TL;DR
Replaced delivers a visually arresting journey through an alternative, dystopian 1980s, blending pixel art with sophisticated 3D lighting and cinematic flair. Playing as scientist Warren Marsh, you’ll navigate a dangerous world defined by clever puzzles, dialogue-driven progression, and timing-based combat that truly shines once mastered. While the game boasts an incredible aesthetic and a gripping story, it occasionally stumbles with overly long cutscenes and unexpected technical stutters, even on high-end hardware. Despite some repetitive moments, its unique atmosphere and innovative depth composition make it a standout title for fans of stylish action-platformers. Is this retro-futuristic world worth the wait, or do the technical hiccups hold it back? Read the full article to discover if Replaced belongs on your must-play list.
Replaced is set in an alternative 1980s following a catastrophe that has shattered the social structures of the USA. We play as the scientist Warren Marsh who suddenly finds himself in a life-threatening situation where everyone is out to get him. Slowly but surely, it becomes clear what has actually happened. It is a dangerous journey through a dystopian world where you can trust no one.
Replaced looks at first glance like yet another modern game using a retro aesthetic, but you quickly realize that is not the case. Because even though the characters are pixelated, the world is incredibly well-crafted with 3D lighting, depth composition, and cinematic camera movements. The game appears to be in 2D, but every now and then, it utilizes the third dimension in a very effective way.
The game is built around puzzle-solving and other clever mechanics. You need to be able to talk your way out of certain situations and also obtain information to progress. Sometimes you have to fight, and the game slowly but surely guides you step-by-step on how best to defeat your enemies. The combat is based on timing, and once you get the hang of it, it becomes really fun.
What bothered me about Replaced is that it is incredibly chatty at times and features long cutscenes. It takes nearly 15 minutes before you can start playing for the first time, and in a game like this, that feels like an eternity. In something like 007 First Light, a cinematic cutscene of 15 minutes wouldn’t feel long at all by comparison. Something else that bothered me a bit was that, no matter how good the game looks, it occasionally becomes repetitive, and some of the puzzles are very banal and silly.
I tested Replaced on Xbox Series X and here you are meant to enjoy the visuals in full 4K and 60 FPS, but the image occasionally stutters for no reason, as this is certainly not a demanding game. I experienced the same issues with the PC version and my computer clearly has higher performance than what is required to play the game.
You need 16 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 1060 (or similar) graphics card to play Replaced, and that guarantees 60 FPS. My computer has both more RAM and a better graphics card, yet I still found that it lagged in places.
In summary, Replaced is incredibly stylish, and the blend of modern and retro fits the game perfectly. It has a good story and fun gameplay. Unfortunately, it suffers a bit from bugs and the fact that it occasionally drags on for too long during cutscenes.
Thunderful Games sent a review code for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests.
