Attack of the Evil Poop

Attack of the Evil Poop is a chaotic, first-person shooter where players battle giant, sentient poops in a surreal, toilet-themed fever dream. Armed with a disinfecting gun and a toilet brush, you must flush away monstrous poops while fending off smaller enemies in a crowded, fast-paced shooting gallery. The game blends absurd humor with frantic action, featuring boss battles, hidden objects, and unlockable challenges, all set in a bizarre, contemporary bathroom battleground.

Attack of the Evil Poop: A Scatological Masterpiece or a Flush Down the Drain?

Introduction: The Game That Dares to Ask, “What If Your Toilet Was a Battleground?”

In the annals of video game history, few titles have dared to tread the treacherous waters of scatological humor with the unapologetic fervor of Attack of the Evil Poop. Released in 2019 by the indie studio Ascend Digitally, this first-person shooter (FPS) hybrid defies convention by transforming the mundane act of flushing a toilet into a high-stakes, boss-battle extravaganza. At first glance, the game’s premise—battling sentient, malevolent feces in a bathroom arena—seems like a one-note joke stretched thin. Yet, beneath its veneer of potty humor lies a surprisingly robust, if niche, gaming experience that challenges players to look past the fecal matter and appreciate its mechanical depth.

This review will dissect Attack of the Evil Poop with the rigor it deserves, exploring its development history, narrative absurdity, gameplay systems, and cultural impact. Is it a bold, boundary-pushing indie gem, or is it merely a gimmick that flirts with the line between comedy and crassness? By the end, we’ll determine whether this game is a diamond in the rough or a turd polished to a shine.

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Development History & Context: The Birth of a Scatological Shooter

The Studio Behind the Stench

Ascend Digitally, the Spanish indie studio responsible for Attack of the Evil Poop, is a small but ambitious team led by developer Alejandro Navarro. The studio’s portfolio is eclectic, but this title stands out as its most audacious project—a game that embraces the absurd while attempting to deliver genuine gameplay depth. The studio’s mission, as gleaned from its promotional materials, was to create a game that was both a parody of the FPS genre and a love letter to the chaotic, over-the-top action of arcade shooters.

Technological Constraints and Design Choices

Built using the Unity engine, Attack of the Evil Poop leverages the tool’s accessibility to craft a game that is visually simple but mechanically complex. The decision to use Unity was likely influenced by its ease of use for indie developers, allowing Ascend Digitally to focus on gameplay innovation rather than grappling with engine limitations. The game’s art style is deliberately cartoonish, with exaggerated animations and bright, garish colors that amplify its comedic tone.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the game’s development is its apparent design for virtual reality (VR), despite never receiving an official VR release. The fixed perspective and limited movement mechanics suggest that the game was conceived with VR in mind, where players would physically turn their heads to aim and dodge. However, the studio opted to release it as a traditional first-person shooter, possibly due to the oversaturated VR market or technical hurdles. This design choice leaves the game feeling somewhat awkward on a standard monitor, as players are confined to a rail-shooter-esque experience without the immersive benefits of VR.

The Gaming Landscape in 2019

Attack of the Evil Poop emerged during a period when indie games were flourishing, thanks in part to platforms like Steam and itch.io democratizing game distribution. The late 2010s saw a surge in experimental, humor-driven titles that pushed the boundaries of taste and convention—games like Goat Simulator, Octodad: Dadliest Catch, and Surgeon Simulator proved that absurdity could be a viable selling point. Attack of the Evil Poop fits squarely within this tradition, though it distinguishes itself by leaning harder into the scatological than most.

The game’s release also coincided with a growing trend of “meme games”—titles that rely on internet culture, shock value, and viral marketing to gain traction. While Attack of the Evil Poop doesn’t quite reach the meme status of something like Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, it certainly embraces the spirit of the era, using its outrageous premise as both a hook and a shield against criticism.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: The Plot Thickens (Literally)

The Story: A Tale of Digestive Revenge

Attack of the Evil Poop presents a narrative that is as ridiculous as its title suggests. The game’s premise revolves around a protagonist who, after consuming a questionable meal (the specifics of which vary by level), finds themselves locked in a life-or-death struggle against sentient, aggressive feces in their bathroom. Each level introduces a new “boss poop,” each with unique abilities and attack patterns, all of which must be defeated before they overflow the toilet and wreak havoc on the household.

