REPLACED Review

Replaced is a cinematic 2.5D platformer with a strong cyberpunk, Blade Runner-style vibe. It's a game I had been waiting a long time for, and it delivers on that atmosphere.

The game is linear and level-based, focused on combat, narrative, and world-building. For a twenty dollar title, it knows exactly what it's trying to be.

You play as Reach, an AI trapped inside a human body, trying to survive and uncover the truth in a dark and unforgiving world. Phoenix City, the main setting, is split between rich and poor, and that divide is felt everywhere.

There's no voice acting, which is noticeable and may bother some, but to me the game more than makes up for it through environmental storytelling. The narrative is clear and gets straight to the point.

What stood out to me most was the world-building. Reading posters, scanning messages, and listening to conversations around the city adds a surprising amount of depth. The game doesn't just tell you about its world. It lets you discover it yourself.

The side quests aren't all equally strong, but the ones that land really stay with you. One moment in particular involves an old man whose story unfolds quietly as the music slowly builds in the background. Reading about his life and family while the soundtrack swells makes it hit in a way that feels genuinely earned. That's where the game truly understands timing.

Collectibles and Exploration

The game includes collectibles like music tracks, letters, and newspapers that expand on the world. They're simple additions, but they make exploration feel more purposeful and worth your time. Small things like this are spread throughout the world to make it feel worth combing through.

Visuals and Atmosphere

This is one of the game's strongest areas.

The pixel art style gave me strong Blasphemous and The Last Faith vibes. Dark, detailed, and nostalgic, but still distinctly its own thing. There are moments where the game slows you down just to let you take in the environments, and it works because the visuals are genuinely impressive. Every scene feels carefully crafted.

Music and Sound

The soundtrack is another one of the highlights of the entire experience.

It's the kind of music that sticks with you long after you've put the controller down. I found myself humming tracks after fights and coming back to the OST outside of the game entirely. It doesn't just sit in the background. It actively shapes the emotional weight of key moments, especially during the side stories.

Gameplay Variety

The game mixes combat, platforming, stealth, hacking, and side quests in a way that keeps things feeling fresh throughout. It never becomes repetitive, and I rarely felt like I was retreading the same ground. The side quests also offer useful rewards that carry real value into the later game, which makes them worth seeking out rather than skipping.

Combat

Going in, I was a little worried the combat might wear thin over time. It didn't.

As you progress, the game introduces new abilities, tougher enemies, and enough variety to keep things engaging. The combat has a flow that feels reminiscent of the Batman Arkham games. Smooth, responsive, and satisfying to execute. Your main weapon is a baton that transforms into a gun, and the more you attack, the more you charge your shots, which adds a nice rhythm to each encounter. Platforming is mostly solid too, with environmental puzzles mixed in to break things up.

Issues

No game is without its rough edges, and Replaced has a few worth mentioning.

I ran into one glitch where the character got stuck running in place and refused to move properly. Movement can also feel slow at times. The cinematic walking style looks great, but there are moments where you just want to get somewhere faster. Some platforming sections demand very precise positioning, particularly when grabbing walls or pipes, which can be occasionally frustrating even if it doesn't come up often.

Out of the ten chapters, about three lean more toward walking around the city and completing side quests than anything else. They're enjoyable, but the game could have used more boss fights or pinnacle encounters. The combat system is strong enough to support them, and more memorable encounters would have gone a long way.

Final Thoughts

For twenty dollars, Replaced delivers a focused and stylish experience that doesn't try to be bigger than it needs to be, and that works entirely in its favor.

If you enjoy cyberpunk settings, strong atmosphere, and satisfying combat, it's a must play at full price. I really enjoyed my time with it, and it's the kind of game that feels worth experiencing without waiting for a sale.

Now I'm just hoping we get a physical version at some point.