Rock Solid Brown Colored Quake-like Boomer Shooter. Lots of Brown Sewers, Brown Castles, Brown Caves, and Brown Corridors. Some Shake ups aesthetically might've been nice. This is the kinda game where all the little details add up to something special.
Like how every level takes direct inspiration from a real life place in Russia. When Duke Nukem 3D came out, gamers back then loved how levels felt like real places rather than abtract mazes. This is the natural evolution of that.
Like how every level takes direct inspiration from a real life place in Russia. When Duke Nukem 3D came out, gamers back then loved how levels felt like real places rather than abtract mazes. This is the natural evolution of that.
the camera didnt even work
Moody, and very brown. A great take on the boomer shooter revival.
There's a very interesting quality to HROT. Despite being at its core a fairly straightforward retro shooter, it's simultaneously dedicated to painstaking recreation of even the most mundane things (most of the levels are set in recreations of real life Czechoslovakian locations and there is a lot of effort put into random tiny things, such as a fully working top, model train track or billiards table) and complete absurdism (One of the early bosses is the statue of a gorilla in the middle of a carousel, wielding double rocket launchers. It's not even the weirdest boss of that episode). There isn't really a story, and the game seems to actively defy giving you one, even at places that the games it's referencing would, such as the end of episode text crawls.
The result of this is an odd, almost dream-like experience that is at the same time explicitly set during a specific period in a real life place. I can't quite describe how that makes me feel, but it's an extremely unique identity of its own, and I appreciate that a lot in a genre that is, I think, a little bit too eager to abide by the same few tropes.
The game itself is quite good, for the record. Similarly to something like DUSK, there is no singular, crazy mechanic that HROT can just use as its main selling point, but everything it does is rock solid, I can't really name any level that was less than good, although I will say that the first episode's are probably the least interesting.
The result of this is an odd, almost dream-like experience that is at the same time explicitly set during a specific period in a real life place. I can't quite describe how that makes me feel, but it's an extremely unique identity of its own, and I appreciate that a lot in a genre that is, I think, a little bit too eager to abide by the same few tropes.
The game itself is quite good, for the record. Similarly to something like DUSK, there is no singular, crazy mechanic that HROT can just use as its main selling point, but everything it does is rock solid, I can't really name any level that was less than good, although I will say that the first episode's are probably the least interesting.
A fun quake-like that starts off normal then gets weird as hell, but in a good way at least. Some annoying instant death traps on higher difficulties, but none of the levels long enough to make restarting unenjoyable. Good length for game, doesn't overstay it's welcome.
What happens when you mix in former member of the Eastern Bloc Jazzpunk with a Boomer Shooter.
Feels a little like a shitpost, but it's fun.
i feel like hrot really hits the platonic ideal of the 'Boomer Shooter Throwback' which has become so popular in indie game circles during the past few years. its really a very Simple game compared to its peers, it cuts back on a lot of the more flashy cinematic bits & direct callbacks to older shooters (see: new blood interactive) and tighten up the shooting & level design (see: shit like project warlock) to much success. what i enjoy about it more than anything are how important the little interactive details are to the developer - you look at his twitter feed and hes barely showing off the weapons and enemies and combat, its all just videos of an astronomical clock simulator he programmed in or a model railroad set that you can make drive around, it's a cute game. the world of post-monster-invasion czechoslovakia is inhuman at its core, groaning and spilling steam and oil from the grounds pores, all clattering pipes and dark brick corridors with rusty grate flooring or putrid water (silent hill esque?). none of the enemies have visible faces or entirely human body shapes, theyre all a little stretched out and bloated and they love to puke all over themselves. even the ceiling turrents make a sickly moan when you kill them (definitely silent hill)
and so, when combined, these two things (the careful extraneous details & the generally diseased atmosphere) intermingle and make you feel like the only two characters are yourself (as the player) and the world; the industrial parks and sewage tunnels all creak and shudder like a big big gross animal and the levels are designed in such a way as to loop around on themselves very well so you really do picture each one as a singular Thing rather than the discrete vignettes a lot of these type of games operate in (see: new blood interactive once again). i think the developer wants you to feel sad at seeing what this place has become post invasion and humanizes it to do that but i dont know much about the history of the czech republic or anything so thats where my train of thought ends.for me personally, the gunplay is kind of secondary to everything i just mentioned but its very satisfying, they use a straightforward reasonably varied pool of weapons and it all looks and feels good. i love to shoot guys, its just that simple
and so, when combined, these two things (the careful extraneous details & the generally diseased atmosphere) intermingle and make you feel like the only two characters are yourself (as the player) and the world; the industrial parks and sewage tunnels all creak and shudder like a big big gross animal and the levels are designed in such a way as to loop around on themselves very well so you really do picture each one as a singular Thing rather than the discrete vignettes a lot of these type of games operate in (see: new blood interactive once again). i think the developer wants you to feel sad at seeing what this place has become post invasion and humanizes it to do that but i dont know much about the history of the czech republic or anything so thats where my train of thought ends.for me personally, the gunplay is kind of secondary to everything i just mentioned but its very satisfying, they use a straightforward reasonably varied pool of weapons and it all looks and feels good. i love to shoot guys, its just that simple
chapter 1 is trying to find the games identity and its just a normal boomer shooter. chapter 2 then gets REALLY spooky and the atmosphere is incredible. chapter 3 is a silly little funny guy chapter, lots of personality and jokes.
