What happens when the line between human and machine is crossed in a world that’s already lost its soul? REPLACED is a cinematic 2.5D action-platformer that traps you in a dystopian 1980s America where life itself has become a cold, hard currency.
In this article we’ll be giving a full review of the game and ranking it from decaf to fully caffeinated.
story:
The story is set in an alternate 1980s America, where the world has been devastated by nuclear attacks and the Phoenix Corporation has risen to power. This corporation essentially manages human organ donations, turning human life into a literal currency. You play as an AI trapped in a human body against its will, and you’ll navigate the gritty, dystopian city of Phoenix to find your place in this mess.
The story is told through dialogue scenes with a variety of characters you meet along your journey, as well as via scannable snippets of story scattered throughout the world. It’s a linear story, but it’s jam-packed with action, emotion, and an underlying mystery of self-discovery. I think this is a particularly poignant story about AI and how it’s used, which feels incredibly relevant to current issues today and looks at things through a totally different lens. It’s a gripping narrative that really encourages you to keep pushing so you can discover what’s really going on and, more importantly, what your role in it is.
For a plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish, the story is Fully Caffeinated.
gameplay:
On the surface this game looks like it leans more towards a point-and-click, but in reality, it’s a gritty platformer with plenty of action and combat. You’ll navigate a 2.5D world, exploring different environments and using different movement mechanics to allow you to progress through each level. There are distinct chapters, each with different locations to explore, and the game subtly introduces more mechanics as you progress.
You do have some freedom to explore in different areas and interact with different objects to flesh out your understanding of different characters or the story, but typically you’re following a pathway through each level. There’s definitely a ton of interesting challenges in this one. You’ll experience swinging, grappling, jumping, and stealth, and often it can feel like a bit of a puzzle to navigate through an area. Alongside this, the game has a decent dose of combat with dodging, countering, and special attacks that add a real action element to the game.
The 2.5D perspective really mixes the platformer genre up because often you’re dealing with environmental challenges as well as the platforming itself. There were many a times playing when the perspective forced me to really explore to work out how to proceed, and I really loved that so many of the elements you need to use are integrated so heavily into the environment. This is a game that has really taken the platforming genre and elevated it to feel like you’re literally playing through an action movie.
For gameplay, I’m rating REPLACED as Fully Caffeinated.
design:
The design is where this game really shines. From the moment you boot up the game, you’re immediately immersed into a gritty, cyberpunk environment that is easy to forget is pixel art. The dynamic lighting is absolutely stunning, and the 2.5D perspective, complete with objects passing “in front of the camera,” really catapults this game into a league of its own.
The soundscape is no different, elevating the gameplay, bringing the world to life, and completely immersing you in this post-apocalyptic atmosphere. This is a game that without a doubt is one of the most innovative ways to use pixel art and I was consistently blown away at the level of detail in the game. It’s a visual masterclass that sets a new standard for the genre.
For design, I’m Rating REPLACED as Fully Caffeinated.
originality:
I’m not usually a massive platforming fan. Typically they have a decent difficulty curve and are quite linear, but this one really took me by surprise. The graphics alone were enough to really hook me on how special and unique this game is, and I don’t think I’ve ever played a game that really captures that “playing a movie” feeling.
There’s some similarities to other platformers in the way height is used and the navigation mechanics, and even the combat doesn’t feel really different from other games. However, the perspective is what takes those mechanics and makes them feel totally different to other games. This is a game that is unlike any other game I’ve played, proving that you can take a classic genre and make it feel completely fresh with the right artistic vision.
For originality, I’m Rating REPLACED as Fully Caffeinated.
The Final Brew:
REPLACED is a game that draws you in to a gritty, dark, and twisty world full of different mysteries and characters. Its story is incredibly engaging, and the cinematic feel of the game is in a league of its own
We’ve ground the beans, we’ve carefully weighed and pressed the grinds, and brewed this game down. Now it’s time for a taste test….
REPLACED is Fully Caffeinated!
REPLACED is available on Steam, Epic, GOG, and Xbox including via Xbox Game Pass now. Check it out here!