We’re heading into the weekend with a trio of recently released indie games. Here are reviews for REPLIKATOR, LASERPITIUM and Bat Boy.
REPLIKATOR review (PS4)
REPLIKATOR, developed by R_Games and published by Ratalaika Games, is a challenging top-down shooter with roguelike elements set in an abandoned space science complex. Players face relentless hordes of deranged robots and otherworldly creatures, striving to survive and grow stronger with each death. Let’s delve into the gripping gameplay, retro visuals, immersive audio, and overall impressions of REPLIKATOR.
In REPLIKATOR, players embark on a quest to stop an all-powerful AI from destroying humanity. While the narrative takes a backseat once you hit start, the resurrection mechanic adds depth to the experience, gradually revealing the mysteries of the abandoned science complex. The game offers dynamic battles that demand constant movement and precise aiming. The procedurally generated levels keep the experience fresh and unpredictable. With accessible controls and adjustable difficulty settings, the game strikes a balance between challenging veterans and welcoming newcomers.
Featuring retro pixelated graphics, and an atmospheric synth-driven soundtrack with futuristic sound effects, REPLIKATOR immerses players in its intense retro-inspired world. Each weapon possesses a distinct audio signature as well, accompanied by explosive effects. Because of this, REPLIKATOR provides an intense sci-fi shooter experience enhanced by addictive roguelike elements. The procedurally generated levels, character progression mechanics, and challenging enemies contribute to its replayability. With retro visuals, immersive audio, and accommodating accessibility options, REPLIKATOR is a nice budget-friendly choice for fans of the genre.
LASERPITIUM review (PS4)
LASERPITIUM, developed by The ReeTeam and published by Eastasiasoft, is a 2D horizontally-scrolling shoot ’em up that brings colorful visuals and budget-friendly thrills to fans of the genre. With its hand-drawn sprites and attractive backdrops, the game manages to create a charming and visually appealing experience. While not without its flaws, LASERPITIUM offers enjoyable action and a range of difficulty settings to cater to different players.
The game sets you in a galaxy where an AI controlling the united military power has gone rogue, and it’s up to you, as a space pilot, to save the day. As the plot doesn’t feature much in the minute-to-minute action, the focus remains on delivering intense shoot ’em up gameplay. LASERPITIUM offers two campaign options: a branching choice of levels or a more traditional full campaign. You can select one of three ships, each with its own unique weapons and playstyle.
The gameplay follows the standard structure of the genre, with waves of enemies, boss battles, and environmental hazards. The movement of your ship, controlled with the d-pad or left stick, feels reasonably accurate, although it lacks a bit of precision. The game provides a primary and secondary weapon for each ship, offering variety in playstyle. However, there is some imbalance in the weapons, with the third ship’s secondary weapon being disappointingly similar to its primary.
Despite these drawbacks, LASERPITIUM delivers decent playability and dynamic action. Enemies can sometimes feel a bit too resilient, requiring more bullets to defeat, and some boss attacks seem almost impossible to avoid. However, the generous number of lives available mitigates the challenge. A full playthrough takes around forty minutes, striking a good balance between engagement and avoiding tedium for something quite similar to a tradition arcade experience.
In comparison to similar budget shoot ’em ups, LASERPITIUM stands out with its improved playability, varied enemy attack patterns, and interesting level design. The hand-drawn visuals with detailed sprites and attractive backdrops enhance the overall presentation. While the game could benefit from more precision and better balance between ships, at its affordable price point, LASERPITIUM offers an enjoyable experience for genre enthusiasts. If you’re a fan of shoot ’em ups and have some spare change, this game is worth a look.
Bat Boy review (PS5/PC)
Bat Boy, developed by Sonzai Games and published by X PLUS Co, is a delightful 2D side-scrolling action platformer that captures the spirit of classic games like Mega Man. The game’s premise revolves around the protagonist, Bat Boy, who must rescue his brainwashed sports-hero teammates from the clutches of the interdimensional mage, Lord Vicious. With the help of his trusty bat and his companion, Garou the crow, Bat Boy embarks on a thrilling adventure through a hostile world filled with unique environments and challenging enemies. And here we were thinking this was going to be a play on Batman.
The gameplay mechanics of Bat Boy offer a satisfying blend of platforming and combat. Players control Bat Boy as he swings, deflects, and power-hits his way through levels, using his bat to dispatch foes and deflect enemy projectiles. Along the way, Bat Boy can free his teammates from brainwashing and gain their abilities, adding depth to the gameplay. The game’s 8-bit visuals evoke nostalgia for early platformer classics, and the high-octane chiptunes composed by Evader Music further enhance the retro experience.
While Bat Boy delivers an enjoyable gameplay experience, there are some areas that could be improved. The game suffers from occasional difficulty spikes, making certain sections frustratingly challenging. Additionally, some of the abilities acquired from Bat Boy’s teammates are underutilized, which diminishes their impact on gameplay. There are also a few bugs and glitches that affect the overall experience as well, such as enemies and obstacles getting stuck in the environment and issues with the pause menu.
Despite these drawbacks, Bat Boy remains a solid platforming adventure that will appeal to fans of retro and indie games. The game’s fun sports theme, vibrant levels, and catchy music contribute to its charm – evoking memories of games like Soccer Kid at times. With a patch or two to address the difficulty spikes and bugs, Bat Boy has the potential to be even more enjoyable.
Press Play Media 