Maniac is an interesting and original top-down shooter, a great way to add to the uniqueness of your stream, and is fun to play on its own. It can be part of a great livestream and is made even better if you’re able to give your audience methods to participate in your broadcast.

Keep your livestream original

I think one of the aspects of running a stream which requires the most thought is the need to keep the stream unique and fun. In the end, a stream which doesn’t entertain its audience won’t last long.

Maniac is a game which can be one way to keep your stream original, appeal to people who have been watching and playing for quite a while, and introduce new viewers to a type of play they may not have seen before.

Maniac is a top-down shooter, played quite similarly to the older releases of Grand Theft Auto. It has three camera views and, while people may say these views are less immersive than play in the more modern style, I would answer that sometimes, being immersive can have its disadvantages, and the style of play offered by Maniac may suit some players and watchers more than the more realistic gaming we’ve gotten used to.

Like even the most modern of games, though, Maniac allows the player to produce a great deal of mayhem, though it is, in my experience, more funny than gory. I think this sort of more amusing mayhem fits well with the less realistic, less immersive, style of play which shooting from an overhead view allows.

I would say the entire point of the game is to be a bit less serious and more a vehicle for both the players and audience to have light-hearted fun. The audio content used by the game also fits into this less serious style. The word which kept coming to mind as I listened to the audio, and particularly the music, was catchy.

The graphics also fit into this style of play. Like the camera views, there are three settings for graphics quality. Even the highest isn’t particularly realistic but again, the point of the entire game is not to be realistic, it’s to be fun. The graphics work to that end, and work well, besides being usable on the vast majority of machines without difficulty.

Unlike the graphics, the game does excel at being replayable. Like most rogue-like games, its map is randomized so that having played it once doesn’t mean that playing again is just a repetition. Every start gives a different map and a different series of plays, so the game will take quite a while to get boring.

Finally, as to the mechanics of playing and streaming, it’s worth noting that playing with a controller can take some getting used to since, at least on my end, the left side of the controller is used to aim and control the play. I have found the best way to play, the way which gives most accuracy, is with mouse and keyboard.

Bring your audience together with Maniac

Streaming works very well, but the game is not intended for it by the manufacturer. Unlike, just for example, party games, participation is not built into the game itself. This is a single player game and those of us who stream it will have to set up our own audience participation.

That participation is easy enough to set up through the many voice chat systems we have, and the audience can enjoy being with the streamer. The fact that we have to set it up ourselves isn’t a problem, it’s just something we need to think about before we stream.

Having said all that, Maniac is an excellent game for making your stream original and more fun for your audience while amusing yourself. So long as you set up any participation you want and know the game is supposed to be simple amusement, Maniac can be a very useful part of your stream’s repertoire.

Maniac

PC (2024)

Performance

Streamability

Audience Engagement

Replayability

Summary

Maniac is an excellent game for making your stream original and more fun for your audience while amusing yourself. So long as you set up any participation you want and know the game is supposed to be simple amusement, Maniac can be a very useful part of your stream’s repertoire.

3.4

STEAM

Mega1X

From the moment I grasped a controller at a young age, the world of gaming has been a constant companion in my life, guiding me through myriad worlds and stories. An avid gamer ever since, I’ve always been drawn to the immersive universes of single-player games, where rich narratives and expansive worlds offer an escape into the depths of imagination and storytelling. My passion for gaming is not just about playing; it’s about experiencing and living through the amazing stories that these games offer, each one a unique adventure that enriches my love for this digital art form.

Beyond the screen, I’m a casual streamer, revelling in the joy of sharing my gaming experiences and connecting with like-minded individuals. This platform allows me to blend my love for technology and gaming, creating a space where conversations flow, friendships form, and the shared passion for gaming thrives.