Info about Prodeus:

Official game description:
Prodeus is a first-person shooter of old, re-imagined using modern rendering techniques and technology. Experience the quality you’d expect from a modern AAA game, designed with retro aesthetics and gameplay that invoke the tech-imposed limits of older hardware.  
The game features a hand-crafted campaign from industry FPS veterans, co-op and competitive multiplayer play drawing on classic modes\*, a fully integrated level editor, and a built-in community map browser for instantaneous action with nearly limitless levels to play.  
Get ready to paint the walls red. This is the Boomer Shooter you’ve been waiting for.
**FEATURES**
------------
**Retro look, modern era**  
Shooters past and present collide with graphics that combine today’s high-quality 3D tech with retro visuals. Experience over-the-top explosions of lo-fi pixels and hi-tech particle effects as you clash against the Prodeans and forces of Chaos.  
**Pure retro FPS chaos**  
Steel yourself for fast and frantic nonstop action. Blast and blaze your way through hordes of chaos-spawned creatures using an arsenal of classically over-the-top weapons.  
**Raining red**  
Splatter the steel walls and alien halls with the blood of your enemies. Experience the gory thrills of the elder shooters, dialed up to 11 thanks to Prodeus’s delightfully demented dismemberment system.  
**Community-crafted levels**  
Unleash your inner map designer with Prodeus’s powerful but easy-to-use level editor, and keep the visceral combat fresh with a built-in browser filled with community-created maps.  
**Multiplayer Mayhem**  
Team up and go head-to-head in a variety of multiplayer modes. Take on the campaign in 4-player co-op, and dive into the fray in 16-player Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, CTF, and more—then take things to the next level by creating and sharing custom game modes.  
**Frag to the Music**  
Burst blood vessels listening to a supercharged metal soundtrack by retro FPS composer Andrew Hulshult that dynamically changes gears to accompany your actions.

Release date: Sep 23, 2022

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Cooperative Multiplayer, Competitive Multiplayer, Mod Support, Level Editor, Boomer Shooter, Shooting

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally runs well on Steam Deck out of the box, indicating good compatibility with Proton/Linux. However, there is some disappointment regarding the lack of a native Linux build, which could affect user satisfaction.
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience with the game reveals several key themes. Notably, there is significant frustration around the requirement to create an account for cloud saves and multiplayer features, as well as concerns about the lack of recent updates and unfulfilled promises of native Linux builds. On the positive side, many users have praised the game's controller support and overall performance on the Steam Deck, indicating a generally smooth and enjoyable experience. Some users have suggested that the game could be better optimized for the Steam Deck, but this does not appear to be a major issue for most players.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game performs well on hardware with 8-11GB VRAM, with no reported performance issues.
  - Sample size: 22 (3% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 6 reports): Players report a smooth experience with no performance issues.
  - Caveats: 22 of 751 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users find the game worth the full price due to its high quality and extensive gameplay. However, there are also mentions of the game being reasonably priced especially when on sale, suggesting that while the full price is acceptable, a lower price during sales is more appealing to a broader audience.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 8.0h
  - Story completion: 8.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime for Prodeus. The first quote mentions finishing the game in two sittings and suggests a relatively short playtime. The second and third quotes provide specific estimates for the campaign duration, ranging from 7 to 9 hours. The fourth quote mentions a playtime of a little over seven hours, aligning with the other estimates.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is initially fun but becomes repetitive mid-way through; however, multiplayer and community features significantly enhance replayability and enjoyment.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Engaging with multiplayer or community features
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive level design; Limited enemy variety; Boring combat encounters
  - Unlock drivers: Multiplayer modes; Community-made maps; Co-op gameplay
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Engaging with user-generated content; Participating in multiplayer modes
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Speedrunner (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and fast-paced gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Fast-paced, skill-focused, and enjoys retro aesthetics.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old-school player; boomer shooter fan
    - Reference games: DOOM; Quake; Brutal Doom
  - Retro Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Exploration of retro FPS genre with modern accessibility.
    - Playstyle: Exploratory, enjoys learning and experiencing retro gameplay mechanics.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: new to retro FPS; casual gamer
    - Reference games: DOOM 1 & 2; Quake
  - Creative Builder (buy)
    - Motivation: Creative expression and community engagement.
    - Playstyle: Creative, enjoys building and exploring custom content.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: content creator; modder
    - Reference games: DOOM; Quake