The game’s story is framed as a darkly comedic allegory for the universal human experience of gastrointestinal distress. The opening cutscenes depict the protagonist writhing in agony on the toilet, their mind slipping into a fever dream where their bowel movements come to life as monstrous adversaries. This framing device allows the game to lean into its absurdity while grounding it in a relatable, if grotesque, scenario.

Characters and Dialogue: The Art of the One-Liner

The game’s cast is minimal but memorable. The protagonist is a silent everyman, a stand-in for the player who serves as the straight man to the game’s absurdity. The true “characters” are the evil poops themselves, each designed with distinct personalities and attack patterns. For example:
– The Flaming Poop: A fiery adversary that leaves scorched toilet seats in its wake.
– The Explosive Poop: A volatile enemy that detonates upon defeat, splattering the bathroom walls.
– The Sticky Poop: A slow-moving but relentless foe that clings to the player, reducing mobility.

The dialogue, such as it is, consists primarily of exaggerated sound effects (splashes, gurgles, and the occasional “PLUNK!”) and over-the-top voice lines from the protagonist’s unseen girlfriend, who occasionally chimes in to express disgust or urgency. The writing is intentionally juvenile, but it serves the game’s tone well, never pretending to be anything more than a vehicle for toilet humor.

Themes: More Than Just a Pile of Jokes

Beneath its scatological surface, Attack of the Evil Poop explores themes of bodily autonomy, the loss of control, and the absurdity of everyday struggles. The game’s premise—battling one’s own waste—can be read as a metaphor for the human condition, where we are constantly at war with our own bodies and their unpredictable betrayals. The bathroom, a place of vulnerability and privacy, becomes a battleground, reflecting the internal turmoil of the protagonist.

The game also plays with the idea of powerlessness. The protagonist is confined to a small space, unable to move freely, forced to confront their enemies head-on. This lack of agency mirrors the helplessness one feels during a bout of food poisoning or a stomach virus, where the only recourse is to endure and fight back as best as one can.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: Flushing Out the Details

Core Gameplay Loop: Shoot, Brush, Flush, Repeat

At its heart, Attack of the Evil Poop is a hybrid of a first-person shooter and a rail shooter, with elements of quick-time events (QTEs) thrown in for good measure. The player is confined to a fixed position in the bathroom, able to rotate their view left and right using the A and D keys (or a gamepad’s analog stick) but unable to move freely. This design choice is both a strength and a weakness: it simplifies the controls and focuses the action, but it also limits the player’s tactical options, reducing the game to a series of reaction-based challenges.

The primary objective in each level is to defeat the “boss poop” by depleting its health bar. Players are equipped with two main tools:
1. The LysoGun: A disinfectant spray gun that deals damage to enemies. It functions like a standard FPS weapon, with unlimited ammo but a cooldown period to prevent spamming.
2. The Toilet Brush: A melee weapon used for close-range attacks. It’s less effective than the LysoGun but useful for dealing with smaller, faster enemies.

In addition to these weapons, players can interact with the environment, destroying objects like garbage cans, faucets, and baths to earn “corn kernels,” the game’s currency. These kernels can be spent in the in-game store to purchase upgrades, such as increased damage output, faster reload times, or new weapons like the “Pee Stream,” which allows players to douse enemies in a golden arc of urine.

Combat and Enemy Variety

The game’s combat is chaotic and fast-paced, with enemies swarming the player from all directions. The boss poops are the main attraction, each requiring different strategies to defeat:
– The Flaming Poop must be doused with water from the showerhead before it can be damaged.
– The Explosive Poop must be kept at a distance, as it detonates upon death, dealing area-of-effect damage.
– The Sticky Poop slows the player’s movement, requiring quick melee attacks to dislodge it.