TL;DR
good horror, good jokes
i scared
:)
TL;DR
good horror, good jokes
i scared
:)
It's kinda fun ig
Quake with a Trench Gun
HROT is the throwback FPS of choice for non-posers
this seems like it's made specifically for the weirdos who liked the more sparse and offputting aspects of the original Quake. you get way more rockets than rifle rounds, and even though there are more than 50 enemy types, most of what you face are the main enemy archetypes from Quake. its main strength is mixing this very american design philosophy with a particularly culturally specific representation of 80s czechoslovakia (mainly in the architecture), which makes for a strange mix.
those old "slavjank" titles are usually focused on verisimilitude - even if it's oddly represented by the mechanics or structure - while the Quake formula begs for maximum abstraction. Hrot tries playing both sides, but ends up being its own perplexing middle ground. at least it's an interesting conflict to see being wrestled with throughout the 3 episodes, which become gradually more lost until the last few levels from the 3rd episode transform into small, sepia dollhouse arenas.
those old "slavjank" titles are usually focused on verisimilitude - even if it's oddly represented by the mechanics or structure - while the Quake formula begs for maximum abstraction. Hrot tries playing both sides, but ends up being its own perplexing middle ground. at least it's an interesting conflict to see being wrestled with throughout the 3 episodes, which become gradually more lost until the last few levels from the 3rd episode transform into small, sepia dollhouse arenas.
Symphogear GX Adjacent
This is the one big "old school shooter revival" game that everyone has been raving about that I just don't get. All the guns and gameplay are bog standard for the genre, and that about summarizes the game. It doesn't really experiment or subvert anything and just feels kinda generic, but at least has a decent atmosphere. 5/10
A solid throwback FPS. Level design is overall tight, with a handful of moments that aren't so great. The art style leans into early 3D, particularly Quake, but it leans into the "brown" color palette a little too much for my tastes. Taking place in 1980s Czechoslovakia, the architecture and references to the Eastern Bloc add a lot of flavor to the game. Sound design is moody and is complimented by the atmosphere. Weapon sounds are 50/50 - some sound great and punchy, others sound like total pea-shooters. There's a lot of humor sprinkled throughout the game, particularly in enemy design, bosses, and interactables. Overall, it's a fun time if you're into retro FPS.
Fun Shooter. I always felt tense which is good. Batshit insane final boss. Wish there was another episode. Only negative really was the second episode boss, kind of just annoying to fight (especially if you die and have to do it again :) )
Very atmospheric FPS game. The third episode is beyond insane and I loved every second of it. Would say more but don't want to spoil anything. Highly recommend.
Strong contender for the most fucking insane ending for a game ever.
i don't play a lot of boomer shooters but this one is pretty fun
A mix of Quake, Doom 3 and Duke 3D with a very unique, personal and genuine premise. It's pretty obvs where the quake influence goes, the author clearly loves Quake's brown textures but knows how to make the game not feel samey visually, it's more brown than Quake ever was but you'll never get tired of it. There's some Doom 3 in the more limited mobility and resources being scarcer than average for the genre. Duke 3D plays a big influence in the level design and soul of the game, levels feel like real places that are also made for a videogame like all good Duke 3D levels do, also the frequent and many elements of interactivity and humor which give a one man feel to game in the best possible way. The gameplay loop isn't as good as other games of it's ilk but it makes with level design and charm, most I can complain is that some projecticles might as well be hitscans but it's not a big issue.
