Developer: Sad Cat Studios
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Action, Adventure
Publisher: Thunderful
Replaced is a 2.5D action platformer that mixes in a brilliant pixelated art style and realism, too. It’s a cyberpunk dystopian world that mixes sci-fi, civil unrest, and much more in a detailed and wonderful exploration of cinematic gaming.
The most striking is the cinematic experience and immersion through the art style and direction of the game. It feels like a film from the start, minus the voice acting (I’ll get to this later). You play as Warren, who becomes overtaken by an AI R.E.A.C.H. You follow their journey through Phoenix-City in the 1980s, where the world and, in particular, the city has been reshaped by nuclear disaster. This dystopian backdrop fits perfectly with the game, the level design, the characters and the Replaced world in general. The world design and art style are complemented by a fantastic soundtrack that makes the world feel even more cyberpunk. It’s an amazing piece of cinema in a game; this is what really makes the game stand out, it’s not just your average 2.5D action platformer; it’s much more than that. The atmosphere and tension are epic; it’s intriguing. One slight issue for players will be the lack of voice acting, which may seem like a text-heavy game for some players. As you read all the lore and a lack of voice-over as a narration, the player will build up their own internal monologue to replace this, well, I did. The sound effects, perfect use of music throughout, do make up for this, but voice narration and the lack of will put off players, but it didn’t for me. The soundtrack is amazing and again adds to the cinematic nature of the game and its wonderfulness.
The gameplay isn’t secondary, but the world-building and design are the standout features of Replaced. The game does the action platformer genre really well, it mixes action, combat and puzzles brilliantly throughout, gameplay and mechanics are deliberately rolled out as you progress through the game. The game direction plays a part in leading the player through new mechanics and explains why certain mechanics aren’t available yet. I loved the combat in the game; it’s focused on precision and using every action at your disposal. The game pacing isn’t the quickest and deliberate; you are meant to enjoy and savour the experience, and the gameplay does this too. If you are expecting a high-paced and frenetic action game, this isn’t it. I loved the mob scenes where tons of enemies would battle you, and you needed to use everything at your disposal to win and make it to the next boss.
The boss fights are superb and thrilling. I love that each boss is a challenge and really leans on the player’s knowledge of the controls. Combat is slick and thoroughly enjoyable and just satisfying.
Our very own Sapphire also had a chance to play Replaced and had the following to say, “Replaced offers three difficulty options, easy, normal and hard, which is a great feature for replayability, especially for players looking to challenge themselves. I chose to play in normal mode, which felt like a great balance to begin with.
Visually, this game was amazing. The pixel graphics do not fall short at all. It amazes me how immensely detailed everything is. The combination of 2D and 3D elements is outstanding and truly sets the world apart. The foreground and background elements blend into each other seamlessly. I especially love how much depth is put into the cutscenes and animations. Nothing feels still; the camera shots and angles move dynamically. If Warren/Reach is on the run, the camera pans in slow or dramatic ways, which adds so much emphasis to the game. Even though you can’t see the characters’ facial expressions, the body language and animation are effortless. The music, writing, and visuals are all cinematic, making them stand out. The music is stellar, though I do wish you could play the collected tapes on your device in the background, as some of those tracks go so hard.
Replaced very much plays like a platformer mixed with combat and a strong narrative.
Traversal in this game is quite fluid, and I loved being able to walk through new areas and jump over boxes to reach higher ground. The environmental puzzles add a nice touch to the traversal, making it much more thrilling.
Not just traversal, but the combat too is fluid. It’s responsive and gets you into the action off the bat. I loved the animation icons and alerts that make the combat more impactful. Being able to use a baton for melee attacks, while also switching to long-range gun combat, allows for a nice mix when dealing with enemies, adding another exciting layer.
I thoroughly enjoyed the game, especially because the visuals are just amazing and the cinematics work so well. I will say that the narrative in this cyberpunk, dystopian-like world can feel a bit stereotypical. Some moments seem very predictable; however, I still enjoyed the impact they brought to the game. It felt like the visuals were a strong point for the overall thrilling experience. The traversal and combat, along with mini-game-like sequences and boss battles, make for a really good experience. Sometimes the action falls a bit short, especially when your timing is off. I found myself stuck in a constant death loop, mainly my fault, from missing jumps over obstacles like tree logs.
Replaced is a very enjoyable, thrilling experience that blends its elements in a fun way. The variety between combat and action scenes was exciting. It’s a great adventure, and I felt like I was engrossed in a visually stunning movie.”
Replaced blends the 2.5D action platformer genre with a cinematic experience that is second to none. I have played tons of 2.5D games, and this really stands out. What makes it stand out? The cinematic and art direction is the most prominent; the camera isn’t fixed all the time, and the use of direction to immerse the player more into the game is superb. They could have kept a fixed viewpoint as most 2.5D action platformers do, but this choice gives a real cinematic quality throughout the whole experience. I found just so many “wow” and breath-taking moments in the game, just by the use of camera angle and the player’s view. It gives a really deep and rich immersive experience. The intricate and detailed art style is also stunning and brings the world alive. These two key elements make the game just pop from the first few minutes throughout the game. Each environment has been crafted with love, and it seeps into the game. I found it a gripping and amazing journey, the game packed so much into this 2.5D world, amazing work by the dev team!
Overall: 9/10
Enjoys more than the odd game, long time gamer, somewhat a technologist and everything else in between.
Also enjoys a good solid game of FIFA online. Currently PS4, XBOX 360 and STEAM.
