BELOW Reviews
Capybara Games' Below is a frustrating and empty experience that proves ultimately unworthy of casual players time or patience.
Below's moody gloom and atmosphere is spoiled by mechanics that really cramp its central quest.
We really wanted to enjoy Below. We wanted a gripping indie game to suck us in and get us lost in its world, but overall all we gained from this was a headache and a loss of breath from sighing in discontent. If you like hard games just because of a challenge, give it a try. If you want a worthwhile experience though, you might want to look somewhere else.
If you like to unravel a mysterious world that doesn't hold your hand, then you might find something in BELOW. If you're looking for an action-packed roguelite, BELOW is not it.
I’ll be honest with you. I’m a bit of a PlayStation fanboy. I’ve never owned an Xbox and I occasionally find myself viewing their exclusive titles with covetous eyes: Below was one of those titles. Like a P.E teacher I used to have, this game has a reputation of being incredibly hard and unforgiving. I am by no means a glutton for punishment kind of player, but I itched to pit myself against the perilous and mysterious depths of Below.
Below struggles with its identity and, with gameplay dramatically shifting between enthralling exploration and bothersome survival, the game never quite finds it footing.
I was very surprised and enjoyed playing BELOW. It has some mistakes, of course, no game is perfect, but if you put-aside those mistakes, you will get a game with very good graphics, great soundtrack, simple gameplay that can entertain you for long time.
Review in Czech | Read full review
The game is an undeniably refreshing experience and a rather intriguing introduction to roguelikes for newcomers to the genre. Unfortunately, what the game lacks in terms of consistently gratifying gameplay is not wholly made up for by such excellent presentation and solid underlying concepts.
Below is a torture: the game is so beautiful and intriguing, but it's such a pain to actually play it.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Uncompromising to a fault, Below is a unique and often hauntingly beautiful game but its punishing design eventually becomes a tedious slog, sucking out any intrigue or enjoyment of its initial hours.
BELOW will prove itself divisive, no doubt. But for those willing to take the plunge, it deserves the brave few who explore its depths.
We found ourselves constantly craving more information, only for Below to not provide it.
BELOW's graphics and music are nothing short of spectacular, but the incredibly disappointing gameplay experience leaves a lot to be desired.
There's a fun and challenging experience down in the depths of Below, especially in the very lowest levels. Unfortunately, the cumbersome design will turn players away and keep the game's treasures hidden forever.
Below's foreboding atmosphere and slow, purposeful pace works in its early stages, but numerous frustrating design choices make its back half a nightmare.
Below is divisive. Few will argue about the bleak beauty of the game, but everything else sets it up as a title you'll either love or hate, with few reservations.
Below isn't revolutionary or even a risk taker among its peers. It borrows bit by bit everything it needs from other games. In Below, the means justify the end, but is the end even worth it? A vast but shallow sea is what we got after all these years
Review in Persian | Read full review
BELOW evokes a fantastically ominous air of foreboding with its soundtrack, and its visual style is unquestionably superb, but as an example of the roguelike, Capy's game does nothing new. Perhaps it's intentionally pared-down, but the resulting game is enjoyable for an hour or two, and a relentless chore thereafter.
Below's hand-crafted design is constantly at war with itself and the player, despite the gripping world Capy Games has created.
Even though it doesn’t always feel cohesive, it’s certainly worth playing, especially if you’re a fan of roguelikes —just know that your mileage may vary in the enjoyment department.