[REDACTED] – PS5 Review

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[REDACTED] is a fast-paced isometric roguelike developed by Striking Distance Studios and published by KRAFTON, Inc. Yes, the same developers that brought you the controversial but highly anticipated Calisto Protocol.

Available on the PlayStation store as well as Steam, Xbox Series S/X, [REDACTED] presents a follow up of sorts. Essentially set in the same universe but taking a vastly new approach. A shadowy agent watches Black Iron Prison spiral into chaos and you take the role of guards trying to escape the prison’s monstrosities and rivals. The game takes on the Black Iron Prison with a complete new twist of battling through rooms and rooms of monsters while upgrading weapons and learning about a vast amount of characters along the way.

Not sure how the devs managed to get hold of this picture of me

Base Gameplay

[REDACTED] takes an isometric roguelike system and expands on it in just the right way to keep you engaged. You fight your way through rooms and rooms of enemies while picking up upgrades and materials to help you fight further into the prison. Each room is different and offers vast ways of dealing with your enemies in the way of ‘hazards’. This can be anything from bouncy walls to exploding barrels with different properties. The GRP tool allows players to use telekinesis to manipulate objects and enemies. This will give you a positive edge while fighting Biophages (the mutated sentient like zombies), slime slugs and other enemies!

I don’t often compare games however the basic controls are similar to those seen in Hades but with an added edge of a shooting weapon being available at all times. At the end of each room you get to pick your reward. Whether that is more credits to spend during your runs at fabricators or electronics to upgrade your rival weapon defence systems for future runs. It’s all up to you! If you die during a run the current guard then turns into a zombified corpse. You can then go to find and defeat them on your next run for further awards. Believe me, you’ll die a lot, but it’s worth it!

Weapons and Tools

The weapon variety and customisation is fantastic in [REDACTED]. You have multiple choices when it comes to both melee and ranged weapons. Such as a standard baton or even dual wielding broken glass bottles. The ranged weapons even have options such as a grenade launcher for you chaotic lot! Each weapon offers you different ways to take on enemies at long or short ranges, it is all up to your preferred play style. Whether you prefer to just melee or to just shoot your enemies, this game gives the option to do so within the prison upgrade system.

[REDACTED] offers a buff system which lets you customise your weapons and attacks. Add frost to your bullets or make your baton inflict shock to affected enemies with an AOE effect. This game has it all! I do feel the developers could have expanded the buff system even further with even more options. However, it still feels satisfying to drop things such as electric pylons around you and watching the enemies get fried!

[REDACTED] also offers a suit system which allows you to purchase suits to help you along the way, these suits will have 3 tiers to unlock. One gained when the suit is purchased and the other 2 can be upgraded with the right materials. Each suit has it’s positives and again it is all up to the player’s playstyle to which one will aid them most while trying to escape! There is so much more within the game but I wouldn’t want to spoil too much!

Rival System

Your main goal is to reach the escape pods at the end of the prison, all whilst various other escapees are trying to do the same! This brings another level of challenge to your runs, as you try to keep up with various prisoners or crew trying to escape. And everyone will do so by any means necessary. The amount of rivals presented within [REDACTED] is just enough to intrigue any player. The system allows you to find information about each characters which in turn will weaken them. This will then allow you to defeat them during your runs when you run into them. This will give you access to a unique code which unlocks more rewards as you progress.

You can hinder your rivals along your journey using four different abilities, these can also be upgraded for maximum impact. These consist of stopping them from progressing further into the prison for a limited time, slowing them down or just dealing some solid damage to ease your next encounter with them during your run.

All the characters are fully fleshed out with plenty of personality while the shadowy narrator behind the screen shares funny quips each time you discover more information at the computer hubs. The characters such as Ronnie down there, really bring the game to another level as you uncover more and more of the story and the character’s quirks.

Graphics

[REDACTED] presents a very awesome looking cell-shaded roguelike. It reminds me of my early days playing the original Borderlands and really brings that amazing comic book feeling while you’re playing the game. It is very far from Callisto Protocol in terms of art style and it works! [REDACTED] takes a wonderful approach with all these colours. They really do make all the abilities and features of the game POP. If the game had a muted colour pallet similar to Callisto it would definitely be a different story.

The comic style and vivid colours play so hand in hand to bring you a fast action paced environment which I can’t fault in any way. The fizzing look of the electricity and the misty frost really immerses you in the game and is so unique to the genre. Having played many roguelikes in my time [REDACTED] really found it’s way to stand out!

Audio

[REDACTED] features an rock upbeat style of music to go along with the game. I do find this a very odd choice however it may appeal to some players. As important as the soundtrack is, [REDACTED] wins in terms of sound design in general for me. Every slash of your weapon and fire of a bullet feels impactful, not to mention the environmental blasts. My favourite audio snippet is definitely the bouncy walls. Any time they are hit they make an arcade pinball like sound which again, adds so much character to the game. I found myself giggling like a little kid as it flooded my head with memories of playing the old style Pinball Space Cadet game on Windows 95. I certainly gained an immense amount of joy from just that one sound.

Longevity

[REDACTED] offers so much in terms of gameplay, with upgrades and rivals as well as the ability to better your runs. There is so much I don’t want to spoil and yet I’d love to talk about. The devs have really outdone themselves in terms of letting the player make the game experience their own. There is no doubt everyone will experience the game differently. This is where the wonder of [REDACTED] is.

It’s so easy to pick this game up and do a run at a time if you’ve got some spare time. I put in nearly 8 hours of solid gameplay the first time I played and I did not want to put it down. The gameplay loop is addicting and left me wanting more after every single run. I will easily be spending hours upon hours playing through this game and working my way towards the platinum trophy for sure!

Final Thoughts

In all honesty, [REDACTED] has really surprised me. I was incredibly sad after finishing Callisto Protocol, whereby I was left wanting more of the carefully and beautifully crafted world. [REDACTED] turned that sadness into room by room run addiction. I never knew I needed to return to the Black Iron Prison in a completely different way than first intended. With everything Striking Distance Studios have brought forward this time round, [REDACTED] has made it’s mark and sits in my top games for 2024. I SALUTE YOU SOLDIER!

I award [REDACTED] the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.

Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.

If you enjoyed this review, why not check on my previous one here!

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About Author

Kat

You could say that games are my passion, I’m kidding! Just a seasoned coder with a very unhealthy obsession with deep diving into intricate games with immersive designs, you’ll definitely catch me non stop talking about complexities behind game design, from procedural generation in roguelikes to the subtle nuances of creating tension in horror games, or I’ll just tell you about my current obsession with Outlast Trials! Sorry!

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