Summary
Developer – Sadcat Studios
Publisher – Thunderful Publishing
Platforms – Xbox One, Xbox X|S, PC (reviewed)
Review copy given by publisher
After an experiment goes wrong, an AI finds itself controlling a human body. The facility where the experiment is conducted is sieged by police forces. During the escape, the AI flees and runs outside the once-safe world it knew. By finding new allies and learning more about the world around them, the AI begins a journey where they learn more about themselves. Along the way, they also uncover dark secrets that bring down a powerful corporation.
Replaced has a great way of drawing you into its story with its art style. The story covers some deep themes and makes you contemplate what you’ve seen. Combat and platforming aren’t hard to learn, with the game making it easy to try again if you fail. It does take time for the story to come together and connect the dots. It’s a strong adventure that keeps you thinking long after the game ends.
The story begins in Phoenix City when a man named Warren is performing an experiment with the help of an AI, Reach. An accident occurs and Reach somehow finds itself controlling Warren’s body. The building they are in is suddenly under siege and Reach flees the building, running outside the safety of the city limits. Reach wants to return to the facility but they can’t do it alone. With the help of newfound allies, Reach begins their journey back to Phoenix City while uncovering the reality of the world.
Seeing the world through the viewpoint of an AI provides a unique insight into the human condition. Reach’s reactions are almost full of innocence though it is tinged with some experience with its creators. As the story progresses, you learn about other characters in the past and present. The human condition is complicated and thanks to Reach’s perspective, you get a unique insight that you would otherwise miss.
Reach doesn’t approach the world in the same way that a regular human would. Warren’s views and preferences are only alluded to in the past and don’t influence Reach much. This allows them to interact with a ruined world in a blank slate. Reach has their own general knowledge (ie. authorities are bad) but struggles with the contrast of their actual reality. Seeing how Reach manages this contrast is a key part of the story that draws you in.
The people that Reach interacts with also flesh out the world, giving you a better look at how ruined everything is. You can understand their perspectives and actions even if you don’t fully agree. It adds to the idea that there’s no shining beacon of morality or someone who is completely beyond hope. Everyone is doing their best to survive and Reach must deal with the situation at hand even if it isn’t fantastic.
However, the story does take some time to come together and connect the dots. While you aren’t devoid of information at the beginning, much of the exposition is gradually revealed. It’s only by the mid-game that things start falling into place and the narrative finds its stride. Otherwise the game looks like a traditional cyberpunk platformer. When the game finds its stride, you are immersed and invested enough to play through to the end.
Replaced is a 2.5D platformer where Reach must navigate through plenty of ruined areas while fighting various enemies. Some areas require solving quick puzzles while others involve deft parkour to reach a location. If there are enemies blocking the way, Reach has a baton that doubles as a gun to take them down. They also acquire various tools to help them bring down special enemies like those with shields or armor.
Platforming isn’t too difficult as the solutions aren’t hard to find. Even if you fail or make a fatal mistake, restarting doesn’t put you back far. The game’s autosave frequently makes backups to avoid feeling like you must start over from the beginning. It’s never too difficult to figure out the next steps or learn what hazards you should avoid next time. This helps minimize frustration and keep the focus on enjoying the story.
Combat is less forgiving but the autosaves are also accompanied by generous timing. Reach can counter attacks or dodge with plenty of time given to you. Even if you see the counterattack signal and don’t respond immediately, you still have a few seconds. This cuts down on precision timing and feeling like you must react immediately. While you can’t avoid taking a few hits, you can always restart if you think a battle has gone worse than you like.
However, it’s not always clear what your objectives are during some puzzles. While you are meant to move from Point A to Point B, it’s not always obvious how you do that. Reach may drop the occasional hint but you are often on your own. It can be frustrating to see a puzzle that you don’t know how to solve with little indication that you’re on the right track.
Replaced is a game that requires some investment before it pays off. It has a generous combat system and puzzles that aren’t too difficult to solve. The themes of the story don’t start to kick in until the middle and a lack of direction in puzzles may stump some players. But if you stay with the game to the end, you have an adventure that makes you think deeply long after it’s over.
