(REDACTED] Review

In 2022, Striking Distance Studios and Krafton attempted to deliver their ownDead Spacewith the hotly-anticipatedThe Callisto Protocol. That game was supposed to bring players on an exciting new survival horror adventure, but instead, it was met with mixed reviews and ended up falling flat with audiences. However, that has seeminglynot stopped Striking Distance Studiosfrom going all in on this new IP, as it has a new title up its sleeve in the form of the roguelike spin-off[REDACTED].

While[REDACTED]may not quite be on the level of other recent hit roguelikes, Striking Distance Studios has crafted a pretty strong title here. It puts players in the shoes of a prison guard fromThe Callisto Protocol’s Black Iron Prison, and in classic roguelike fashion, tasks them with fighting their way to safety. Through this, players will conquer all sorts of enemies, meet a fun cast of characters, and play around with countless wild abilities. But, even though that does make for an experience fans of the genre do not want to miss out on,[REDACTED]is not without its hiccups.

[REDACTED] Puts a Fun New Spin on Callisto Protocol

Anyone who has ever touched a roguelike will know what to expect with[REDACTED]’s core gameplay loop. When they first start, they are put in control of a prison guard within Black Iron Prison. While that may seem pretty straightforward, things quickly take a turn for the worst as it is revealed that the prison itself is falling into disarray. Prisoners are escaping, creatures are attacking, and there is only one escape pod left. So, players must fight their way through the prison in hopes that they can reach the pod before it is too late.

Players will fight their way through a room filled with hazards, earn a power-up or currency at the end, and then go to the next room to do it all over again. As they progress further, more adversaries will fill these rooms, more paths will be unlocked, and even stronger enemies will appear. But players will also get stronger in the process, which will hopefully help them make it to the end.

On their journey, they will also occasionally run into even more powerful bosses that they must take out before progressing to the next area. These bosses are often extremely challenging, forcing players to use all the powers at their disposal to come out on top. If those were not hard enough, there may also be a few surprise bosses in store as playersfight their way through[REDACTED]’s many regions. If they die, they can just do it all over again.

Much likeHades, players can push their way through the prison using a wide assortment of weaponry and special abilities, with each one requiring them to switch up their strategy. Additionally, the more runs they do, the more upgrades they will be able to unlock. And hopefully, as they restart, they will not only get more powerful, but will also be able to get farther and farther until they finally reach that escape pod, only to do the whole thing over once more.

[REDACTED] Injects Some Intriguing New Features Into the Mix

[REDACTED]’s core gameplay loop is not that different from what has come before, but that is what makes it so satisfying. There is a reason thatgames likeHadesare so popular, and Striking Distance Studios is able to replicate that extremely well. Luckily, the studio did not just stop at a simple copy-and-paste, as it has also injected some exciting new mechanics into the mix that will surely spice things up.

One of the most interesting new ideas is that players are not the only ones trying to escape this prison. In fact, there areup to three Black Iron Prison residentsalso fighting their way through these rooms. These characters are far more than simple background fluff, as they can actually impact the player’s runs. Randomly, they will lash out against the player by making the rooms more difficult, like turning off the lights, giving enemies strong shields, or making everything explode. Additionally, players may run into them and be forced to fight them in a timed boss battle. As players learn more about their opponents via their redacted files, these boss battles will get easier, and eventually, players will be able to defeat them with ease.

These residents are not the only ones that canmess with runs in[REDACTED], as the player can actually attack them with an assortment of abilities. These abilities range from simply damaging them to slowing them down, which all exist on a cooldown timer. Once an attack is available, players get to choose which person they are attacking, and then must hit the correct buttons in the correct order to activate it. As they complete more runs, they will be able to unlock even more fun attacks.

Along with these residents, players will also be able to fight themselves. Once they die, their body is left behind, and they take control of a brand-new guard. If they encounter the same room they died in, they can actually fight the undead corpse of their last character for some special rewards. These corpses will not only use many of the same abilities and power-ups they died with, but will also have a few surprises in store. So, players will want to ensure they are ready to take on this fight. If they are not, these fights are luckily entirely optional.

[REDACTED]’s Hook May Not Be As Exciting As It Could Be

All of this makes[REDACTED]a pretty exciting roguelike that genre fans will surely enjoy. However, the core story may not be as intriguing as it could be. SinceThe Callisto Protocolleft much to be desired, many players may not be as attached to the setting. Additionally, the way the story is told does little to make the setting stand out, as players do not have a large cast of characters to interact with, nor are the actual rooms that memorable. Instead, it feels pretty similar to every other sci-fi universe out there.

The enemy variety also seems to be lacking a bit, especially early on. When there are different types of enemies, they do not always have that different of attacks from what has come before, making them all feel pretty similar. The fact the game has very few major bosses also does not help. Of course, there is still a massive challenge to be had here, but those looking for a ton of variety may not find it.

Overall,[REDACTED]isa strong addition to the roguelike genre. The mechanics are fun, the game’s unique features help spruce things up considerably, and the core gameplay loop is extremely satisfying. However, it does lack some variety, and the actual setting lacks a unique flair. While that does not ruin the experience, it may hold it back for some. But if players are looking for another title to spend hours on, this game may be for them.