Another modern boom shoot. Made by one dev from Czech Republic that takes place in a brown, yet absurd and dangerous 1986 Czechoslovakia.
The great thing about indie games, especially solo devs, is how much insight you're given into the creator by simply playing their game. They aren't bounded by many restrictions, which makes the games feel more personal. Especially considering the setting here is a exaggeration of the creator's home country, albeit after a certain disaster that spawned monsters and imparted madness across the country that the silent protagonist must trek through. Hrot balances horror and comedy surprisingly well. It forces you into many cramped, dark tunnels where even your flashlight uncontrollably flickers as you nervously hold your weapon forward, then the next level will allow you to feed a dog so many treats that they puke. To explain every crazy enemy and encounter would ruin a lot of this game's charm, albeit the wildest of shit happens in the second and especially the third episode. If Episode 1 is not gripping you, you're free to skip to Episode 2 or 3 whenever; and I have seen people struggle to engage in the game early on.
As for the gameplay, it's Quake-like with high importance on explosives and shotguns, but doesn't retain the sequence breaking rocket jumps even with the high movement speed. Gunplay is nothing too remarkable, but most of your arsenal have several applications to use them in fun ways. Definitely a high emphasis on the shotguns though, ammo is extremely common for them, maybe even more than pistol ammo. The most unique thing you'll get in combat is deflecting grenades back at enemies with a kick, something that they don't teach you, but once you learn it then it becomes a engaging ammo saving method where you're redirecting the explosives into crowds of unfortunate foes. Apart from that, you're encountering the frankly absurd number of enemies while scouring for secrets and even the cute Easter egg here or there. Again, nothing that hasn't been done before, but the execution of the level design I have to give credit for. Despite the endless brown and dreariness of all 24 levels, I've never found myself completely lost on where I am and what I need to do. I have backtracked before, but a lot of times it's because I miss a frankly obvious sign that'd point me in the right direction, without ever being a literal sign.
Certainly a dev to keep your eye on, what Hrot lacks in exceptional combat it makes up in atmosphere, level layouts, variety, and some splendid humor. A game that, embarrassingly, got me to laugh at potty humor surely is doing something right... or maybe I have low standards.
After beating the final level of an episode, you get a recipe. As in, a real life recipe on something you could actually cook.
The great thing about indie games, especially solo devs, is how much insight you're given into the creator by simply playing their game. They aren't bounded by many restrictions, which makes the games feel more personal. Especially considering the setting here is a exaggeration of the creator's home country, albeit after a certain disaster that spawned monsters and imparted madness across the country that the silent protagonist must trek through. Hrot balances horror and comedy surprisingly well. It forces you into many cramped, dark tunnels where even your flashlight uncontrollably flickers as you nervously hold your weapon forward, then the next level will allow you to feed a dog so many treats that they puke. To explain every crazy enemy and encounter would ruin a lot of this game's charm, albeit the wildest of shit happens in the second and especially the third episode. If Episode 1 is not gripping you, you're free to skip to Episode 2 or 3 whenever; and I have seen people struggle to engage in the game early on.
As for the gameplay, it's Quake-like with high importance on explosives and shotguns, but doesn't retain the sequence breaking rocket jumps even with the high movement speed. Gunplay is nothing too remarkable, but most of your arsenal have several applications to use them in fun ways. Definitely a high emphasis on the shotguns though, ammo is extremely common for them, maybe even more than pistol ammo. The most unique thing you'll get in combat is deflecting grenades back at enemies with a kick, something that they don't teach you, but once you learn it then it becomes a engaging ammo saving method where you're redirecting the explosives into crowds of unfortunate foes. Apart from that, you're encountering the frankly absurd number of enemies while scouring for secrets and even the cute Easter egg here or there. Again, nothing that hasn't been done before, but the execution of the level design I have to give credit for. Despite the endless brown and dreariness of all 24 levels, I've never found myself completely lost on where I am and what I need to do. I have backtracked before, but a lot of times it's because I miss a frankly obvious sign that'd point me in the right direction, without ever being a literal sign.
