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<< Developer or Publisher: Zaru ~ 1 found

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Genre/Control

Specific tags for the title's features

Ranking

Similarity & Review

Review

Multiple Sources

Similarity

Compared to VS. Not a review!

Similarity Scale

Percentage of possible points earned scored -1 to 1 in tenths in 60 categories

Genre Controls Modes Progress Builds Stages Content Aesthetic Vibe

Dev Scores Submitted via Score Card (Upcoming, Unreviewed)

This section includes mostly upcoming games where devs themselves submitted a score card or filled the web form. Tags sugggested by devs.

They'll be moved up top after I've checked it all over and adjusted the feature scores to be in line with how other games are scored.

[edit]

Test Lab Inc.

EA Free Available

Note: Feature comparison score and metadata reported based on dev submitted scorecard about early version of in progress game

Auto-Shooter Bullet Heaven Roguelite Survivors-like Top Down or Isometric
- Combined Ranking Score
-/72 Ranking Position
-/1600 Total Points
- Final Review
-% Steam
- Scale
- Vibes
0 Steam Reviews
-/400 Review Points
5.4 Similarity Score
77% Diagnosis:
Similar
922/1200 Comparison Points
94% Genre 7/8 genre
79% Simple Controls 4/7 move
69% Survival Modes 1.5/4 modes
69% Power Progression 1.5/4 level
98% Buildcrafting Depth 4.8/5 build
84% Stage Features 4.7/7 stage
58% Content Breadth 1.5/9 stuff
60% Aesthetics 1.2/6 style
80% Gameplay Vibe Check 6/10 vibe vibe

Test Lab Inc. Ranking Notes

- +

Scaling and Review Notes

Every game ranked was played, but also scaled based on research, talking to developers & your feedback. The priority with the scale's initial design was to compare similarity on relatively objective features - so it doesn't claim to include reviews of the depth and clarity you'd get at a games journalism site, nor the intensive time played you might get from player reviews on steam. We try to incorporate and link all of that along with a 'review scale' that checks for bugs. See the heatmap and breakdown! Time played noted so you can take any notes with a big grain of salt! I can't get to high level gameplay in 850+ games so I heavily research every game. Over 80 game creators let me interview or survey them! I Hope to go back and refine. Please argue or submit your own scores and reviews to be incorporated with credit into the notes and score numbers.

Added or last checked on 11/13/2023

Scale scoring from scorecard submitted by Developer. Once evaluated after a couple hours play and some research, will be adjusted and moved up into the ranking proper.

Test Lab Inc. Similarity Scale Heatmap

- +

Measured in 60 categories via likert-scale style options -1 to 1 in tenths, how does this game compare to Vampire Survivors. This allows 1200 total "points". It's easier to have a point of comparison and we just picked Vampire Survivors since it's the most popular and commonly referenced game in the subgenre. For detailed methodology read the explainer. For in depth examples at score value, see the scoring guide and for term definitions see the key.

5.4 Similarity Score
77% Diagnosis:
922/1200 Comparison Points
Rogue-lite 0.5/1
Auto-Fire / Auto-Battle 1/1
Real Time 1/1
Top Down or Isometric 1/1
Direct Control of Single Avatar 1/1
Arcade Style 1/1
Bullet Heaven A (Many Player Bullets) 1/1
Bullet Heaven B (Few Enemy Bullets) 0.5/1
One Handed Play (w Controller) 0.5/1
Move Only 0.5/1
No Dash -1/1
No Trigger 1/1
No Special Move 1/1
No Aiming 1/1
No On-Aim / On-Fire Movement Penalty 1/1
Timed / Boss Ended Survival 0.5/1
Endless Mode 0/1
Organic / Unannounced Waves 0.5/1
High Enemy Count (Horde) 0.5/1
Level Up on XP Gain Event 0/1
Streamlined Level Choices (Simple UI) 0.5/1
Currency Based Meta Unlocks 1/1
Goal Based Meta Unlocks 0/1
Build Crafting 1/1
1/1
Weapon Combination / "Evolution" 1/1
Interesting Item / Weapon / Ability Synergy 1/1
Broken / Invincible Builds Possible 0.8/1
Explorable Map 0/1
BIG Maps 0.2/1
XP on Ground 1/1
Health on Ground 1/1
Temp Powerups / Items on Ground 1/1
Treasure Chests and/or Loot Events 1/1
Vendor / Merchant on Run 0.5/1
Enemy Variety 0.3/1
Bosses / Elites 0.4/1
Many Interesting Characters 0/1
Many Challenges 0/1
Multiple Stages 0/1
Difficulty Modifiers 0.5/1
Bestiary / Lore 0/1
Achievements 0.3/1
Secrets 0/1
Retro / Pixel Art -0.1/1
Damage Numbers 1/1
Lofi Charm 0/1
Bumpin Music 0.3/1
Fun Writing 0/1
Subtle Humor 0/1
Panic & Zen Duo Vibe 0.5/1
Over the Top 1/1
"One More Run" / Short Runs 0/1
Difficulty Ramp 0.5/1
Fun Ramp 0.5/1
Low Price 1/1
Technical Check 1/1
Controls Check 1/1
Fun Check 0.5/1
Feels like VS 0/1

Test Lab Inc. Tag Cloud

- +

More sortable taxonomies and categories associated with the game (genre tags are available in the main game table line!) We've just started adding tags to enable more sorting options, this section will get more filled out as we go!

Release Tags

Windows PCEAFree Available

Sorting Categories

Similar

Genre and Control Style Tags

Auto-ShooterBullet HeavenRogueliteSurvivors-likeTop Down or Isometric

Aesthetic Tags

Unknown

Setting / Story Tags

Unknown

Control Styles

Controller

Game Mode Tags

Branching PathsDungeon Crawl30m

Features and Extras

Steam AchievementsSteam Cloud

Dev/Publisher

Zaru

Game Features

- +

Listing various features we've got info on.

Multiplayer

  • Local: No
  • Online: No
  • Player Count: 1
  • Leaderboards: ?

Steam Features

  • Steam Cloud: Yes
  • Steam Achievements: 11
  • Steam Leaderboards: No
  • Steam Workshop: No
  • Steam Trading Cards: No

Extras, Etc.

  • NSFW: No
  • Demo Available: Yes
  • DLC Available: No
  • Soundtrack Available: No

Marketing Blurb

- +

Some description of the game and its features from the creators.

"Customize your skills and rain hell upon the endless hordes of robots. Test Lab Inc. is a fast-paced game where you'll be constantly tweaking your abilities until you become the ultimate weapon of mass destruction and crush all the puny robots that dare cross your path."

Game Modes

- +

Branching Paths, Dungeon Crawl

Game Mode Notes

"we have a progression style similar to Slay the Spire where you have you have a map with combat and other types of nodes"

Run Times & Speedups

- +

Average Run Time: 30m

Run Time Notes

Dev: "A Run is composed of multiple maps, a single map usually won't be longer than 5 minutes, and a full run will usually last 30 minutes."

"The normal combat nodes usually don't last longer than 5 minutes, the boss at the end of the run will vary with the difficulty you're currently running and how much dps you can do with your build, but we've seen it last between 2-10 minutes, and a full run will vary a lot as you can choose shorter paths, skip combat options, and your build and how fast you can clear will impact on your timer, but what we aimed for was 30 minutes runs."

Speed Settings

None