Madshot Preview (Steam Early Access)

by Jim Smale · August 31, 2022

For this Madshot Preview, we play a fast-paced, acrobatic, rogue-lite shooter. We try to survive the ever-changing road through Cthulhu and beyond. Equip endless upgrade combinations as you fight your way through horrific monsters and multi-phased boss battles.

Madshot Preview Pros:

Nice graphics.
4.77GB download size.
Graphics settings – resolution, v-sync, graphics preset, and fullscreen.
Controller settings – rebind controls, auto aim, aim assist, rumble, and shoot while aiming.
3 save slots.
Roguelike twin stick shooter gameplay.
Opening tutorial room for the controls.
Actions – you can jump, roll, wall jump, pick up and throw items and shoot/reload.
The map and its contents will randomize every run, a legend shows what icons mean.
Cool slow-mo last kill setpiece.
At the end of a room, you can choose from 3 upgrades or alterations.
You choose your route through the map.
In-game cutscenes.
You can skip the cutscenes.
Prima Materia is gained from defeating bosses and with it you can buy game-changing alterations.
Rites act like missions and you choose and activate one for your next run, you can see the reward and criteria before accepting.
Transmutations can be earned, equipped, and upgraded to your character with each having a slot number to help balance a build.
The main hall is where you respawn after death and this is where you spend Prima Materia, do your Transmutations, accept rites and go on new runs.
Any area on the overall map not showing its contents can be scouted for, using points.
Multiple choice encounters.
Collect essence to charge your Ultimate meter and unleash a powerful ability.
A lot of really good abilities and mutations meaning every game truly feels different.
It’s really quick to get into.
Big boss encounters.

Madshot Preview Cons:

No Steam achievements at the moment.
The mouse cursor stays on the screen when using the controller.
Constant up and down in game pacing.
Cannot Invert axis and sensitivity sliders.
You never know how many enemies are in a room.
No enemy health bars.
You are ridiculously weak.
Takes ages to get going.
Enemies can jump through the environment which is total bollocks.
The game has no proper storytelling or explanations as to what is going on or when you go to new areas.
Doing rites is clunky with some requiring you to do it straight away otherwise it won’t count again until the next room.
The reloading is slow and cumbersome.
Levels are fine except they are very small or add in stupid environmental factors.
Never sure when it is saving.
Not sure what I have to do most of the time.

Madshot:

Official website.

Developer: Overflow

Publisher: Hook Games

Store Links –

Steam Early Access

Summary

Madshot is attempting to carve out its own niche in a very crowded genre. What it does is take hand-drawn cartoon-like graphics, mix in some dark colors, and then add a Cthuluian style to it all. The game plays well, it can be played like a traditional twin-stick shooter via the controls menu and is the ideal way, the motion is a bit clunky, especially jumping and the whole reloading the guns mechanic but it’s functional. The game revolves around a map of randomized levels with you seeing what some are and then having the option to spend points on scouting the unknown levels. A handy legend gives you an idea of what to expect or what you will earn. The upgrades and new abilities are obviously random, they are equipped in the main hall (hub) between runs and really allow you to change how the game plays out. Like I say it’s a crowded genre but Madshot is shaping up to have a real shot at being able to hold their head above water, it has so many cool mutations and abilities but it just needs more meat to allow you to see more of them, the levels need to be opened up a bit more as they are cramped but the general vibe is a positive one. Madshot is starting off strong but is still stumbling on the way to the finish line.