Certainly a dev to keep your eye on, what Hrot lacks in exceptional combat it makes up in atmosphere, level layouts, variety, and some splendid humor. A game that, embarrassingly, got me to laugh at potty humor surely is doing something right... or maybe I have low standards.
After beating the final level of an episode, you get a recipe. As in, a real life recipe on something you could actually cook.
I can't pin down exactly why but I find this game really nice in a way I don't usually. I think it might be the fact I played the demo a bunch? It's not a feeling you get often now but there's something cool about building a familiarity like that with a game before you play it properly, makes it feel kind of homely which along with the nostalgic-y inspirations makes this really comfy, it's the same as listening to an album's singles before the full thing's out. The muddy, dingey look and claustrophobic environments as well make this feel like something I played on a demo disc when I was 3 that I wasn't allowed to. You could probably say this about quite a few games but the fact this is explicitly a game rather than a horror experience makes it feel more genuine to me. Not finished it yet but really enjoying what I've played :)
edit: (finished it now and ye it's good, it's a lot like Quake for obvious reasons but also the fact that the kind of standard gameplay is held up by really cool vibes)
edit: (finished it now and ye it's good, it's a lot like Quake for obvious reasons but also the fact that the kind of standard gameplay is held up by really cool vibes)
One of the most atmospheric, creative, and surprisingly hilarious shooters I've ever played. Everything from the ground up is built around this hyperspecific time and place of 1980s Czechoslovakia that makes it feel so personal. This is not the kind of game that would ever come from a committee, this is the work of one lunatic through and through.
The "game-feel" is one of the biggest challenges for retro shooters in my opinion and HROT nails it. The weapons aren't the most unique but they all serve their purpose well and are satisfying to use. Beyond the gameplay there's just so many bizarre and memorable things in this game that I could easily ramble about for hours but I'd rather not spoil them all. All I'll say is the amount of work that must have gone into one-off gags just makes them all the more hilarious to me. Play this game. It's legitimately one of a kind.
The "game-feel" is one of the biggest challenges for retro shooters in my opinion and HROT nails it. The weapons aren't the most unique but they all serve their purpose well and are satisfying to use. Beyond the gameplay there's just so many bizarre and memorable things in this game that I could easily ramble about for hours but I'd rather not spoil them all. All I'll say is the amount of work that must have gone into one-off gags just makes them all the more hilarious to me. Play this game. It's legitimately one of a kind.
I think the core game here is really fun, as is a lot of its wackier ideas. Throwing you against an army of newt men for exactly one level and then never mentioning it again is just fantastic, as are the splashes of fantastical whimsy contrasted against the harsh industrial setting. But, unfortunately, I think those moments are too few and far between. Most of the game is just going through areas that all look and feel the same. I think I could genuinely remember only a handful of individual levels since they all look alike and ask you to do roughly the same thing. The weapons all felt pretty uninspired as well, with the only real interesting ones (the crossbow and especially the Lightning Gun) feeling strangely underutilized. Again, the core game here is a lot of fun, but its levels, weapons, and encounters lack a level of variety that would have pushed it from good to great.
The most authentic Quake clone since the 90's.
This review contains spoilers
HROT is a "Boomer Shooter" FPS developed by Spytihněv; developed in the vein of older FPS games like Quake and the like. Recently it came out of Early Access, I had it sitting in my library for a while but I wanted to wait until it fully came out to truly give it a spin.
I'll start with the story since there isn't too much in the way; you're in 1986 (according to the steam page) Soviet Union (specifically the Czech Republic as multiple mentions of Prague were in the game) as you find your socialist country surrounded by invaders. You decide to go out and kill these invaders and that's kind of it that I was able to find aside from fighting a parody of current Russia's leader Vladimir Putin as he rides both a bear and a pterodactyl in a hilarious yet difficult boss battle during the end, before jumping into his mouth, shooting his heart and then jumping down a toilet as well as mentions of how if the Orloj Clock Tower astronomical clock is broken than the world is doomed, which you later fix after the battle in the Epilogue. Other than that, for the most part any lore is kind of spread apart, which is fine cause I was mostly focused on the gameplay and atmosphere.
