Phantaruk

 PC
Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. CGMagazine
    Aug 27, 2016
    65
    Phantaruk is a first-time survival horror romp that, sadly, tells better than it shows.
  2. Hooked Gamers
    Aug 19, 2016
    65
    I like the concept quite a bit, and there are a few other games out there that prove it can be done extremely well, but there are just too many issue here holding back the things the game does well for it to be an easy recommend.
  3. Games.cz
    Sep 13, 2016
    60
    Although Phantaruk suffers from several errors, including obsolete visuals, it brings up some great horror situations in which you will tremble with fear. Just do not expect much more from the game.
  5. GRYOnline.pl
    Aug 17, 2016
    60
    The several hours needed to complete Phantaruk were quite pleasant. Sure, there are lots of better indie games (especially in the "scary" genre) but Polyslash has a chance to dazzle gamers with their next game. Their debut is a well done mix of horror and stealth that needs some polishing and a better story.
  6. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Sep 21, 2016
    56
    Poor visibility, unremarkable environments and lack of map end up causing a state of perpetual disorientation, so you stumble upon the door to next section purely by chance. And if you stumble upon the monster instead – well, just sprint to the nearest vent, since it’s not scripted to get you out of there. On the other hand, you can’t even throw a piece of junk to attract its attention elsewhere, so you end up sitting there, doing nothing, until it finally gets bored and shambles away. Yes, it’s that bad. [Issue#212, p.60]
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  7. CD-Action
    Oct 14, 2016
    55
    It’s one of those horror games that think it’s sufficient to smear the screen with darkness, provide the player with a flashlight and scatter some bloody offal every couple of steps. [10/2016, p.53]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. SpazioGames
    Aug 17, 2016
    55
    A basic and short survival horror with a decent audio. There aren't many moments of tension, and the gameplay is too simple, as are the graphics.
  9. Riot Pixels
    Sep 11, 2016
    52
    For a horror game, Phantaruk is not scary at all. The persistent monster can kill you in seconds, but it's more annoying than frightening. The same goes for the timer - thanks to the game's linear structure, you always know the next life-saving syringe is just around the corner. Zombified test subjects are so badly animated that you can't help but laugh while trying to avoid them.
  10. Eurogamer Italy
    Sep 29, 2016
    50
    A below-average short horror game that pretends to be an Alien: Isolation clone but fails in almost every possible way.
  11. Multiplayer.it
    Aug 30, 2016
    50
    Phantaruk is an average horror game with a few flawed game mechanics that don't work very well.
  12. Twinfinite
    Aug 22, 2016
    50
    Bugs, choppy frame rate, and some finicky controls make exploring the drab and sterile environments a clunky chore. There is something here, though.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. MaxMarcunsens
    Aug 17, 2016
    8
    Phantaruk is a small horror game with a nice story and visuals. The tension is great but there is only a few jumpscares. As a let's player IPhantaruk is a small horror game with a nice story and visuals. The tension is great but there is only a few jumpscares. As a let's player I enjoyed the moments with monster chasing me through the corridors.… Full Review »
  2. gerryrobinson78
    Aug 17, 2016
    8
    There is nice story, very good music (shame there is not ost to buy separetely). Monster is scary. Really nice horror and cheap in addition. IThere is nice story, very good music (shame there is not ost to buy separetely). Monster is scary. Really nice horror and cheap in addition. I think that you can buy it, if only you don't want to have everything like in Alien: Isolation with $10 price.… Full Review »
  3. Amir-Hadzi
    Aug 24, 2016
    7
    Game where you are being chased by some terrible monster that wants to kill you... Oh wait this reminds me of something, wait i know everyGame where you are being chased by some terrible monster that wants to kill you... Oh wait this reminds me of something, wait i know every horror survival game out there. My comparison aside this game is a survival horror with some stealth elements made by Polyslash indie studio. Something that makes this game stand out from every survival horror is your toxin meter where you have to use antidote to lower your toxin levels. Ship is the area you play in and it has some minor design flaws but it's very nice looking. The biggest issue in this game is AI, i don't think it's bad but game would have been better if events were scripted because suspense builds up with ambient then that mosnter wanders and sees you and all that suspense is lost, maybe first few times you are going to get scared but later it's just going to be boring. Game looks very good, fine enemy design and a good handling of horror element building suspense instead of a jumpscare around every corner. Phantaruk has a lot of good elements but the thing why i rated it lower then some might expect is it's similarity with other games of the genre and lack of innovation. To summarise it: Phantaruk is a game with a decent story, good enemy design, fine soundtrack, game looks nice but it's more or less same with every other sci-fi survival horror out there. If you are a fan of sci-fi survival horror games like SOMA you should find this game very enjoyable and interesting while if you aren't a big fan of survival horror games you won't really find it enjoyable. For the price tag Phantaruk is a cheap quality game… Full Review »
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