Review: GORSD

If you’re looking for a challenging and engaging experience to try out then look no further, I’ve got the perfect suggestion. GORSD definitely gives you a surprisingly heightened single-player adventure mode with a multiplayer mode alongside it. Players start off by birthing themselves into an unknown world, being whisked through the tutorial levels followed by entering a decrepit temple which presents a range of game modes and trials to be completed, presenting you with boss battles along the way once said trials have been completed successfully. What’s the catch? Sounds simple right? Don’t be fooled. Whilst not only navigating yourself around these levels, you will find you’re not alone with enemies quick on your tail. You’re also given the control of a single bullet to use which can ultimately assist you in beating the level and defending yourself. The multiplayer aspect of GORSD is very much the same concept as adventure mode and applies the same mechanics, with the option of 4-player couch co-op also included. The developers at Springloaded have made GORSD a game that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

What we liked!

• Challenging single-player adventure mode – GORSD definitely doesn’t lack when it comes to stimulating gameplay. Working your way through the temple, going against troublesome AI to progress to the Effigies (boss levels) can prove to be tough but doesn’t make the game any less enjoyable. If you should get shot, or in some cases shoot yourself like me, you are given a penalty timer which increases each time the above happens which makes you even more eager to get straight back into the action.
• Variation of game types and maps – With six game modes and over X+ maps included in the game, there is more than enough to not make the game feel repetitive. Every level plays out differently. Standard requires you to cover the entire map in your colour while domination requires you to continually cover the grid, ultimately getting your points from 100 to 0. Kill count and team deathmatch give you the chance to test your bullet control and navigation to kill the enemy team with your bullet whilst avoiding theirs. Hunter requires you to do both. You have to colour as much of the grid before being killed and then stop your opponent getting a higher grid coverage by shooting them. Finally, Timed mode, which can only be found in adventure mode, entails covering the entire grid in a set time limit by using yourself and your bullet methodically to take the most suitable route.

Somewhere between

• Intense and chaotic appearance – Demented, fast-paced, creepy – this game has it all. The game itself is not shy of being a little weird, almost to the point of including a horror aspect into the game. The world is filled with Effigies which have human faces with some rather deranged faces. Unsettling to say the least but what I will admit is it provides the game with personality and imagery you won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
• Sound and appearance – Levels greet you with some pretty decent upbeat music to enhance the turbulent gameplay which enhances the overall feel for the game. On the other hand, when you find yourself navigating the main temple, there is a huge contrast of music which is somewhat calming to hear. The overall appearance of GORSD is in the pixel art style which accentuates the 2D format but there are some rather trippy effects that come to light during the boss stages of the game which I feel weren’t required as it takes away from the main stage.

What we disliked

• Inadequacy when lowering difficulty – The game starts you off on normal as a wonderful little octopus, navigating through, being all jolly. However, should you have an issue with the difficulty, the game will automatically lower the difficulty for you. Sounds nice for the game to realize we’re struggling, right? Wrong. The game unfortunately makes you feel extremely inadequate for being put on easy mode. You are transformed into a worm, leaving a blood trail wherever you choose to go with squishy sound effects to accompany you. You even get a small paragraph telling you to try and not to be a worm.
• Lack of lore behind the game – Personally, i’d of really liked to know what the hell was going on. You are presented with text you can’t interpret, symbols you don’t understand and effigies who have no background. All I found myself doing was constantly asking questions. What does this mean? Why am I fighting these? Where am I? I think it would have been a great addition to add some sort of lore into the game for players who not only enjoy the fantastic gameplay, but who also would like a better understanding of what they are playing and how everything links together.