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:
- Blends classic and modern Doom (weight 0.48): The game combines elements from classic Doom and modern iterations like Doom 2016, creating a hybrid experience that appeals to fans of both styles. It incorporates gameplay mechanics, aesthetics, and atmosphere from these influential shooters.
- Fantastic level design (weight 0.42): The game features well-designed levels that are action-packed, flow smoothly, and offer a great level editor. The levels are praised for their intricacy and exploratory nature.
- Gory and violent gameplay (weight 0.37): The game features intense, bloody, and visceral combat with a high level of gore. Players can expect a meaty and action-packed experience with satisfying violence.
- Exceptional gunplay mechanics (weight 0.32): The game offers phenomenal gunplay with well-tuned mechanics, satisfying weapon variety, and fluid gameplay. Each gun has a unique feel and impact, making combat enjoyable and engaging.
- Standout boomer shooter (weight 0.29): The game is recognized as a classic boomer shooter with tight shooting mechanics, fast movement, and solid level structure. It stands out in the genre and is considered one of the best boomer shooters available.
- Cool and unique graphics (weight 0.25): The game features cool and unique graphics with retro-style visuals and impressive graphical presentation. The graphics are visually impressive and add to the game's appeal.
- Solid and enjoyable game (weight 0.24): The game is well-made and enjoyable, with a decent difficulty level. It is impressive and offers a great overall experience, making it a solid choice for players.
- Great aesthetic and visuals (weight 0.22): The game has a great aesthetic with beautiful graphics and artistic design. The visuals are technically great and visually impressive, enhancing the overall experience.
- DOOM-inspired visuals and gameplay (weight 0.21): The game's visuals and gameplay are inspired by DOOM, featuring a mix of pixel art and modern effects. The combat is punchy and reminiscent of DOOM 2016, with intricate and exploratory level design.
- Pixel art graphics (weight 0.2): The game features stylish pixel art graphics with a retro pixelated style. The pixel art is well-executed and adds to the game's unique visual appeal.
- Excellent soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.19): The game features a phenomenal soundtrack that enhances the dynamics of the battles. The sound design includes foreboding metal and dark wave tracks, as well as fantastic weapon sound effects.
- Excellent retro shooting experience (weight 0.17): The game offers an excellent retro shooting experience, blending elements of retro and modern shooters. It is considered one of the best retro shooters with a perfect mix of classic and contemporary gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Checkpoint system issues (weight 0.45): The checkpoint system is criticized for making the game too easy and trivializing deaths, thereby removing challenge and making the game less engaging.
- Limited enemy variety (weight 0.37): Players frequently noted a lack of diversity and challenge in enemy designs, with many enemies feeling repetitive and uninteresting.
- Monotonous gameplay experience (weight 0.32): The game is often described as repetitive and boring, with gameplay and maps that quickly become monotonous and fail to maintain player interest.
- Lack of substantial story (weight 0.23): The story is noted for being non-existent or unclear, providing little depth or engagement for players.
- Game difficulty too low (weight 0.21): Many players find the game too easy, even on higher difficulty settings, which reduces the overall challenge and enjoyment.
- Confusing map navigation (weight 0.11): The in-game map is criticized for being unhelpful and confusing, making navigation difficult for players.
- Weapon and progression issues (weight 0.1): Weapons are often locked behind progression or secrets, which can be frustrating for players trying to access new equipment.
- Visual clarity problems (weight 0.1): Excessive blood and gore can make it difficult to see enemies and navigate the game, affecting gameplay clarity.
- Slow reloading mechanic (weight 0.1): The reloading mechanic is criticized for being slow and jarring, which breaks the pace of the game.
- Lacks distinct identity (weight 0.09): The game is noted for lacking a distinct identity in various aspects, including art direction, weapon variety, and overall gameplay loop, making it feel derivative.

