Selaco

Release Date: May 31, 2024 Early Access

Action, FPP, science fiction, FPS, indie games, shooters, boomer shooter, singleplayer

94%

Steam

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Retro shooter with F.E.A.R. inspired combat running on a modified Doom engine. Action takes place in an outpost which is one of the last shelters of humanity after the fall of Earth. We try to discover the secrets of the titular planet and fight off hordes of alien invaders.

Videos and Screens

[1:30] Selaco trailer #1

[0:47] Selaco Steam demo trailer

94%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (3,402)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Engaging Gameplay: Players praise the fast-paced, tight gunplay and combat mechanics, highlighting the satisfaction of weapon handling and the variety of weapons available.
Level Design and Exploration: The game features intricate level designs filled with secrets, rewarding exploration, and a sense of discovery reminiscent of classic shooters.
Atmosphere and Aesthetics: The art style, sound design, and immersive environments contribute to a captivating atmosphere, often compared to classic titles like Doom and Half-Life.
Enemy AI: Many reviews note the intelligent enemy behavior, which includes flanking and using cover effectively, enhancing the challenge during combat.
Attention to Detail: The game is lauded for its numerous interactive elements and environmental storytelling, creating a lively and immersive world.
Replayability: The inclusion of randomizer modes and various difficulty settings adds to the game's replay value.

The main cons of the game

Navigation Issues: Many players find the level design can lead to confusion and getting lost, with some suggesting the need for a minimap or clearer objectives.
Difficulty Balancing: Some reviews mention that enemy encounters can become frustratingly difficult, particularly in the latter parts of the game, with complaints about bullet sponge enemies.
Lack of Character Development: While the gameplay is enjoyable, some players feel that the story and character development are lacking, with minimal dialogue from the protagonist.
Early Access Bugs: Although many players report a polished experience, a few mention minor bugs and issues with object interaction.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Multiplayer Mode: Several reviews express a desire for co-op or multiplayer features, which could enhance the game's replayability and social aspect.
More Story Depth: Players are looking for a more fleshed-out narrative and character development, with suggestions for richer lore and character interactions.
Enhanced Navigation Tools: Suggestions include adding a minimap, clearer waypoints, or more intuitive navigation aids to help players find their way through complex levels.
Additional Enemy Variety: Some players feel that the game could benefit from a wider variety of enemy types to keep combat fresh and engaging.

Summary

Overall, Selaco is highly praised for its gameplay mechanics and nostalgic feel, while also facing criticism for navigation challenges and story depth. The developers are recognized for their commitment to improving the game through updates and community feedback.

Summary generated on: January 6, 2025

Selaco is a retro-style first person shooter (FPS) on a modified engine of the first Doom, whose developers took inspiration from the F.E.A.R. series. Game was developed by the Altered Orbit Studios team.

Plot

The action of Selaco takes place in the distant future. Planet of Selaco is the last refuge of humanity survivors who escaped from the destroyed Earth. Dawn, recently promoted to head the ACE Security agency, is responsible for protecting Selaco's population. The heroine uses her new position to investigate Selaco's unclear history, which could threaten the future of the outpost.

Dawn's investigation is interrupted by a sudden alien invasion, and she finds herself embroiled in a conflict where the survival of humanity may be at stake.

Game mechanics

Selaco is a retroshooter, a shooter inspired by such games as Doom or Quake, in which the gameplay is fast-paced and stamina bars and hiding behind cover are almost completely absent.

However, the Altered Orbit team also had another inspiration - F.E.A.R. from 2006. The horror atmosphere was not taken from this production, but the combat system was. As in the work of the studio Monolith Productions, here too the artificial intelligence of enemies stands at a high level.

Enemies work as a team, pass messages to each other about the location and actions of the heroine and use this knowledge in battle. For example: the aliens will retreat and seek cover under intense fire, but as soon as we run out of ammunition - they will immediately go on the attack. However, as in F.E.A.R., the teamwork of the enemies is also their weakness. The hundreds of messages the invaders can relay to each other in battle about their plans are also a warning to Dawn.

The environment destruction system also plays an important role. Almost every element of the location can be damaged, including desks, tables, screens, glass and even some structural elements. So it's better not to use the same cover for too long - especially since enemies can also toss a grenade if Dawn doesn't change position.

All of this results in fights where the player has to constantly move by sliding, jumping over furniture and windows, dodging enemy bullets, etc.

The old-school nature of the game is also emphasized by the mechanics straight from the 90s, including the lack of health regeneration (only classic first aid kits can be found here). At the same time, the creators took an example of more modern mechanics. To these we owe, among others, the system of weapon upgrades and a lot of emphasis on the climate and finding the story.

Game modes

Selaco does not offer anything more than a single player mode. The game is divided into levels and completing each one unlocks a level in the Incursion Mode. This one involves fighting with almost endless waves of enemies, and the rewards for victory are bonuses that make it easier to get through the story campaign and mutators - optional modifiers that change the gameplay or the visual layer of the game.

Technical aspects

Selaco was created based on the heavily modified GZDoom engine and so-called voxels. The 3D graphics in the title is in a retro style, although the whole thing looks incomparably better than the shooters from the 90s. The developers did not regret the special effects accompanying the deaths of enemies, gunshots, etc.