The Gameplay was great, more throwback shooter gameplay with secrets, boss battles, and the such. Truth be told, I don't really have much to say here that the likes of DUSK, Quake and other shooters like this haven't already done. What I can tell you are some of the more noticeable things that popped in my mind; some of the levels in the first episode when ramping up can be on the confusing side in terms of layout but the more the episodes go on the better it gets, shift is a giant kick which you can use to both kick enemies and enemy grenades back and when timed right it feels amazing. I think Episode 3 is my favorite just from how insane it really gets, from fighting Salamanders or Otters with giant guns to the ability to save adorable dogs from cages to murder attacking enemies (which was my favorite part of the game, you can indeed pet the dog in this game). Other things to mention is that driving around the motorcycle is a lot of fun running people over, and also to keep an eye on your environment because this game will surprise the hell out of you real quick with enemies (mainly static vehicles coming to life to try to run you over). The double barreled shotgun will be your best friend along with the grenade launcher; and I guess the final note I can throw down is that you can interact your environment like opening cabinets to find ammo and in some levels keys, of which like other old school first person shooters you need to open doors that leads to the end of the level. For the last stage of Episode 3, don’t bother fighting the mech, bring it back to the area you started and let it fall down the stairs cause you’ll need the pickups for the ACTUAL final boss. Last thing, I tried with everything but no rocket jump that I could find, so unless I'm dumb as s h i t don't even bother to do it cause it won't work.
The Atmosphere/Art Design/Everything else for the most part was solid; at first the drab tone kind of got on my nerves a bit, especially with the sewer levels in Episode 1 (titled Kiss Me Gustav) but the more I played (mostly from Episode 2 and 3), the better it got and the more variation it had in it's environments. Keep in mind, I love oppressive atmospheres, It just took a while for me to get adjusted. Graphics look like Quake and other old shooters and as a simp for old throwback games I love it, the enemy designs are great environments whilst samey looking for the most part change up later on. The only criticism I have in this part is that two of the weapons, the Pistol and Machine Gun, feel under powered like a pea shooter; while I understand the pistol is supposed to be a weak weapon you have as a backup I don't really like it as a weapon mainly due to the fact that even if it's weak that it should still pack some sort of feeling. Otherwise, honestly this section is the strongest part of the game; it has it's identity in the sea of browns and blacks and it's not afraid to really get the Soviet aesthetic down.
To finish off my thoughts, if you like old school throwback shooters than I feel like most people would like HROT; it's gameplay of finding keys and opening doors, interacting with the environment in small but interesting ways, shooting your way through strange creatures, etc. I enjoyed my time playing HROT, it has a unique personality with it's own inside jokes (like getting a recipe for food at the end of each Episode? Strange but made me chuckle) that I don't totally understand but I appreciate the hell out of, it grew on me the more I played and to me was it's best at Episode 3 (Again, not a lot of games let me kill a parody of Putin before jumping down his mouth and into his throat in an episode called "The Gastroscopy", which look up on your own time lol). Is it worth your time and money? I thought it was good enough to get my money's worth but I guess 6 hours for 20 dollars depends on what you really find to be worth the price. It's unique and it deserves it's place in the Boomer Shooter pantheon, and a must play for the h o e s like me that love retro stuff.
From Steam Reviews: https://steamcommunity.com/id/gamemast15r/recommended/
I'll start with the story since there isn't too much in the way; you're in 1986 (according to the steam page) Soviet Union (specifically the Czech Republic as multiple mentions of Prague were in the game) as you find your socialist country surrounded by invaders. You decide to go out and kill these invaders and that's kind of it that I was able to find aside from fighting a parody of current Russia's leader Vladimir Putin as he rides both a bear and a pterodactyl in a hilarious yet difficult boss battle during the end, before jumping into his mouth, shooting his heart and then jumping down a toilet as well as mentions of how if the Orloj Clock Tower astronomical clock is broken than the world is doomed, which you later fix after the battle in the Epilogue. Other than that, for the most part any lore is kind of spread apart, which is fine cause I was mostly focused on the gameplay and atmosphere.
