Developer: StudioFOW (Published by Streembit Ltd)
Genre: Tactical RPG, Shoot ‘em Up, Dating Sim
Store: Steam, GOG, SpicyGaming
Reviewed version: 0.1.3
Censored: No
Patch Needed: No
OS: Windows
Language: English
Subverse is a shmup/turn-based strategy hybrid that has the honor of being the first adult-only game to earn over 2 million dollars in a Kickstarter campaign and become a top-seller on Steam in less than 48 hours. However, it wasn’t as well received as everyone would have imagined. Are you wondering whether this game is actually great or just another overhyped product? Keep reading to find out!
Pros
Solid gameplay
The graphics are very polished, and the characters are stunning
Excellent voice acting
Good soundtrack
The plot is very engaging.
Cons
Most jokes feel forced, and sometimes the dialogue is cringy
The turn-based strategy segments are too easy
There are visual glitches on high settings
The sex scenes could have been better
The story is unfinished, like in many games in EA.
Story
You're put in the shoes of the unnamed captain of the Mary Celeste spaceship as he, along with his ever-growing crew, tries to take down Imperium, an oppressive and powerful galactic empire responsible for numerous genocides. To be honest, I didn’t expect to like the story as much as I did. The story has rich and fascinating lore, and the characters are very well-written; they have a unique and defined personality, goals, and a backstory.
However, it has a fair share of problems. The jokes feel so forced you might wonder if they were added for the sake of it, especially during the tutorial. On the other hand, the excessive amount of swearing in the dialogue makes it look rather juvenile. I’m not against cursing in video games, but it becomes a problem when it gives the impression that the dialogue was written by someone who learned to say “fuck” a few days ago. On another note, the story is not finished yet. So far, only the first act and a bit of the second one are available.
Gameplay
As a fan of Tactical RPGs, I was especially interested in the turn-based strategy segments. In a sense, it’s similar to Final Fantasy Tactics. It features an overhead isometric grid system, and each unit takes turns to attack, defend, or use a skill. Moreover, each unit has a counter that increases whenever it hits an opponent or receives an attack, allowing it to use a special attack once it reaches four.
While I can’t say I disliked them, they were simplified to the point of posing no challenge. Instead of the usual accuracy system, attacks always hit the target, and then the opponent counterattacks. I get this removes any random element that could lead to some very frustrating situations, but it’s easy to exploit because the maps are small. All you need is to place your long-range units properly, and they’ll destroy the enemies without needing to move.
The shmup segments are solid. The controls are very responsive, and the difficulty is just right. Moreover, each of the missions in the main story is unique, ranging from destroying a humongous ship before time runs out to protecting an ally base from multiple incoming enemies. After a certain point in the game, you’re able to bring a partner with you, and your special attacks will vary depending on who you choose.
Later on, you’re allowed to explore the galaxy and move inside the Mary Celeste. While I had no problems regarding the former, even though some planets are hard to find, the latter is very annoying. The game takes about 5 seconds to load every time you go from one room to the other, so imagine how much time you spend waiting if you want to check if there’s anything new on the ship.
Graphics
If there’s an aspect where the game truly shines, it is in its graphics; they are stunning. Both the characters and backgrounds are very polished and detailed, and the animations are very smooth. There’s no lipsync, though, even if the characters’ movements and facial gestures are fully animated. I get there’s no need to animate Demi’s lips since she’s a robot, but sometimes the rest of the cast looks goofy when they talk.
The sex scenes are surprisingly disappointing given the game’s production values. There’s no way to rotate the camera or change positions, and they lack any kind of interactivity. At most, you have a slider to adjust the speed and a “cum” button to finish in a few scenes. Furthermore, they don't happen naturally as the story progresses. Instead, you have to spend the Pooter Points you get when the girl’s devotion level increases to unlock them in the gallery.
Music and Voice Acting
The soundtrack is superb. It’s mainly composed of electronic music, as you’d expect from a sci-fi game, but it also includes a few metal tracks, like the aptly named “Blythe Fucks Shit Up” song, which plays in the action-oriented scenes. The songs are pleasant to listen to; they fit the setting of the game and the mood of the scenes they play in. One of the tracks sticks out like a sore thumb, though, but I assume that’s probably done for comedic effect. As for the voice acting, it’s simply terrific. The voice actors did a stellar job bringing the cast to life, to the point I’d dare say their acting is one of the reasons why the characters are so likable.
Performance, Bugs & Issues
The game runs smoothly on Epic and keeps a stable 60 FPS for most of the game, but drops to about 50 FPS during the cutscenes. Lowering the settings to High made things worse, though. Even though there were no FPS drops, I had to deal with artifacts and screen flashing in some parts of the game. In the end, I had to choose between changing settings back and forth and grin and bear the unstable FPS in the FMV.
Verdict: It’s fucking RAW
Subverse is as entertaining as it's flawed. It might be better to wait for updates before purchasing the game since it’s unfinished, but if its high-quality graphics and loads of meta-jokes and references appeal to you and you’re willing to overlook its issues, consider buying it at a discount.