Brush Burial: Gutter World
" Murky action-adventure with fluid parkour and tactical combat but limited levels and clunky inventory "
Brush Burial: Gutter World Review
Brush Burial: Gutter World is a unique immersive sim blending fast-paced stealth and combat with a distinct gothic, urban fantasy aesthetic. Players control Fennel, a demon assassin with fluid parkour abilities, versatile combat moves, and a focus mode that slows time for tactical decisions. The game offers four levels—one large and three smaller ones—designed for replayability through mastery challenges and speedrunning. The relationship between Fennel and her partner Sigg adds an unexpected emotional depth to the otherwise dark setting.
Despite its polished movement, satisfying takedown animations, and engaging gameplay mechanics, the game is noted for its clunky inventory system and occasionally inconsistent stealth detection. The short content length leaves many players eager for more missions or expansions. The game demands patience and skill, rewarding players who invest time mastering levels and routes. Overall, it provides a challenging, stylish stealth experience with a niche appeal, especially for fans of classic immersive sims and speedrunning enthusiasts.
Highlights
Players praise the game's fluid and agile movement system, which complements stealth and combat mechanics beautifully. The takedown animations, especially using Fennel's thighs, are highly satisfying and unique. The game's gothic PSX-inspired art style and atmospheric worldbuilding create a distinct and immersive experience. The relationship and interactions between Fennel and Sigg add unexpected charm. Replayability through mastery challenges and speedrunning is a strong point, alongside the rewarding route-planning and level exploration. The customization options and unlockable outfits further enhance player engagement.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the clunky and unintuitive inventory management, which slows down combat and frustrates players. Stealth detection can feel inconsistent or overly punishing, sometimes resulting in unfair deaths. The limited number of levels—only four—leaves players wanting more content and variety. Some players find the AI vision and stealth mechanics harsh and trial-and-error heavy. Minor bugs and occasional jankiness in parkour or collision are also noted. The lack of mid-level saving increases difficulty but can be frustrating for newcomers.
Pros
- • Fluid and enjoyable parkour movement enhances stealth and combat flow.
- • Unique and satisfying takedown animations using the protagonist’s thighs.
- • Distinct gothic PSX art style creates a moody, immersive atmosphere.
- • Engaging replayability via mastery challenges and speedrunning modes.
- • Interesting character relationship adds emotional depth to the story.
- • Rewarding level design encourages exploration and route optimization.
- • Customization options with unlockable outfits increase player investment.
Cons
- • Clunky inventory system slows down combat and frustrates players.
- • Stealth detection can be inconsistent and overly punishing at times.
- • Only four levels available, leading to limited content and replay fatigue.
- • AI vision sometimes feels overtuned, causing unfair enemy detections.
- • No mid-level saves increases difficulty and player frustration.
- • Minor bugs and occasional parkour or collision jankiness present.
- • Inventory requires unequipping items before switching, disrupting flow.
Rating Criteria
A murky first-person immersive sim with tightly-wound melee combat and tangled, vertical levels to explore. Use your forked tail to tie your enemies in knots and climb impossible heights. Kill your mark with quickness and cunning, using whatever tools you see fit.