Replaced Review: A Nostalgic Cyberpunk Tribute with Few Original Ideas
In the realm of cyberpunk, cautionary tales of corporate greed and transhumanist excess often take a backseat to the genre's iconic visual style. From the rain-soaked neon of Blade Runner to the dead-channel skies of Neuromancer, these images dominate pop culture. Replaced, a new 2D action-platformer from Belarus-based Sad Cat Studios, embraces this aesthetic but adds a unique twist: it bathes its dystopian world in soft sepia and warm primary colors, creating a comforting, almost cottagecore vibe reminiscent of Thomas Kinkade's work.
A Sentimental Story in a Sepia World
Players control Warren, a lanky scientist working on a powerful AI for the Phoenix Corporation. When an experiment goes awry, the AI merges with Warren's body, creating a man-machine hybrid. The game follows this entity as it flees a collapsing facility, navigating obstacles, climbing pipes, and evading hostile hoverships. Initially, Replaced feels overly derivative, sticking closely to action-platformer conventions without introducing many new ideas.
However, the pace changes when Warren reaches a refugee camp in a disused train station. Here, the game slows down, allowing exploration of a community living in poverty in an alternate, post-nuclear 1980s US. The camp is depicted with twinkling lights in tents and atmospheric weather effects, adding emotional depth to the narrative.
Gameplay and Visuals: Beauty with Flaws
As Warren ventures into irradiated wilds, the gameplay can feel generic. Armed with a truncheon and handgun, he battles Mad Max-style enemies in environments filled with graffiti and industrial decay. While the execution moves are visually striking, the detailed pixel art sometimes hinders gameplay, making it hard to distinguish interactive elements.
A standout sequence involves sneaking back into the heavily guarded Phoenix facility, with futuristic choppers and a looming wall evoking real-world barriers like the Mexico-US border. This section elevates the game, moving beyond its sugary homage to address darker themes.
Conclusion: A Mixed Cyberpunk Experience
Over its 10-hour runtime, Replaced largely replicates cyberpunk motifs in pretty pixel art without significant innovation. Yet, its poignant moments and unique visual style offer a heartfelt, if deferential, tribute to the genre. Priced at £16.99/$19.99, it's a pulpy sci-fi thriller with a nostalgic charm but few original ideas of its own.