Smaller “minion poops” serve as fodder, charging at the player in waves and forcing them to divide their attention between the boss and the horde. The game’s difficulty ramps up quickly, with later levels introducing combinations of enemies that require precise timing and resource management.

Progression and Upgrades

Attack of the Evil Poop features a light progression system, where players earn corn kernels by defeating enemies and destroying objects. These kernels can be spent in the in-game store to purchase upgrades, such as:
– Damage Boosts: Increase the effectiveness of the LysoGun and toilet brush.
– Health Upgrades: Extend the player’s health bar, allowing them to withstand more hits.
– New Weapons: Unlock alternative attacks, like the Pee Stream or a plunger-based projectile.

The upgrades add a layer of strategy to the game, allowing players to tailor their loadout to their playstyle. However, the system is relatively shallow, with upgrades offering incremental improvements rather than game-changing abilities.

Multiplayer: Flushing with Friends

The game includes a local multiplayer “Versus” mode, where two players can compete to see who can flush their poop the fastest. This mode is a chaotic, frantic affair, with players racing to defeat their respective boss poops while sabotaging each other’s efforts. While the mode is fun in short bursts, it lacks the depth of the single-player campaign and feels more like a bonus feature than a fully realized experience.

Controls and UI: A Mixed Bag

The game’s controls are simple but not always intuitive. The fixed perspective and limited movement can feel restrictive, especially for players accustomed to the freedom of modern FPS games. The UI is functional but unremarkable, with health bars, ammo counters, and objective markers displayed clearly but without much flair.

One of the game’s most glaring flaws is its lack of a proper tutorial. While the game does offer a brief introduction to the controls, it fails to adequately explain some of the more nuanced mechanics, such as how to effectively use the environment or how to counter specific enemy types. This oversight can lead to frustration, especially in the later levels where precision and strategy are key.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Bathroom Like No Other

Setting and Atmosphere: The Toilet as a Battleground

Attack of the Evil Poop takes place entirely within the confines of a bathroom, a setting that is both claustrophobic and oddly expansive. The game’s levels are themed around different types of digestive distress, with each bathroom reflecting the protagonist’s latest culinary misadventure. For example:
– The Mexican Restaurant Level: Features a bathroom adorned with sombreros and piñatas, with a boss poop that spews spicy flames.
– The Seafood Buffet Level: Takes place in a nautical-themed bathroom, with a boss poop that summons tidal waves from the toilet bowl.
– The Fast Food Level: A greasy, neon-lit bathroom where the boss poop is a towering, burger-shaped monstrosity.

The game’s art style is deliberately cartoonish, with exaggerated proportions and bright, garish colors. The bathroom fixtures are oversized, and the poops are rendered with a level of detail that is both impressive and grotesque. The game’s visual design walks a fine line between comedy and revulsion, ensuring that players are constantly aware of the absurdity of the scenario.

Sound Design: The Symphony of the Sewer

The game’s sound design is a standout feature, with a cacophony of gross-out sound effects that amplify the comedic tone. The squelching of poop underfoot, the gurgle of the toilet, and the splat of a well-placed LysoGun shot all contribute to the game’s immersive (if nauseating) atmosphere. The voice acting, while minimal, is delivered with the appropriate level of over-the-top enthusiasm, particularly in the case of the protagonist’s girlfriend, whose exasperated reactions provide much of the game’s humor.

The game’s soundtrack is a mix of upbeat, arcade-style tunes that complement the fast-paced action. The music is catchy but repetitive, with only a handful of tracks that loop throughout the game. While the soundtrack doesn’t stand out as a memorable feature, it serves its purpose well, keeping the energy high and the player engaged.

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Reception & Legacy: A Game That Divides Opinions

Critical Reception: A Polarizing Experience

Attack of the Evil Poop received a mixed but generally positive reception from players, with a Steambase Player Score of 81/100 based on 48 reviews. Critics, however, were largely silent on the game, with major outlets like Metacritic listing it as “tbd” due to a lack of professional reviews. This absence of critical coverage is telling—Attack of the Evil Poop is the kind of game that thrives on word-of-mouth and niche appeal rather than mainstream validation.

