A classic with a modern twist – Gorescript Review

Gorescript is everything a classic FPS should be expect for one thing, it was released earlier this month. It feels like a blast from the past and in a very good way. The game comes from developer Sergiu Buccur who also developed the browser-based Gorescript Classic game. This is his first major game besides Gorescript Classic but it doesn’t feel as though it was made by an amateur. However, while this is a modern game it’s certainly inspired by the classic FPS games of the past such as Doom and Quake. How does this new game compare to the classics of the past? Let’s find out.

Classic gameplay

As expected from this game, there is no plot. Instead it’s broken down into 18 levels for players to fight through. Each level has been meticulously designed by the developer to be engaging and to feel unique in the game. As a result, each level is entertaining to play through and players can expect to be faced with a challenge no matter what difficulty level they decide to play at.

The game is single player focused and there will not be a multiplayer mode coming in the future. The developers have opted to create a purely single player experience to captivate the classic feel of old-school FPS games which seems to work nicely.

Difficulty levels

Gorescript is not a particularly easy game but thankfully, there’s an “easy” difficulty setting for those of us who want to get used to the game before trying the harder difficulties. The difficulty level goes up to “Masochist” which features several major tweaks to the gameplay to make the game much more difficult. In addition to this, there are options for “Blackout” and “Permadeath” which add new gameplay elements to the classic style mechanics. These options can be selected for all difficulty levels and can also be activated together for a very different gameplay experience.

As a result, Gorescript has a huge amount of replay value for fans of this genre. There’s also a global leaderboard for each level where players can compete to get the best scores on each level. Naturally, the developer currently holds the top spots for all of the levels.

Weapons, Equipment and Consumables

It features a nice range of weapons which are best used in certain situations, just like in the Doom series. These weapons are collected as the game progresses and include classics such as the railgun and shotgun. There’s also a nice melee weapon which is a hammer and shield that can be used to block and reflect attacks back at enemies. In addition to this, the player can eventually get some special boots that allow them to jump and kill enemies as if they were a Goomba from Super Mario. Each weapon is very satisfying to use in their own way.

Consumables are also a nice addition to Gorescript as they’re not automatically used. The player gets to decide when and where to use the item which is perfect for saving items until the boss fights. There’s a nice range of consumables which are slightly out of the way and players must hunt them down. The level map displays where each mysterious item is on the level so players will know where to look. However, it’s not so straight forwards. Some walls in the game contain hidden walls that open when the player gets close or by pressing the Action button to force the door to open manually. Finding these doors can be tricky and is often a case of trial and error which is fine unless there’s a horde of enemies in the room at the same time.

The Bad

Gorescript does a lot right but there’s also a few downsides to the game. The biggest one is the lack of “Strafe Run” which is introduced early in the game. This mechanic seems almost forgotten about in the later levels which is a shame considering how satisfying it actually is to successfully do a Strafe Run across a gap. Perhaps more importantly, there are minor bugs which get in the way of the game. It’s possible to sometimes get stuck in the ceiling while jumping for example. Hopefully the developer will take a look at these bugs in the near future.

While this may not be bad it’s certainly worth noting. The levels look very basic and bland with few colours and textures to help define the walls and the floor. However, when enemies are killed they splatter different colours across the floors and walls which does add some life back into the game. Those looking for a beautiful FPS will be disappointed here but those more concerned about the gameplay should feel right at home.

The Bottom Line

Gorescript is a great FPS. It takes everything that made the old-school Doom and Quake games so great without coming across as a ‘clone’ of these games. It feels like a FPS within it’s own right and as a result, it provides a large amount of gameplay for hours of fun. The core gameplay of Gorescript is very entertaining and the ability to enhance the gameplay with Blackout and Permadeath modes really add to the style of the game. While it feels like a classic game, there’s a clear modern twist that brings it into the modern age for today’s gamers to enjoy.

Rating: 8 / 10