In a desolate, abandoned facility, an experiment gone horribly wrong awaits discovery in Howdy Merciless World. Will a thought-provoking environment and engaging mental puzzles be enough to entice you to linger? Here is our full evaluation.
I truly enjoy the puzzle recreation style. As the puzzle of uncertainty finally yields to perseverance, the rush of accomplishment washes over you like a warm breeze on a summer’s day, leaving behind a sense of profound satisfaction and a renewed confidence in your problem-solving prowess. Despite the lack of readily available information, effective puzzle design intuitively guides users toward a satisfying “aha” moment, which can be achieved through a deliberate and thoughtful process. Lacking in intuitive design, Howdy Merciless World’s explicit title belies numerous puzzles with dubious logic, leaving a lasting impression of frustration.
In this immersive VR puzzle game, players must navigate an abandoned underground facility controlled by a rogue artificial intelligence, working against time to escape before the AI’s relentless pursuit catches up with them.
Steam’s virtual reality (VR) offerings have been a staple of PC gaming for some time now. With the rise of standalone VR headsets like the Meta Quest, however, the landscape is shifting – and we’re here to explore what this means for gamers.
August 1, 2024
Akupara Video games
$19.99
As you step into the world of a merciless gamer, you’re transported to their virtual reality where every move is calculated and each decision scrutinized. In a misguided effort to create viral content, you unfortunately decided to cater to your devoted audience’s whims. As I stumbled upon the notorious Crab ‘n Seize, a forsaken eatery shrouded in disrepair, my curiosity was piqued by the cryptic allure of its dusty basement, which led to an enigmatic subterranean complex, its secrets waiting to be unearthed. Here, amidst an unconventional setting where spider-like robots roam freely, it’s possible to encounter a synthetic intelligence known as “ALICE,” which initiates communication with you.
While some may assume Howdy Merciless World to be a VR horror experience upon consulting its retailer webpage, the reality is that it is indeed presented in this manner. In reality, the sport lacks any element of fear. In all likelihood, the majority of your journey consists of trudging through identical, poorly lit corridors and cramped rooms filled with outdated machinery and decimated computer infrastructure. Since my initial fright, there haven’t been any incidents; not even the rare sightings of scurrying robots, typically a source of added anxiety, managed to heighten the tension.
As for ALICE, I won’t reveal the primary details just yet. She requires your assistance, and she is mindful of the insights gleaned from previous experiments as documented in her introspective musings and meticulous text logs. She’s transformed into a cunning tactician, reveling in her own “Aha!” moment. I acquired you!” diatribes. While ALICE’s interactions and conversations with users are somewhat limited, hindering her development into a fully engaging character, it is improbable that she will elicit the same level of reverence or apprehension as iconic AI personalities like GLaDOS or SHODAN. As the protagonist navigated the labyrinthine streets, the enigmatic woman’s hushed whispers seemed to seep into his mind like a slow-moving mist, weaving a tapestry of intrigue and uncertainty: “You’re really so naive?”
In a world where puzzle-solving is paramount, Merciless’s true nature shines through in its abundance of brain-teasers. The puzzles are straightforward, typically demanding the placement of pylon structures that facilitate the flow of electricity, thereby unlocking passageways. You’re also provided with instruments via augmentations. What remains puzzling about the primary objective of a microphone is its purpose, which eludes me even upon conclusion of an event. Throughout the game, the feature consistently produced an unsettling cacophony reminiscent of a malfunctioning washing machine, failing to provide any meaningful assistance with fulfilling my responsibilities, leading me to deactivate and abandon it in numerous playthroughs.
While the first tool may have its limitations, the second instrument, in fact, offers exponentially greater utility with the introduction of an electro gun. Primarily, the set-off button enables you to discharge orbs that also conduct electricity, resembling pylon-like structures or rods. As the player holds their breath, the grip button cleverly redirects the orbs back into the weapon, introducing a novel reload mechanic. While the gadget is initially exciting for its ability to grasp and place structures, its true value lies in providing alternative methods to tackle puzzles once the initial thrill subsides.
