Rob reviews Replikator on Nintendo Switch…
Developed by R-Games and Maridian4, with publishing falling to indie game powerhouse, Ratalika Games, Replikator isn’t a game that’ll change the formula for rogue-likes yet to come. But, it doesn’t really need to. Instead it’s a simple rogue-like that builds upon the solid foundations that have already been laid by its forbearers.
Taking place in the future, Replikator places you into the boots of a mercenary who finds themselves up against a rogue AI. Much like Skynet, this AI sees humanity as a threat, and it’s up to you to fight through its defences and ultimately turn it off. However, with any rogue-like the task isn’t going to be easy. But thanks to the miracles of future technology, death isn’t the end and rebirth into a clone template is only a button press away. Likewise, a new body will also call for potential upgrades such as new abilities, and even more powerful weaponry.
With any rogue-like the gameplay loop needs to keep you invested in coming back to try again, and Replikator is no different. The basic premise here is to work your way through various levels in order to find an access key to the next. At certain intervals you’ll then have to battle a boss character, and then it’s back to rinse and repeat.
While it’s action can be especially punishing within the games earlier moments, it never feels unfair, or unplayable. The procedural nature of the title then means that every run is different which helps to keep things fresh, and the wealth of enemies to shoot compliments this too. Likewise, the currency used to outfit your merc comes in steady supply which means you’ll be able to upgrade something, or unlock a new weapon after every run - failed or not.
Each of the four characters are freely available via the opening hub, with each having their own strengths, weaknesses, and gameplay styles. I had great fun experimenting with the various characters, and while I did end up with a “go-to” hero, each felt particularly well balanced. When it comes to further tailoring the experience to what you want, Replikator gives you a wealth of abilities and weapons to unlock. This then allows you to build your operative to what’s compliments your play style, and the more you play - the better you’ll become. It’s all swings and roundabouts, but that’s the genres bread and butter.
With levels set on various space stations, the overall design follows the same ascetics. While the level layout does change with each run, the clean walls littered with vents, and bold hazard lines does not. Even though I’m a big sci-fi fan, this did start to wain on my patience at a few moments. With everything looking the same it was hard to discern wether I was in a “safe” place, or somewhere under the AI’s control. What sets Replikator apart from other rogue-likes is it’s fog of war mechanic. It’s well designed, and really plays into the atmosphere that you’re stepping into unknown territory. You’re never quite sure what’s lurking behind closed doors, and when the lights go out, the shroud becomes just as much as an enemy!
Presentation is played out within a 16-bit pixel style, Replikator oozes that retro feel. It’s a style that perfectly matches the ascetics, and really helps to build the nightmarish atmosphere of its locales. Likewise, each enemy looks garish, and the on-screen displays feed plenty of information without being too cluttered. Controls also handle pretty well, and the twin-stick controls allow for some quick reactions. Animations is really the games only negative. Quite often they feel clunky, and a little out of place. It’s also here when you can tell the game doesn’t have that AAA budget. Thankfully, it’s only minor and doesn’t detract from what R-Games and Meridian4 have already achieved with the title.
Overall, Replikator is a great fusion of two much loved genres. It’s got the arcade fast-paced style of an top-down shooter, and the frantic repetitive nature of a rogue-like all under a banner of sci-fi horror delight. If you’re a fan of rogue-likes and want to try something a little different, then Replikator is one of highly recommended. And with an entry price of £9.99 it’s hardly going to break the bank!
Rating: 7.5/10
A code was kindly provided for this review.
Replikator is available now and can be purchased from the Nintendo Switch store by clicking here.
Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on Twitter/Facebook @GeekCultureRev, and TikTok/YouTube @Geekculturereviews.
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