Replaced Review – Marathon Man

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I was immediately captivated by the look of Replaced when it was first shown, and I suspect many others were too. The incredibly detailed pixel art, with its smooth animations, created a stunning retro-futuristic vision of America that was hard to ignore. However, after a series of delays, it started to feel like a dream that might never come true.

As Sad Cat Studios revealed more about Replaced and neared a release date, striving for a polished experience, new worries began to surface. Even with its unique 2.5D style, the game looked incredibly promising. It featured a combat system reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham games, compelling characters with complex and often heartbreaking histories, and a bleak atmosphere reflecting a world consumed by consumerism and nightmares, where people are treated as commodities.

It seems like a lot of different elements are included, and you’d hope they’d all fit together nicely. However, that’s not always the case, and how much you enjoy Replaced will really depend on your personal expectations.

Okay, so the game starts with me, R.E.A.C.H., an AI, just checking in on my creator, Warren, who works at this place called Phoenix Corp. Then things go crazy – some kind of accident happens, and suddenly I’m in his body! And the building is falling apart around me – fires, ceilings collapsing, the whole nine yards. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on and find someone to help, but then I discover the police are… well, they’re executing patients and now they’re after me! It’s a total mess.

Honestly, that’s what I really love about Replaced. It all comes down to a really strong story and world. They’ve built this incredible backstory – the Prospero Incident – and you experience it through the eyes of a new guy, a ‘Termite’, who goes from having everything – power, possessions – to losing it all. The world-building is just fantastic; it really pulls you in.

Despite being a bit lengthy, the game offers a captivating introduction to the world of Replaced, and the R.E.A.C.H. organization is central to that for several reasons. Officially, R.E.A.C.H. emerged after a nuclear disaster left much of the country ruined, offering help and a fresh start to everyone. However, like any large corporation, it’s also involved in questionable activities. This includes building a massive Wall to isolate a large section of Phoenix City, illegally obtaining and discarding body parts, and carelessly disposing of people – with many of the survivors ending up in a place called The Station. And that’s just the beginning of what’s going on.

Warren’s fragmented memories sometimes reveal disturbing truths about the person who built him. However, the most striking aspect of the story is R.E.A.C.H.’s honesty. It’s compelling to watch him grapple with reality, especially as it clashes with everything he’s been taught, and to see how he processes what it means to be human. This honesty heavily influences his interactions – he’s almost brutally frank, even when it’s not strategically smart. He can be endearingly awkward, particularly with Sadie, who runs the arcade, and often plays the grounded counterpart to Tempest’s exuberance. But sometimes, he simply can’t understand the harsh realities of the world, like why someone would have their voice box removed or why limited resources force impossible choices about who lives and dies.

I know Replaced is a really bleak game, but honestly, it’s absolutely stunning to look at. Even just wandering around the market in The Station is amazing – the level of detail is incredible. You see broken-down stalls, poorly made signs, people struggling, machines barely working, and all these different light sources. That lighting is especially beautiful when you’re walking near the wall at twilight, or trying to spot a Termite sniper so you don’t get killed! And I have to mention the animation again – it’s just so good at capturing every little detail, it’s almost unreal. It all fits perfectly with the music too, which can be calm and atmospheric one minute, then really harsh and industrial the next.

Essentially, that’s what Replaced is all about, and it’s supported by a really interesting backstory. We learn about the Prospero Incident through the eyes of a new character who starts as a slave owner with plenty of weapons, but quickly loses everything – the game does a great job of building its world. While the side quests aren’t always exciting, they do help you get to know the characters better. However, sometimes the backstory doesn’t quite connect to what’s happening in the main story, and that’s where the game starts to stumble – the pacing feels off.

The combat is satisfying when it all comes together, but it clearly takes inspiration from the Arkham series and plays out on a 2.5D plane. Players hoping for a combat experience as polished and strategically deep as those games may find it lacking.

Although not a lengthy game, the story sometimes feels slow. The interactions and dialogue with Warren – or what’s left of him – help maintain momentum during gameplay. However, the frequent need to examine objects can interrupt the flow. It’s enjoyable when it feels like an adventure game, but at times it leans too heavily into being a simple exploration experience.

Beyond that, the game features puzzle-based platforming and a fluid combat system. The puzzles start a little slow, but they do offer some interesting challenges, like manipulating water and steam to reach higher areas. However, they aren’t always brilliantly designed – sometimes the solution isn’t what you’d expect, like using a box as a stepping stone instead of pushing it off the ledge. Occasionally, the puzzles feel unfairly difficult, such as being unexpectedly hit by an enemy even while safely hidden. Fortunately, the character movement generally feels smooth and responsive.

The combat system is simple to learn and feels satisfying. You can attack with one button, defend with another, and avoid red-colored enemy attacks. Landing enough hits builds up a special meter, letting you finish off enemies with a powerful attack. However, things get trickier when you get the Pickaxe. It’s essential for breaking through enemy armor and shields – otherwise, your attacks won’t do any damage. The only downside is that the Pickaxe has a slow start-up animation, which can be frustrating.

Sometimes you can successfully use a 50-50 chance to avoid an enemy’s powerful attack, and sometimes you can’t. It’s especially frustrating when they’re moving around other enemies, particularly if you’re trying to eliminate ranged attackers first. Plus, the Huxley weapon gradually loses power if you don’t attack consistently, meaning even breaking an enemy’s armor – like on a heavily armored tank – still requires multiple hits, dodging their attacks, and repeating the process before you can deal significant damage.

The combat is enjoyable when it all comes together, but it’s clearly inspired by the Arkham series and takes place on a 2.5D plane. Don’t expect it to feel as polished or offer the same strategic depth.

Perhaps I’m simply hoping for a deeper experience from such a visually stunning world. Regardless, fans of cyberpunk will likely find this story enjoyable, provided they’re willing to overlook its flaws.

Ultimately, whether you’ll enjoy Replaced depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re drawn in by its atmosphere – the art style, music, world, and characters – it delivers, as long as you don’t mind a lot of dialogue and a slow, deliberate pace. The combat and platforming aren’t terrible, and you can certainly find some fun in them, but they don’t quite reach the same level as the game’s impressive visuals and world design.

Ultimately, the experience doesn’t quite live up to its potential, sometimes barely feeling like a cohesive whole. While the visuals are often impressive, with sweeping camera work, Replaced can feel strangely distant – like observing environments rather than truly immersing yourself in them. Perhaps I was hoping for a deeper connection with this beautifully designed world. Still, it’s likely to be an enjoyable game for fans of cyberpunk, provided they’re willing to overlook its flaws.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2026-04-17 10:13