Player reviews on Steam and other platforms highlight the game’s divisive nature. Fans praise its humor, fast-paced action, and creative premise, while detractors dismiss it as a one-joke game with shallow mechanics. Common criticisms include:
– Repetitive Gameplay: Some players feel that the core mechanics grow stale after a few levels, with little variation in the boss fights.
– Awkward Controls: The fixed perspective and limited movement are frequently cited as frustrating, particularly for players used to more traditional FPS controls.
– Lack of Depth: The upgrade system and progression mechanics are seen as too simplistic to sustain long-term engagement.

Despite these criticisms, the game has cultivated a small but dedicated fanbase, with players appreciating its unapologetic embrace of absurdity. The Steam Community forums are filled with screenshots, guides, and discussions about the game’s hidden secrets, indicating that it has resonated with a certain segment of the gaming population.

Commercial Performance: A Niche Success

Attack of the Evil Poop was released at a budget price of $4.99, a strategic move that likely contributed to its commercial success. While exact sales figures are not publicly available, the game’s presence on multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, and eventually Linux) and its frequent appearances in Steam sales suggest that it has found a modest but sustainable audience.

The game’s crowdfunding campaign, launched in 2017, also indicates that there was sufficient interest in the concept to justify its development. The campaign offered backers digital copies, soundtracks, and exclusive wallpapers, further evidence that the game’s humor and premise resonated with a specific demographic.

Influence and Legacy: A Footnote in Gaming History

Attack of the Evil Poop is unlikely to be remembered as a groundbreaking or influential game in the broader context of video game history. However, it serves as a fascinating case study in the power of niche appeal and the enduring popularity of humor-driven indie games. Its legacy lies in its willingness to embrace the absurd, to take a premise that most developers would dismiss as too crass or juvenile and to execute it with a level of polish and care that elevates it beyond a mere joke.

The game’s influence can be seen in the continued proliferation of “meme games” and humor-driven indie titles, which often rely on shock value and viral marketing to gain traction. While Attack of the Evil Poop may not have spawned a genre of its own, it stands as a testament to the creativity and audacity of indie developers who refuse to play it safe.

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Conclusion: To Flush or Not to Flush?

Attack of the Evil Poop is a game that defies easy categorization. It is simultaneously a masterpiece of absurdity and a flawed experiment in gameplay design. Its premise is undeniably ridiculous, but its execution is surprisingly competent, offering a level of mechanical depth and polish that elevates it above the realm of mere novelty.

For players who appreciate humor that is unapologetically crude and gameplay that is fast-paced and chaotic, Attack of the Evil Poop is a hidden gem. Its fixed perspective and limited movement may frustrate some, but those who embrace its constraints will find a game that is both challenging and endlessly entertaining. The upgrade system, while shallow, adds a layer of strategy that keeps the gameplay engaging, and the boss fights are creative enough to maintain interest throughout the campaign.

However, the game is not without its flaws. The lack of a proper tutorial and the repetitive nature of the core mechanics may deter players looking for a more substantial experience. Additionally, the game’s humor is not for everyone—those who find potty humor distasteful will likely be turned off by the game’s relentless scatological focus.

Ultimately, Attack of the Evil Poop is a game that knows exactly what it is and embraces it wholeheartedly. It is a celebration of the absurd, a love letter to the chaotic and the grotesque, and a testament to the power of indie creativity. While it may not be a game for the ages, it is certainly a game that deserves to be remembered—as a bold, uncompromising experiment that dared to ask the question: What if your toilet was a battleground?

Final Verdict: 7.5/10 – A Flush Worth Taking

Attack of the Evil Poop is a game that will either delight or repulse, with little middle ground. For those who can stomach its humor and embrace its chaotic gameplay, it offers a uniquely entertaining experience that is well worth the $4.99 price tag. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is a masterclass in how to take a ridiculous premise and turn it into something genuinely fun.