Gameplay feedback:
- Inspired by classic shooters (weight 0.44): The game draws heavy inspiration from classic shooters like DOOM and Quake, blending elements from both to create a familiar yet unique experience.
- Wide variety of weapons (weight 0.42): The game offers a rich arsenal of weapons, including shotguns, plasma rifles, sniper rifles, and more, which can be unlocked and upgraded.
- Gameplay similar to modern Doom (weight 0.4): The gameplay is fast-paced and brutal, similar to modern Doom games, focusing on aggressive and violent action.
- Boomer shooter with modern mechanics (weight 0.37): It is a boomer shooter with retro graphics but incorporates modern gameplay mechanics, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- Adjustable difficulty (weight 0.25): The game offers a range of difficulty settings, allowing players to adjust the challenge to their preference.
- Variety of enemies (weight 0.22): The game features a variety of enemies with different designs and behaviors, adding to the challenge and replayability.
- Retro graphics with modern effects (weight 0.18): The game blends old-school pixel art with modern visual effects, creating a unique aesthetic.
- Gory and bloody gameplay (weight 0.18): The game features fast-paced and gory gameplay, with blood splashes and enemy dismemberment.
- Community map sharing (weight 0.13): Players can create and share custom maps, adding to the game's longevity and community engagement.
- Cooperative and multiplayer modes (weight 0.1): The game includes cooperative and multiplayer modes, allowing players to team up or compete against each other.
- Unlockable abilities (weight 0.1): Players can unlock abilities like double jump and dash, adding to the gameplay variety and depth.
- Ore currency system (weight 0.08): Ore is used as currency for upgrades and new weapons, encouraging exploration and reward.
- Super shotgun mechanics (weight 0.07): The game includes a super shotgun, a classic weapon that adds to the arsenal variety.
- Unique soundtrack (weight 0.07): The game features a unique soundtrack that complements the retro and modern blend of the gameplay.
- Secrets and hidden areas (weight 0.07): Levels are packed with secrets and hidden areas, encouraging thorough exploration.
- Well-balanced gunplay (weight 0.07): The game features well-tuned gunplay, ensuring that each weapon feels unique and balanced.
- Auto-aim and crosshairs mechanics (weight 0.07): The game includes auto-aim and crosshairs mechanics, aiding in precise and rewarding aiming.

Performance notes:
- Good performance and optimization (weight 0.38): Many players report that the game performs well and is well-optimized across various systems, including older hardware and different platforms like Steam Deck and Linux.
- Graphics settings and visuals (weight 0.17): The game offers various graphics settings and visual options, such as 3D models, CRT filters, and different resolutions, allowing players to customize their experience.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.15): The game can run on low-end systems, including older hardware and devices like the Steam Deck, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
- Controller and platform compatibility (weight 0.11): The game is compatible with various controllers and platforms, including Steam Deck with Xbox controllers, enhancing the gaming experience for different setups.
- High FPS on capable hardware (weight 0.06): Players with capable hardware report high frame rates, such as 250 FPS in full HD with an RTX3060, indicating good performance on high-end systems.
- Low disk space usage (weight 0.03): The game uses minimal disk space, with reports of it using only 1GB, making it easy to install and manage.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended FPS experience (weight 0.31): The game is highly recommended for fans of classic FPS campaigns and is considered one of the best titles in the genre. It is praised for its intense action and overall quality.
- Ideal for retro shooter fans (weight 0.21): Prodeus is praised as a solid retro shooter, perfect for short sessions and ideal for fans of boomer shooters. It is also seen as a great entry point for newcomers to the genre.
- Recommended for Doom and Quake fans (weight 0.2): The game is highly recommended for fans of classic FPS games like Doom and Quake. It captures the essence of these games and is considered a must-play for enthusiasts of the genre.
- Consider Brutal Doom (weight 0.05): Some reviewers suggest playing Brutal Doom instead of or in addition to Prodeus, indicating a preference for the mod among some fans of the genre.
- Potential future DLCs (weight 0.05): Reviewers express hope for future DLCs, indicating an interest in additional content for the game.
- General positive recommendation (weight 0.03): There are general positive recommendations for the game, indicating a broad appeal and high regard among reviewers.
- Casual player recommendation (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for casual players, suggesting it is accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience.
- Suggested gameplay settings (weight 0.03): It is recommended to enable auto-sprint and minimize the interface for a better gaming experience.
- Positive sentiment in non-English reviews (weight 0.02): A review in Russian recommends purchasing Doom 2016, showing a positive sentiment towards similar games.

