From the very moment that Replaced was first showcased, I – and potentially many others – were awestruck by the aesthetic. The hyper-detailed pixel art, animated down to the smallest nuance, portraying a retro futuristic cyberpunk America, was just too good to resist. Of course, then the delays occurred, and for the longest time, it felt too good to be true.
But as Sad Cat Studios showcased more, slowly but surely working towards a release date, wanting everything to be perfect, other concerns arose. In snippets, Replaced seemingly had it all, even within the confines of its 2.5D perspective. A combat system clearly based on the Batman: Arkham series. Intriguing characters with their own complicated – and often tragic – backstories. An atmosphere fueled by post-consumerist despair and nightmare scenarios, where humans are little more than products.
There’s quite a bit, but surely those disparate parts come together in the end, right? Well, not quite, and your mileage really will vary, depending on what exactly you expect from Replaced.
The story begins with R.E.A.C.H., an AI, investigating the well-being of its creator, Warren, who works at Phoenix Corp. After what seems to be an accident, the AI finds itself inhabiting the latter’s body. Even worse is the fact that the building is suffering numerous failures. Fires breaking out, roof panels collapsing, the works, and it’s all that R.E.A.C.H. can do to find help…until he discovers the police executing patients and mercilessly hunting him down.
"For all intents and purposes, that is the core of Replaced, and it’s backed by some compelling lore. The Prospero Incident, the journal of a fresh Termite who goes from owning slaves and weapons to losing it all – there’s some fantastic world-building going on."
Even if it goes on for slightly too long, it’s a compelling introduction to the world of Replaced, and R.E.A.C.H. serves as a strong medium for several reasons. On the one hand, there’s the official story about the world, and what he witnesses with his own eyes. Following a nuclear catastrophe that left a sizable portion of the country uninhabitable, the Phoenix Initiative arose, providing aid and opportunities for all and sundry. Of course, as with any megacorp, it’s also engaged in shady dealings. Building a Wall to curtain off a sizable portion of Phoenix City, seizing body parts and organs, then disposing of individuals without a care in the world (with many of the survivors taking up residence in The Station) – and that’s only to start.
On the other hand are Warren’s memories, which occasionally surface and reveal some very not-nice things about his creator. But perhaps most notable throughout is R.E.A.C.H.’s candor. Seeing him face reality, which clearly doesn’t line up with everything he’s been fed, is interesting, especially when he’s dealing with the whole experience of being human. It influences how he deals with others – honest to a fault, even when it’s not the best tactic. At times, it’s awkwardly charming, especially when interacting with Sadie, who runs the local arcade in the station; at others, he serves as a straight man to the energy of Tempest; and sometimes, his logic just can’t reconcile why someone had their larynx taken away or why one person has to die while the other lives due to insufficient medical care.
Of course, as despair-filled as Replaced can be, it’s also just so utterly gorgeous at every single turn. A simple stroll through The Station’s market reveals an incredible amount of detail – rundown stalls, shoddily constructed signs, decadents on crutches, barely functioning equipment, and so many different kinds of illumination. That lighting is all the more endearing when you’re walking through the outskirts of the wall at dusk, or watching the telltale glow of a Termite sniper to avoid a quick death. And even if it’s already been mentioned, it deserves repeating – the animation, which capably captures every little nuance, to an almost unnaturally impressive degree. It all meshes incredibly with the synth soundtrack, which can range from soothingly atmospheric to industrially oppressive.
For all intents and purposes, that is the core of Replaced, and it’s backed by some compelling lore. The Prospero Incident, the journal of a fresh Termite who goes from owning slaves and weapons to losing it all – there’s some fantastic world-building going on. And as dull as the optional quests can feel, at least they shine more light on the characters. Some of the lore doesn’t always feel represented in the actual plot, however, which is where the game’s first weakness emerges: Pacing.
"When everything flows together, the combat can feel good, though once again, it’s Arkham-inspired on a 2.5D plane. Anyone expecting the same level of feel and tactical brilliance will be left wanting."
While not the longest experience, the plot often feels like it drags at points. R.E.A.C.H.’s observations and conversations with Warren – or Warren’s body, rather – keep things moving while you’re actually playing. Stopping multiple times to interact with different items puts a slight damper on things. At best, it can feel like an adventure game; at worst, a walking simulator.
Aside from that, there’s the cinematic puzzle platforming and Free Flow Combat. While it takes a while to get going, the former does present some interesting scenarios, like turning off water valves and avoiding steam to ascend higher. They’re not always the most challenging or clever – you would think reaching that box on the walkway above meant pushing it down for…something, but no, it’s meant as a boost for climbing on the pipes above (and then you get to do it again). Some scenarios can also be randomly frustrating, like a Termite Sniper sweeping past a wall where I’m hidden, only to suddenly annihilate me. At least the movement is on point more often than not.
Combat is easy to pick up and feels impactful enough. Smack enemies with one button, counter them with the other, dodge red attacks, and power up the Huxley with enough hits to execute foes. Problems, as you would expect, emerge once you get the Pickaxe. It can destroy armor and shields – without doing this, they’ll remain invulnerable to hits or shots. Pretty simple, except it has an annoying wind-up.
Maybe you win the 50-50 and manage to get it off before an enemy uses their red attack. Maybe you don’t. The fact that they weave between other foes makes it all the more annoying, especially when trying to pick off ranged foes first. The Huxley also slowly loses charge if you’re not attacking, which means every opportunity to break armor on, say, a tank means still having to smack it twice, dodge its red attack, repeat, until you can take the shot.
When everything flows together, the combat can feel good, though once again, it’s Arkham-inspired on a 2.5D plane. Anyone expecting the same level of feel and tactical brilliance will be left wanting.
"Maybe that’s just my brain wanting something more from this brilliant aesthetic. Either way, it can be an enjoyable story for the cyberpunk aficionados, as long as you can accept its various stumbles."
Once again, it boils down to what you want out of Replaced. If it’s the vibe that you’re after – the graphics, the music, the world, and these characters – then it can absolutely fill that niche, so long as you’re fine with extensive conversations and methodical pacing. Neither combat nor platforming is the worst – not even close. You can find things to enjoy about either, but they just don’t measure up to the presentation or world-building.
The result is an experience which doesn’t feel like more than the sum of its parts (that too at times when it just manages to reach that). And as stunning as the vistas can be, the camera panning and zooming out to great effect, Replaced can feel equal parts movie-like and relatable – like you’re simply passing through some environments rather than really getting a feel for them. Maybe that’s just my brain wanting something more from this brilliant aesthetic. Either way, it can be an enjoyable story for the cyberpunk aficionados, as long as you can accept its various stumbles.
This game was reviewed on PC.
Perhaps the best-looking pixel art in a video game yet, beautifully animated and backed with phenomenal lighting. World-building is incredibly on point and characterization, especially R.E.A.C.H., is endearing. When everything falls into place, combat is pretty satisfying.
Wind-up time on the Pickaxe and 2.5D plane can make for some frustrating battles. Pacing tends to drag more often than not. At times, it feels more like a plodding adventure game.
