REPLACED review

Abstract. That is what being a human is at times. There isn't a framework for being a perfect person, and that's just life. I went to play REPLACED this weekend thinking of only the review I'd be writing. Instead, after rolling the credits, I felt like I'd observed a commentary on what it means to be human. There are a lot of strong suits REPLACED has for you, but none ring harder than the personal story Sad Cat Studios has managed to tell over the thirteen hours I spent inside.

REPLACED begins as a scientist named Warren Marsh continues his work in Phoenix City while attached to a computer mainframe. I'm not certain exactly how it works or the benefits, but with a helmet in place, Warren is utilizing an A.I. named R.E.A.C.H. during his efforts. This program seems to think Warren needs to take a step back, and as R.E.A.C.H. prods, an overload occurs, effectively killing Warren and placing the A.I. in his stead. Horrified at being locked under flesh and blood, Reach (a more proper name for a human) attempts to run for help, only to be attacked by the corporate police and falling to a seemingly certain demise.

Of course, Reach dying wouldn't further our tale. Throughout this game, multiple miracles occur, with Reach generally being the beneficiary. He's not made of metal, but with the ability to calculate things much quicker than an average human, one could say he makes better judgments and adjusts faster than we would. Reach is a fun conundrum, not fully man, but not fully machine either.

As you journey to try and find a way back into a computer and return Warren to his place as the owner of his own body, Reach comes across a ragtag band of what are referred to as "Disposals". See, in this horrible cyberpunk future, people are forced to donate their organs and more. Some people are only as good as the parts they have, and this alarming precedent is the crux of the lore and world around you. This is an early story element that drives home a cruel setting, one that shows two distinct social classes – those with privilege, and those without.

The narrative of REPLACED is what I've been waiting to uncover, and it's well worth the time spent in this very alternate 1980s setting. The rate at which you discover new segments of lore and information is well paced, giving you that feeling of satisfaction every time a new rock is turned over. Learning what has been going on, what R.E.A.C.H. is, the different factions in play, and stopping the antagonists is thrilling. Sad Cat Studios really nailed this one.

Reach is one of the most interesting characters I've had the pleasure of interacting with in gaming over some time. There's a childish nature to him as he explores what it's like to be human, which also leads him to be a bit impressionable. After all, programs are driven by prompts, so if the right person pushed the right buttons, Reach would happily follow. This blank slate identity allows us to empathize with Reach, as he knows as much about what's going on as we do. It also provides the medium for Sad Cat Studios to examine what it means to be human. Sure, you were built by your creators, but you can be shaped by the people you get to know along the way.

Those people are part of the soul of REPLACED. While the story still centers on Reach, the relationships he builds with these different characters – Tempest and Veronica specifically – create an immersion within the world that makes it personal.

Driving home this sentiment are several side missions in the hub area: The Station. It's not a classic hub as you'd expect – you won't be hitting up a market to buy things or a base for upgrades. Instead, you'll return here and engage with the populace, which can be both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. For example, I went to get food for a dog, who proceeded to lead me to a memorial remembering those lost in the last battle against the corporation. There's more to that story, but even as simple as these are to complete, the additional meaning they give to the world makes an impact. Beyond that, they often offer significant upgrades to health and energy charging, making them invaluable extras.

Speaking of impact, as beautiful as REPLACED's narrative can be, the combat is barbaric. Taking cues from Batman Arkham's hand-to-hand, Reach will use a gun/baton in a slower, but powerful manner. These strikes will build up a battery that allows you to fire a shot. It's always a kill shot unless it's a heavy enemy, but even they fall in two. There's an intensity to each brawl that is intoxicating – Sad Cat Studios found the best possible style of combat for their particular game.

What makes REPLACED's combat and movement mechanics so good is the pacing. When you make a move, it had better be deliberate. Reach isn't going to be lightning-fast, he's going to be methodical, and that means you're going to have to do the same with your controls. Mashing a quick attack isn't going to help; intentionally getting your strikes in, dodging, reflecting bullets, getting in a parry, and more will assist you in taking on the crowds of enemies present. I do appreciate how the game only sends so many at you at once, allowing you to take them on, but keep an eye on how many you still have to finish off – and what type of enemy they are.

Enemy types are a key area in REPLACED. Each has a specific counter, but with how they file in at you, it's important to know who is best to finish off first. A heavy enemy might be the toughest, but the fast one with knives you have to parry to hit might be more annoying. Thankfully, you do have tools to keep yourself in the fight no matter how many types are on the field, like an overload for your gun that builds to let you fire several shots, or a shockwave that can be deployed to soften up a group surrounding you. It feels so good to take out several waves of enemies without taking a single bit of damage, but you'll have to perfect your timings in order to do so.

Platforming has similar rules in place; you'll need to be precise to land on your feet. I didn't go into REPLACED thinking it would feature a lot of platforming – boy, was I wrong. The mechanics are a lot deeper than I expected, with you needing to move boxes around to reach higher ledges, manipulate air vents for a later earned blast jump, and use a pickaxe to attach to the wall before clambering up the next ridge or platform. Every location with platforming is a puzzle, and one I always enjoyed figuring out.

Visually, REPLACED is in a league of its own. Masterfully presented in a pixel-art, cyberpunk style, there aren't many games out there that look exactly like this. The stunning neon skylines, deteriorating cities and countryside, and cold metal facilities make for gorgeous environment to behold. I'm a sucker for pixel-art games, but REPLACED is special when combined with the rest of its attributes.

My only issues with REPLACED lie in a few rough edges and poor save locations via the auto-save (no manual saves available). The platforming is great, but there were several jumps that I missed constantly. As far as I can tell, it was simply not being able to tell if I was at the edge well, which is on the camera to a degree. There was a bit of stuttering in certain spots, but largely cleared up quickly.

Regarding the save locations, I had a couple of moments where the game would restart me quite a ways back from my last activity. This usually impacted fights, where I'd have to take on several waves of enemies again, and on more than one occasion, it forced me through a tough platforming section. I hope they make adjustments here because some of these felt unfair.