[REDACTED] Review

Remember 2022’s not-too-well-received survival horror title, The Callisto Protocol? Whilst it may have only garnered a mixed reception from critics, it was praised for its interesting setting and atmosphere. Well, now we have a spinoff game in [REDACTED], an isometric roguelike with more similarities to Hades than the mainline title, but is it any good?

[REDACTED] is set in the same prison complex as The Callisto Protocol on Jupiter’s moon, Callisto, in the distant future. When a virus outbreak turns both inmates and guards into mutated zombie-like fiends, the whole place, unsurprisingly, is in full-blown panic mode. Playing as a security guard, you must find your way to one of the last remaining escape pods, or end up a shambling monstrosity like so many others!

And that’s basically it! There is very little story included here, and most of the context is provided in The Callisto Protocol, but that’s necessarily a bad thing for a roguelike. You attempt a run, die (a lot), reap whatever rewards you earned, and then go again, this time as another generic security guard. I did like the idea that once a character is dead, they’re dead for good and are just replaced with another character until that one, too, is inevitably killed.

There are a few static scenes dotted throughout the game to give some semblance of a narrative, although I never found myself invested or engaged, instead wanting to get back into the action as quickly as possible. The comic book panel style of cutscenes are presented really well, though, and does a great job in setting a different tone from the survival horror vibes of the previous game.

Aesthetically, [REDACTED] is worlds apart from The Callisto Protocol, and it makes for a far more entertaining experience. Environments that were once highly detailed, dark, and foreboding, are now replaced with colourful, comic-esque chunky designs that really pop off the screen. Developer Striking Distance Studios did a great job in setting this game apart from the more atmospheric one, and personally, I think the cel-shaded style looks fantastic here.

The particle effects of attacks and enemies turning into mush as you blast your way through wave after wave of monsters are a constant treat, and go a long way in enhancing the comic feel the game is going for. Overall, the visuals combined with the solid performance make this a treat to watch the chaos unfold, but just because something looks good, doesn’t always mean it’s fun to play.

I mentioned Hades earlier in this review, and that’s because the basic gameplay loop of [REDACTED] is very similar. Each area has a group of enemies to kill, which — once cleared — reward you with power-ups either solely for your current run, or ones that are permanently given to you for the rest of the game. It’s fast-paced and tough-as-nails, meaning you’ll die, die, and die again, especially in the game’s first few hours. Eventually you will start earning enough cash to spend in the hub area, giving you new weapons, armour, and skills to play with, and things to become more manageable. It’s never a walk in the park, though, so you’ll always need to stay alert!

Combat is quite diverse, allowing you to choose from a wide variety of both ranged and melee weapons, with the aforementioned power-ups used to enhance them with things like poison attacks or electric bullets. There’s also an ability that blasts opponents away from your character for a bit of breathing room, and though it doesn’t deal much damage, will certainly save you from being swarmed. You’re also able to dash, dodge, and slide tackle if you find yourself needing to go on the defensive (you will, often). It’s all so fluid that you’ll be flying around the arenas popping heads off whilst looking effortlessly stylish in no time!

The fact that the gameplay is so quick ties into the fact that you’re not the only person trying to reach an escape pod, and that's when the rivals come in! A progress bar at the bottom of the screen shows how close to your goal you are compared to the rivals for that run, and it certainly adds to the urgency when playing! You’re then given the option to forgo trying to race them to the escape pod, and just straight up beat them. Make sure you’re prepared if you do bump into them, though, as they hit hard and can cause a very quick and permanent end to your current run.

Overall, despite the relative simplicity of [REDACTED] and its incredibly high difficulty during the opening hours, I found myself saying the four words I say way too often when enjoying a roguelike: “Just one more run”. The rivals add something unique, and it was always a thrill when encountering them or reaching the end just before they did. But, it didn’t take me long before I felt like I’d seen everything the game had to offer, and the small number of rivals quickly repeated themselves. I’m sure fans of the genre will definitely get a kick out of this (I know I did), but don’t expect something that will keep you occupied for dozens of hours.