There is also a chat operating feature that allows you to toggle and scroll through conversations using just your fingertips. The simulated chat features a diverse array of customers who interact with the platform in ways similar to those seen by content creators on YouTube and Twitch, where thousands of users participate in real-time conversations. Did I correctly interpret this peculiar trait as a nod to the dynamic interplay between gamers seeking assistance from their online communities?
I’ve even drawn comparisons with instances where dedicated communities have worked together to solve complex puzzles, such as the Future 2 neighborhood’s efforts to unravel Niobe Labs’ mysteries or the Discord group of dataminers that uncovered the Archon class in Remnant 2.
Unfortunately, the chat feature of Howdy Merciless World has been rendered ineffective. The complexity of whole conversations lies in their messiness, chaos, and occasional reliance on emojis, implying that this format may not be conducive to productive communication. After I requested a hint or a nudge, the chat group offered very little insight to work with.
The difficulty level of some puzzles in Howdy Merciless World falls short due to poor design. Despite initial fascination with the “electrical present hyperlinks pylons and opens doorways” mechanic, my enthusiasm waned within a few hours as novelty wore off, even with added twists such as positive and negative values, barrier beams, and conveyor belts. Some options lacked coherence, rendering them unintelligible.
To solve a Degree 3 puzzle, I had to precisely place the correct “voice orb” alongside the password, allowing sound waves to propagate through speakers. Little did I realize that I had to accelerate the orb’s playback speed by connecting a “+1 pylon” – a combination of mechanisms never discussed or applied before, as if it was assumed one would intuitively understand them from experience alone. Due to the rigid structure of the gadget grid, it was impossible for me to position the pylon and its corresponding speaker in the same location, nor could I link the electrical currents to unlock the door. To successfully unravel the puzzle, I had to retrieve and utilize the gadgets from an earlier puzzle room, a requirement that hadn’t been met previously. While I appreciate exploring unconventional ideas, this particular realm lay far beyond the boundaries of our usual considerations?
On another occasion, a multitude of subtle hints created a somewhat intricate situation. The audio files contained redundant recordings with disparate playback speeds, an element suggesting that two distinct individuals or voices could be desired; the name “Alice” was repeatedly mentioned; and the terminals consistently informed me that all entered passwords were invalid after attempting each recording.
In the latter stages of the game, there is an incongruous segment where the objective seems arbitrary, prompting me to rely heavily on trial and error, as well as a stroke of good fortune in stumbling upon a stealthy, translucent spider-robot that was difficult to spot. Meanwhile, I had to shut down the flow of electrical power feeding certain machinery—a feat that unexpectedly materialized when I adjusted the system settings. I couldn’t determine whether I’d experienced another occurrence like this or if it was simply a glitch.
As an enthusiast for solving puzzles in video games, I’m disappointed by Howdy Merciless World’s lackluster offerings compared to standout experiences like The Talos Precept’s intricate challenges, The Room series’ cleverly designed puzzles, and innovative shrines in Tears of the Kingdom – not to mention VR titles like MADiSON VR, Riven, and Resident Evil 4 that push the boundaries of interactive storytelling. While attempting to find equilibrium between simplicity and complexity, the approach veers wildly off course, featuring puzzles and choices that defy logical expectations.
Here’s the improved version:
Merciless World Assessment: The Final Verdict
(Note: No changes made as the given text seems to be a title and does not contain any content to improve.)
Within the depths of a foreboding underground facility, the sinister legacy of heinous experiments unfolds. Unfortunately, the atmosphere lacks a sense of foreboding and the antagonist falls short of being truly menacing. Puzzles are hampered by uninspired mechanics that fail to captivate attention, coupled with obtuse design that leaves players scratching their heads, wondering which genius thought they’d actually work.
