The Redacted Review: A Flawed but Engaging Roguelike Dungeon Crawler

Introduction

Redacted, a roguelike dungeon crawler, shares a sci-fi setting with The Callisto Protocol, but its approach is vastly different. Developed by Striking Distance Studios, Redacted has a colorful art style and roguelike hooks, making it an uneven experience.

Gameplay Mechanics

The game takes place in the Black Iron Prison, where you play as a prison guard trying to reach the final escape pod. Each failed escape sees your guard die and join the ranks of the infected, while you begin a new run as another guard. You accumulate various currencies, such as contraband and security codes, that carry over from one guard to the next, allowing you to purchase new permanent weapons, skills, and upgrades.

Combat Mechanics

Combat in Redacted is engaging, but parts of it are severely lacking. You start with two weapons, but your initial options are lacking in the fun department. The game’s RNG makes combat enjoyable, but melee combat quickly becomes an afterthought. You can kick enemies, but this skill is not particularly useful.

Rivals System

The Rivals system adds a thrilling wrinkle to the gameplay loop. You must contend with three Rivals at a time, trying to reach the final escape pod first. You can slow down one Rival at a time and chip some life off their health bar by utilizing remote attacks. This system differentiates Redacted from other roguelikes and is a compelling breath of fresh air.

Replayability

Redacted has a significant amount of replayability, but the final reward is lackluster. It took 17 hours to reach the end credits, encompassing 40 runs and 14 escapes. The prize for doing so is a final do-or-die run back through the prison, where death means you lose all of your progression, and success means you unlock some new permanent gear.

Conclusion

Redacted is a flawed but engaging roguelike dungeon crawler. While it shares a sci-fi setting with The Callisto Protocol, its approach is vastly different. The Rivals system is a compelling breath of fresh air, but the game falls short in various areas. Despite its flaws, Redacted is worth playing, and