Fresh Tracks, developed and published by Buffalo Buffalo, is a roguelike rhythm/action title that takes the thrill of precision combat and places it against the backdrop of a harsh but strikingly beautiful mountain range. On PlayStation 5, it immediately impresses with its unique premise – blending traversal-based decision making with intense battles that demand careful timing and sharp reflexes. The roguelike structure ensures that each run feels different, with trails branching across the slopes, forcing you to weigh the risks and rewards of every path you carve through the environment.
At the heart of Fresh Tracks is its combat, which strikes a careful balance between accessibility and mastery. Fights are deliberate and rhythm-based, where positioning and well-timed strikes can mean the difference between a triumphant climb and an early downfall. Enemies come in varied forms, each pushing you to adapt your approach, and the skill tree ensures steady progression between attempts. While the combat feels satisfyingly weighty, certain encounters can fall into repetition over extended play, slightly dulling the sharpness of the game’s design.
The roguelike framework adds both freshness and frustration. Every failed attempt feeds back into upgrades, letting you experiment with weapons and abilities to slowly craft a build that suits your playstyle. This progression loop is compelling, though the steep difficulty curve can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with the genre. The randomness of runs adds unpredictability, but occasionally it leans too heavily into chance, leaving you at the mercy of less-than-favorable loadouts or paths.
Controls on the PS5 are tight and responsive, which is crucial for a game where timing and precision matter so much. Combat actions feel tactile thanks to the DualSense haptics, and the adaptive triggers add tension to weapon swings and ranged attacks. However, the pace of the game demands consistency, and when environmental hazards or camera angles occasionally obscure the action, it can lead to moments of frustration. These issues are rare, but noticeable enough to pull you out of an otherwise carefully tuned experience.
Visually, Fresh Tracks stands out with its minimalist yet evocative style. The snowy peaks and rugged trails are designed with clean lines and sharp contrasts, creating a world that feels both punishing and serene. The soundtrack complements this perfectly, with pulsing beats that rise and fall alongside the rhythm of combat, lending a sense of flow to each climb. It’s a game where the audiovisual presentation plays as much a role in the experience as the mechanics themselves, though the environments could have used a little more variety to keep runs visually fresh and PSVR2 support would have been very welcome.
Altogether, Fresh Tracks is a daring and rewarding roguelike that thrives on tension, rhythm, and player growth. Its combat system is finely tuned, and its integration of exploration into the roguelike loop gives it a distinct identity within a crowded genre. While occasional repetition, randomness, and camera quirks hold it back from greatness, it still offers a challenging and memorable experience for those willing to brave its slopes. For fans of demanding roguelikes, this is one mountain worth climbing, even if the summit feels just out of reach.
Score: 7.9/10
Press Play Media 