Developer: Platypus Entertainment
Platform: PC (Reviewed)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Simulation
Publisher: Ytopia
Misery is a co-op survival game that has drawn its inspiration from post-nuclear wasteland-type games. It is developed by Platypus Entertainment and published by Ytopia. In Misery, you and your team are stationed in a nuclear bunker in a Soviet post-apocalyptic world. You start 60 seconds before a bomb drops, and you need to grab a bunch of items in your house that will be useful for your survival. As you get out of the bunker, you find yourself in a wasteland, where every day you get to explore parts of the world and collect resources to survive.
After each successful run, your bunker starts to grow, and you are able to start creating things, improving your surroundings. You’re able to venture out on expeditions to different areas such as military bases, research stations, and ruined cities. While all are trying to manage their hunger, thirst, radiation, and stress, which can lead to hallucinations and death. Back at your bunker, you are able to build, install generators to power different things and craft many different items. The more people you play in your lobby, the more fun and wild the game is.
The whole concept feels like a mix between survival and base building in an apocalyptic world where the aesthetic is nailed. Once you are outside your bunker, you are thrown into a procedurally generated wasteland where each day brings new discoveries and challenges. There is no map, which really adds tension and forces you to rely on your instincts to survive. Every evening, a siren blares to signal an emission, warning you to get back underground before the radiation fries you.
The controls are standard, with your usual controls for any game and interacting with things. You can also play a tutorial, which I thought was much needed to play, as the game can get a bit complicated. The tutorial is well-made and explains each step that’s necessary for you to start the game. The tutorial definitely helps because Misery can be overwhelming at first, especially when you are thrown into the 60-second countdown, where you have no idea what to grab.
Visually, Misery is a world that is dark, grey, and gritty, with rough faces and vibes, showcasing dread. The art style is well-picked and designed, which really does showcase and emphasise the gameplay. At first, the visuals might seem a bit clunky, giving that old PlayStation feel, but they tend to grow on you the more you play. The low-res, grainy look actually fits perfectly with the tone of the game, adding to the feeling of hopelessness and decay. I will say the animations can be finicky, but they end up adding charm to the game. Plus, some of the anomalies you find while exploring are insanely detailed and stand out as the more thrilling parts of the game.
On top of that, the atmosphere is insanely immersive. The sounds of wind howling through broken buildings, the eerie silence of the wasteland and the occasional radio chatter all make you feel like you are truly living in this broken, radioactive world. Even the siren warning has a chilling tone that gets your heart racing.
I had played this game with another player, Sapphire, and they had the following to say: ‘My first impression of Misery was a bit concerning, mainly in relation to the visuals, because it almost felt as though it would take away from the experience. However, when I started to play the game, and after a few hours, the visuals stood out in making this desolate world come together. There are several weird and funny moments in the game, too, like attacking people looking ridiculous in a good way. The way some mobs and NPCs are designed is hilarious because they almost look like block characters with definition to them. I did quite enjoy playing this game with someone else, though I could definitely see myself playing this game on my own. The greatest takeaway from Misery is that the survival and atmosphere are unique, and the aesthetic is extremely spot on, allowing players to play for hours on end without realising. It takes some time to get used to what needs to be done, but then you get into a really good groove. Expanding the bunker so I could have a gardening and cooking station was worth it!”
Misery is a promising co-op survival game with a compelling mood. The atmosphere of the game is extremely strong and well thought out, with the cold and dark vibes and the tensions of going out and not knowing what you’ll find. This game is more of a game you should play with your friends, as playing alone can feel a bit dull. I do wish that there were Steam achievements that could provide more direction for the game, and maybe feel better to play single player.
Overall: 7.5/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
