multiplayer modes, including co-op and versus modes, supporting local multiplayer for up to four players.
- Unique character abilities (weight 0.22): Characters in the game have unique abilities and personalities, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Game full of secrets (weight 0.22): The game is full of secrets and hidden areas, encouraging exploration and adding to the replay value.
- Balanced and challenging levels (weight 0.18): Levels are well-balanced and offer a good challenge, with a variety of designs that keep the game engaging.
- Unique and memorable bosses (weight 0.17): The game includes unique and memorable bosses that players enjoy encountering and defeating.
- Original and audacious concept (weight 0.17): The game's concept is original and audacious, making it stand out in its genre.
- Memorable protagonist and music (weight 0.12): The game features a memorable protagonist and music, enhancing the overall experience.
- Convenient controls with gamepad support (weight 0.12): The game offers convenient controls, especially with gamepad support, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- Worth the price (weight 0.12): Players find the game worth buying, especially on sale, indicating good value for money.
- Multiple endings (weight 0.12): The game features two different endings, adding to its replayability and depth.

Common complaints:
- Broken achievements (weight 0.5): Achievements are reported as broken or non-functional, particularly after updates, which has frustrated many players.
- Poor control scheme (weight 0.44): Many players have expressed frustration with the game's controls, describing them as bad, dated, and sluggish.
- Missing level editor (weight 0.43): The absence of a level editor and custom levels has disappointed players, as these features were promised but not delivered.
- Problematic physics system (weight 0.42): The physics system is described as unpredictable, janky, and broken, making the gameplay experience less enjoyable.
- Anniversary update issues (weight 0.34): The 15th anniversary update introduced new issues and made the game worse, according to player feedback.
- Outdated interface (weight 0.26): The game's menu and interface are considered outdated and overly simple, detracting from the overall experience.
- Removed sound effects (weight 0.2): The removal of sound effects and visual effects has been noted by players, impacting the game's atmosphere.
- Lack of difficulty settings (weight 0.17): The removal of difficulty settings has been a point of contention among players who prefer customizable challenge levels.
- Unappealing level design (weight 0.17): Levels are criticized for being ugly, rigid, and short, which affects the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Low replay value (weight 0.16): Players feel that the game is not worth revisiting or the money spent, citing low replay value.
- Instant death mechanics (weight 0.12): Players have reported issues with instant death mechanics, such as getting squished by nothing, which can be frustrating.
- Repetitive music (weight 0.11): The music in the game is criticized for being repetitive, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Game-breaking bugs (weight 0.11): Some reviews mention that the game is broken and not functional, severely impacting the gameplay experience.
- Mediocre presentation (weight 0.11): The game's presentation and project quality are described as mediocre, affecting player satisfaction.
- Simplistic scenarios (weight 0.1): The game features simplistic scenarios and a simple story, which may not appeal to all players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Physics-based gameplay mechanics (weight 0.61): The game heavily focuses on physics-based challenges and mechanics, with players experiencing a unique physics engine that allows for various interactions and platforming elements.
- Character state mechanics (weight 0.53): The character, Gish, can change states to become sticky, slippery, heavy, and more, allowing for diverse gameplay mechanics and puzzle-solving.
- Platformer with unique mechanics (weight 0.43): The game is a 2D platformer that incorporates interesting and unique mechanics, making it stand out from traditional platformers.
- Version updates and improvements (weight 0.43): Different versions of the game have introduced various improvements, such as working achievements, save slots, difficulty selection, and multiplayer support.
- Level design and customization (weight 0.35): The game features a variety of level designs and includes a built-in level editor for creating custom levels, although some versions have removed this feature.
- Multiplayer and cooperative modes (weight 0.34): The game offers local multiplayer, cooperative modes, and versus modes, supporting up to 4 players in some versions.
- Control and combat issues (weight 0.29): The game has been criticized for clunky combat and difficult controls, which can affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Puzzle elements and challenges (weight 0.26): The game includes various puzzle elements and environmental challenges that players must overcome using the unique mechanics of the character.
- Story-driven gameplay (weight 0.22): The game features a story-driven single-player mode with a simple storyline involving rescue missions and various objectives.
- Sticking mechanics issues (weight 0.21): Some players have reported problems with the sticking mechanics, which are crucial for navigating levels and solving puzzles.
- Game modes and difficulty (weight 0.17): The game offers various modes, including a main campaign, collection mode, and multiplayer, with different difficulty levels affecting the gameplay experience.
- Unique bosses and enemy behavior (weight 0.17): The game features unique bosses and varied enemy behavior, adding to the challenge and diversity of the gameplay.
- Art style and visual effects (weight 0.12): The game's art style and visual effects have been noted, with some players finding them unique while others feel they lack super cool visual effects.
- Easter eggs and secret areas (weight 0.12): The game features Easter eggs and secret areas, adding to the exploration and replay value for players.

Performance notes:
- Performance and technical issues (weight 0.24): The game suffers from various performance and technical problems, including poor running performance and general technical issues.
- Visual and graphic problems (weight 0.22): Players have noted several visual issues, such as blurry graphics, low-resolution textures, and minor graphic glitches in the remastered version.
- Runs well on older computers (weight 0.07): Despite some issues, the game runs well on older computer systems, which is a positive note for players with outdated hardware.

Recommendations:
- Play version 1.7.0 for best experience (weight 0.28): Multiple reviews suggest that version 1.7.0 of the game provides the best and most stable experience. Players recommend reverting to this version to avoid bugs and enjoy the full game experience.
- Recommended for specific audiences (weight 0.27): The game is recommended for fans of classic platformers, superfans of the developer, and those looking for a unique experience. It is also suggested for lovers of complex games and fans of the developer's previous work.
- Use a projector with multiple controllers (weight 0.06): A unique recommendation suggests using a projector with 4 keyboards or game controllers, indicating a possible multiplayer or unique control setup for enhanced gameplay.

Other player notes:
- No native Linux version (weight 0.08): Players expressed confusion and disappointment over the decision to not publish a native Linux version of the game.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): Players are disappointed due to a variety of issues, including poor controls, unmet potential, and problems with recent updates. The game's remaster and anniversary update have been criticized for removing features, introducing bugs, and not meeting expectations.
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Frustration stems from difficult and unintuitive game mechanics, including clunky controls, broken physics, and poor performance. Players also report difficulty spikes, unpredictable instant death mechanics, and issues with achievements.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.17): Players feel nostalgic due to positive past experiences with the game, often reminiscing about playing it during their childhood or teenage years. The game's historical significance and personal memories contribute to this emotion.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement is generated by the game's unique and enjoyable mechanics, challenging nature, and creative gameplay features. Players appreciate the fun balance of creativity, reflexes, and strategy.
- Anger (weight 0.06): Anger is caused by frustration with game mechanics and level design, as well as personal experiences with the artist. The 15th anniversary update has been particularly criticized for removing features and introducing bugs.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Satisfaction comes from the game's pleasant and challenging nature, improved physics in updates, and the overall movement and actions of characters. Players enjoy the interesting tar physics and the overall gameplay experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment is derived from the game's physics-based gameplay, humor, and inventive mechanics. The atmospheric world and unique action mechanics contribute to the overall fun experience.}