With a relentless speed that harks back to Devil Daggers, Hellscreen’s heart-thumping pace is a hallmark of its design. Developer Jamie Degen has masterfully crafted a world where death serves as an upgrade, leaving players to face a fiery onslaught of flaming skulls and eldritch horrors. The game’s idiosyncratic aesthetic, a dramatic interplay of cyan and red, lends a surreal quality to the eerie maps and comic-book-style gunfire, recalling the disturbing artistry of H.R. Giger. With each inevitable death, players return stronger, ready to brave the uncanny labyrinth that unfurls beneath a blood-red sky.
The game’s first-person perspective is enhanced by an intriguing feature—a rear-view mirror. This novel addition, uncommon in first-person games, elevates the need for environmental awareness. It’s not merely about charging ahead; players must constantly swivel between what lies ahead and the threats creeping up from behind.
Surprisingly, the mirror offers more than just improved situational awareness. Right-clicking allows players to fire backwards, with a small gun and reticle appearing in the mirror view. The game rewards players who master this feature, offering double damage when moving and firing forwards, and quadruple damage when progressing forwards and shooting backwards. Navigating this three-dimensional battlefield feels akin to grappling with a groundbreaking realm of movement. This unique mechanic adds a satisfying layer to the game, calling for well-timed, precision mirror shots.
Over several years of development, Hellscreen has evolved from its initial Kickstarter campaign into a standout shooter. The narrative immerses players into a universe of ancient gods, an afterlife machine, and creatures artificially crafted as part of the mechanism. As one of the machine’s errors, you are thrust into the Hellscreen dimension, caught in a cycle of death and resurrection. It’s up to you to destroy this malfunctioning machine, restore the natural order, and perhaps then find everlasting rest.
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