Replaced is a brand new 2.5D action-adventure game developed by the indie studio Sad Cat Studios. It garnered significant attention during its initial reveal at an Xbox event, especially after being confirmed for Xbox Game Pass at launch. The game’s unique visuals and intriguing premise contributed to this excitement. Although it took some time to be released, now that it is available, does the final product meet the high expectations that surrounded it?
Replaced is set in an alternate history version of America where, instead of the United States bombing Japan with nuclear weapons, America itself is attacked. This future is portrayed as dystopian and bleak, dominated by a mega-corporation known as the Phoenix Initiative, which rules over Phoenix City. The main character is an AI named R.E.A.C.H. that accidentally gains control of the body of its creator, Warren Marsh. This unique premise creates an interesting narrative, blending machine intelligence with human emotions, resulting in a character that embodies both the heart and mind of a human.
Replaced starts strongly, with the player being chased out of their lab by the Phoenix megacorporation. As R.E.A.C.H takes over Warren’s body, the main goal becomes returning to the lab and restoring Warren to his own body. The story explores several themes, focusing on a world filled with corruption and controlled by a powerful entity. There is a strong layer of human drama, especially between R.E.A.C.H and Warren as they try to make sense of their new reality. Many important details are tucked away in the background, with lore presented through journals and items you can find.
The biggest issue with Replaced is its uneven pacing. While the opening is an adrenaline-filled ride, the game occasionally comes to a halt, and the story starts to drag. The combat and exploration are fun, but they can feel repetitive over time, as the game sometimes makes the player push through sequences that test patience. It does touch on several interesting themes, some of which reflect the modern world, but not all of them are executed equally well.
Gameplay is where the game can be both fun and a bit of a chore. Combat clearly takes inspiration from the Batman Arkham series, with its rhythm-based system and inputs. Attacks are done through timed button presses, and counterattacks or dodges are key to staying alive. These are shown on screen with visual cues, so they are easy to follow. The main weapon is a hybrid firearm and baton called Huxley. It is used for melee combat and can also charge up for a powerful execution. There is also a pickaxe that lets you chip away at enemies, making their armor useless, but this setup can sometimes lead to frustrating moments.
While the combat feels fun at first, it does start to get repetitive over time. The lack of skills or upgrades makes it feel a bit monotonous, though the stylish presentation and story help keep things engaging. The platforming sections are enjoyable and often feel more experimental than the combat. They are not very difficult thanks to frequent checkpoints, but the lack of a proper run button is noticeable. The game deciding when the player should run or jog through the environment does not feel like a good choice.
Replaced is a single-player story with little reason to replay it. You can revisit the game after finishing it once, but that is about it. While there is some side content that can be missed on a first playthrough, it does not give a strong reason to go back for another run. If you are already invested in the world, exploring more of it to learn about the lore and background events can be enjoyable, but it is not a major strength compared to other games.
As a 2.5D game, Replaced is highly impressive and easily one of the best in the genre. It looks stylish and stands out with its mix of 2D and 3D elements. The art style, backgrounds, environments, and animations are all well done, which helps explain the long development time. A lot of attention to detail has gone into making Replaced a visual spectacle, but its narrative and gameplay do not have the same level of polish or impact.
Replaced is perfectly playable on the Steam Deck, though some performance issues can cause sudden frame rate drops. Still, I enjoyed playing it on Valve’s handheld and went through most of the game on the Deck. There are very few graphics settings to tweak aside from resolution and a frame rate toggle, so the game is quite lightweight and should run on most hardware.
Replaced is worth playing for its interesting premise and gorgeous art style alone, even if the gameplay falls a bit short and the pacing is hit or miss. I would still recommend it to those who enjoy exploring a dystopian setting.
Replaced Game Information
- Price: $29.99
- Publisher: Coatsink / Thunderful Games
- Developer: Sad Cat Studios
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
