PATHOGEN X: WHEN RESIDENT EVIL MEETS A BUDGET CRISIS

In a world oversaturated with zombie games, Pathogen X stumbles onto the scene like a freshly turned undead, unsure of its footing but eager to take a bite out of your gaming time. This indie survival horror title promises intense action, creepy atmosphere, and more types of infected than you can shake a crowbar at. But does it deliver, or is it just another shambling corpse in the ever-growing graveyard of mediocre horror games? Let's dissect this beast and see what makes it tick.

GAMEPLAY: SHOOT FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS... WELL, NEVER

Pathogen X doesn't waste time with pleasantries. You're thrown into a world gone to shit faster than you can say "patient zero." The gameplay loop is simple: shoot, scavenge, survive. Rinse and repeat until the credits roll or you rage quit, whichever comes first.

The gunplay feels surprisingly solid for an indie title. Each weapon, from your trusty pistol to the satisfyingly chunky shotgun, packs a punch that'll make you feel like a badass... for about five minutes until you realize you're knee-deep in zombie guts and running low on ammo. It's a delicate balance between conserving resources and going full Rambo, and Pathogen X mostly nails it.

Enemy variety is where the game tries to shine. You've got your standard shuffling zombies, sure, but then there are infected soldiers who apparently forgot how to use cover, and some truly bizarre monstrosities that look like they were designed by a committee of horror movie fans on acid. It's a mixed bag, but at least it keeps you on your toes.

BOSSES: WHEN "WHAT THE FUCK" BECOMES A BATTLE CRY

The boss fights in Pathogen X are where things get really interesting, and by interesting, I mean batshit insane. These encounters feel like they were ripped straight out of a fever dream, with designs and mechanics that'll make you question if you accidentally booted up a different game.

On one hand, it's refreshing to see a developer swing for the fences with boss design. On the other hand, some of these fights are about as balanced as a one-legged drunk trying to walk a tightrope. You'll either breeze through them wondering if that was it, or die repeatedly while cursing the game's lineage back to the primordial soup.

VISUALS: PRETTY GOOD... FOR AN INDIE GAME

Graphically, Pathogen X punches above its weight class. The environments are detailed and atmospheric, with some genuinely creepy locations that'll have you second-guessing every shadow. The lighting is particularly well done, creating a sense of dread that permeates every corner of the game world.

AUDIO: A SYMPHONY OF QUESTIONABLE CHOICES

If the visuals are the game's strong suit, the audio is its achilles heel. The sound effects are decent enough – guns sound appropriately beefy, and the squelch of a zombie's head exploding is satisfyingly gross. But then we get to the voice acting and music, and oh boy, it's a wild ride.

The voice acting is, to put it kindly, amateur hour at its finest. The main character delivers lines with all the emotion of a text-to-speech program reading a shopping list. It's so bad that it circles back around to being entertaining, in a "so bad it's good" kind of way. You'll find yourself looking forward to cutscenes just to hear what new depths of wooden delivery await you.

The music, on the other hand, seems to have been chosen by throwing darts at a board of random genres. One minute you're creeping through a dark corridor with appropriately tense ambient sounds, the next you're fighting for your life to what sounds like reject tracks from a 90s rave. It's jarring, to say the least, and often undermines the atmosphere the game is trying to build.

STORY: PRESENT, BUT NOT ACCOUNTED FOR

Pathogen X's story is about as deep as a puddle in the Sahara. You're a gruff military type sent to investigate a research facility gone dark. Surprise, surprise, it's zombies! The plot hits every cliché in the book, from the mysterious corporation behind it all to the inevitable betrayal you can see coming from a mile away.

But let's be honest, you're not here for Shakespeare. The story serves its purpose as a vehicle to move you from one zombie-infested area to the next, and in that regard, it does its job. Just don't expect any mind-blowing plot twists or character development deeper than "grr, must kill zombies."

LENGTH: SHORTER THAN A POLITICIAN'S MEMORY

Here's where Pathogen X really stumbles. The game is short. Like, "blink and you'll miss it" short. Most players report finishing it in 2-3 hours, which is less time than it takes to watch the extended edition of a Lord of the Rings movie. For a $10 price tag, that's a hard pill to swallow.

BUGS AND GLITCHES: FEATURES, NOT BUGS... RIGHT?

No indie game would be complete without its share of jank, and Pathogen X delivers in spades. You'll encounter everything from enemies getting stuck in walls to bosses suddenly forgetting how to boss. It's like the zombies infected the game code itself.

Most of these bugs are more amusing than game-breaking, but they do detract from the overall polish of the game. It's clear that with a bit more time in the oven, many of these issues could have been ironed out.

FINAL VERDICT: A FLAWED GEM IN THE ROUGH

Pathogen X is a tough game to score. On one hand, it's a solid effort from a small developer, with some genuinely fun gameplay and creative boss designs. On the other hand, it's short, buggy, and rough around the edges in ways that can't be ignored.

If you're a die-hard fan of survival horror and don't mind a bit (okay, a lot) of jank, there's fun to be had here. The core gameplay loop is satisfying, and there are moments of genuine tension and excitement. But the short length, questionable audio choices, and overall lack of polish make it hard to recommend at full price.

Final Score: 5.8 out of 10 Infected Lab Rats

Pathogen X is like that dive bar with surprisingly good burgers – it's not going to win any awards, but it might just satisfy your craving if you're in the right mood. Just maybe wait for a sale before you take a bite.

We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn’t impact our review in any way.