The Gameplay was great, more throwback shooter gameplay with secrets, boss battles, and the such. Truth be told, I don't really have much to say here that the likes of DUSK, Quake and other shooters like this haven't already done. What I can tell you are some of the more noticeable things that popped in my mind; some of the levels in the first episode when ramping up can be on the confusing side in terms of layout but the more the episodes go on the better it gets, shift is a giant kick which you can use to both kick enemies and enemy grenades back and when timed right it feels amazing. I think Episode 3 is my favorite just from how insane it really gets, from fighting Salamanders or Otters with giant guns to the ability to save adorable dogs from cages to murder attacking enemies (which was my favorite part of the game, you can indeed pet the dog in this game). Other things to mention is that driving around the motorcycle is a lot of fun running people over, and also to keep an eye on your environment because this game will surprise the hell out of you real quick with enemies (mainly static vehicles coming to life to try to run you over). The double barreled shotgun will be your best friend along with the grenade launcher; and I guess the final note I can throw down is that you can interact your environment like opening cabinets to find ammo and in some levels keys, of which like other old school first person shooters you need to open doors that leads to the end of the level. For the last stage of Episode 3, don’t bother fighting the mech, bring it back to the area you started and let it fall down the stairs cause you’ll need the pickups for the ACTUAL final boss. Last thing, I tried with everything but no rocket jump that I could find, so unless I'm dumb as s h i t don't even bother to do it cause it won't work.
The Atmosphere/Art Design/Everything else for the most part was solid; at first the drab tone kind of got on my nerves a bit, especially with the sewer levels in Episode 1 (titled Kiss Me Gustav) but the more I played (mostly from Episode 2 and 3), the better it got and the more variation it had in it's environments. Keep in mind, I love oppressive atmospheres, It just took a while for me to get adjusted. Graphics look like Quake and other old shooters and as a simp for old throwback games I love it, the enemy designs are great environments whilst samey looking for the most part change up later on. The only criticism I have in this part is that two of the weapons, the Pistol and Machine Gun, feel under powered like a pea shooter; while I understand the pistol is supposed to be a weak weapon you have as a backup I don't really like it as a weapon mainly due to the fact that even if it's weak that it should still pack some sort of feeling. Otherwise, honestly this section is the strongest part of the game; it has it's identity in the sea of browns and blacks and it's not afraid to really get the Soviet aesthetic down.
To finish off my thoughts, if you like old school throwback shooters than I feel like most people would like HROT; it's gameplay of finding keys and opening doors, interacting with the environment in small but interesting ways, shooting your way through strange creatures, etc. I enjoyed my time playing HROT, it has a unique personality with it's own inside jokes (like getting a recipe for food at the end of each Episode? Strange but made me chuckle) that I don't totally understand but I appreciate the hell out of, it grew on me the more I played and to me was it's best at Episode 3 (Again, not a lot of games let me kill a parody of Putin before jumping down his mouth and into his throat in an episode called "The Gastroscopy", which look up on your own time lol). Is it worth your time and money? I thought it was good enough to get my money's worth but I guess 6 hours for 20 dollars depends on what you really find to be worth the price. It's unique and it deserves it's place in the Boomer Shooter pantheon, and a must play for the h o e s like me that love retro stuff.
From Steam Reviews: https://steamcommunity.com/id/gamemast15r/recommended/
Really don't get what people see in this game. I got this in the boomer shooter Humble Bundle a year or two back while it was still in Early Access and with its full release today finally beat the last episode after getting through the first two episodes some time ago.
This game is just barely on the precipice between alright and straight up middling. Enemies are bullet sponges, none of the weapons feel that good, and the game is a Scrooge when it comes to ammo to the point where it feels like a genuine flaw instead of a purposeful design decision. The atmosphere is good at times but there is way too much brown sewers and factories. The level design is also not that great and confusing at times. I had enough fun with it, but I'm glad I just got this in a bundle. You can do a lot better than this game when it comes to modern boomer shooter throwbacks.
This game is just barely on the precipice between alright and straight up middling. Enemies are bullet sponges, none of the weapons feel that good, and the game is a Scrooge when it comes to ammo to the point where it feels like a genuine flaw instead of a purposeful design decision. The atmosphere is good at times but there is way too much brown sewers and factories. The level design is also not that great and confusing at times. I had enough fun with it, but I'm glad I just got this in a bundle. You can do a lot better than this game when it comes to modern boomer shooter throwbacks.
This game feels like everything the original Quake would have been if it was given time to be completed. Very atmospheric and satisfying experience.
this game is sooooo gross i love it