Other player notes:
- Photosensitivity warning given (weight 0.04): A warning is provided for individuals who are photosensitive. This suggests that the game may contain visual elements that could trigger photosensitive reactions.
- Not typical genre choice (weight 0.03): The reviewer mentions that this game is not their usual type of game they play. This indicates a departure from their typical gaming preferences.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated by a variety of gameplay mechanics and design choices. The progression system, upgrade mechanics, and weapon unlocks are major pain points. Additionally, issues with the save system, level design, and repetitive missions contribute to the frustration. Performance issues, lack of checkpoints, and unclear level endings also add to the overall dissatisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.15): Players enjoy the game's core gameplay, which blends elements from classic shooters like Doom and Quake. The variety of weapons, level design, and fast-paced action are frequently praised. The retro graphics, energetic music, and satisfying shooting mechanics contribute to a fun and engaging experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Players express disappointment due to the game's lack of innovation and failure to meet expectations set by similar titles. Issues such as repetitive level design, lack of enemy variety, and a lackluster ending contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, the game's high price and lack of distinct identity are major points of disappointment.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): Players are excited about the game's fast-paced and intense gameplay, which blends classic and modern elements. The variety of weapons, intricate level design, and unique visual effects contribute to this excitement. The anticipation for future content and the game's inspiration from popular shooters like DOOM and Quake also add to the enthusiasm.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players are satisfied with the game's high-quality graphics, level design, and weapon variety. The modern features added to the classic gameplay, along with the enjoyable combat mechanics and stable performance, contribute to a positive overall impression. The game's atmosphere, soundtrack, and replayability are also frequently praised.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's similarity to classic shooters like Doom and Quake. The retro graphics, old-school gameplay mechanics, and homage to classic FPS games evoke a sense of nostalgia. The game's design and elements reminiscent of older titles contribute to this feeling.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players experience joy from the game's smooth controls, beautiful pixel art, and satisfying gore effects. The variety of weapons, enjoyable campaign, and industrial metal soundtrack contribute to a fun and engaging experience. The game's unique visual style and enjoyable combat mechanics also add to the overall joy.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's retro style and satisfying gameplay, which blends elements from classic shooters. The impressive visual effects, perfect gunplay, and positive comparisons to games like DOOM and Quake contribute to this enthusiasm. The game's unique aesthetics, combat mechanics, and optimization are also frequently praised.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Players feel bored due to the repetitive gameplay and lack of new content. The repetitive arena levels and lack of challenge and excitement contribute to this sentiment. The monotonous nature of the gameplay and stage length also add to the overall boredom.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's unique visual style, level design, and active community. The good balance of difficulty and accessible gameplay, along with the best level design on modern shooters, contribute to this appreciation. The game's old-school look and modern gameplay mechanics are also frequently praised.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players are frustrated with the game's old-style design causing dizziness and too much visual clutter during combat. The reliance on additional content and issues with internet connection requirements and loading problems contribute to this frustration.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed that the game falls short of expectations and is too similar to Doom without unique features. The perception of the game being a knock-off designed for phones adds to this disappointment.
- Negative (weight 0.01): Players feel negative due to the game's lack of depth and variety. The lack of difficulty and memorable enemies contribute to this sentiment. The game's failure to stand out and offer a unique experience adds to the overall negativity.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the game's positive experience, including its graphic design and style of play. The enjoyable custom maps and overall fun gameplay contribute to this happiness.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to poor game design and mechanics. The design of the economy system and its impact on gameplay contribute to this anger.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Players are concerned about the game being visually overloaded and potentially straining. The warning for photosensitive individuals and the game's intense visual effects contribute to this concern.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by the game's story and ending. The mind-boggling checkpoint system and unclear narrative contribute to this confusion.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the game's good gameplay and art style. The enjoyable user-made content and overall fun experience contribute to this satisfaction.}