REPLACED

Replaced from Sad Cat Studios is a masterclass on how 2.5D pixel action-adventure games should be designed and executed.

REPLACED is a beautiful, narrative driven experience, and that’s where the game is at its best. It tells a very interesting, gripping story, and I found myself fascinated with the great locations, mesmerizing backgrounds, but also the intricate characters found within the game. Sad Cat Studios hit it out of the park here, the game is not only visually impressive with its pixelated art style, but also the well-written story. REPLACED also brings excellent social commentary, making us think twice about our society and its path forward. It’s certainly not without its small issues, like combat being repetitive and platforming not shining that much. But it’s definitely one of those games that will make you pause and look at the scenery often, while pondering about your life and your role in society. Plus, if you are a completionist, there’s plenty of lore and extra info to be found here. All in all, it’s a delightful game, but keep in mind that it’s all about the story rather than action.

In an era of copy-paste open-world festivals, this game delivers a strong linear experience that isn’t afraid to take risks. Despite somewhat clunky combat, it offers a compelling package that no fan of quality cyberpunk storytelling and aesthetics should miss.

Sad Cat Studios’ debut is an atmospherically powerful tour de force that only occasionally runs out of steam.

Replaced proves its visual and narrative artistry through an unprecedented blend of 2D and 3D graphics, alongside a profound story that explores the true meaning of humanity. However, it ultimately misses out on the essential fun of a video game, dragged down by glaring flaws such as an empty map design, excessively slow pacing, and exhausting combat. While it boasts a dazzling exterior, its lack of gameplay depth makes the overall experience feel more like a tedious chore than an enjoyable adventure.

A captivating universe and lore for those willing to read its codex and accept an imperfect gameplay.

More "cinematic" than "platformer", Replaced is visually scrumptious but simply feels bad to control. Ultimately, it does feel like the gameplay was conceived backwards from the visuals. As mean as it sounds (and I don't like beating on indies), the experience might genuinely be best enjoyed on YouTube for less jank-tolerant folks.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This is a good game, which makes it all the more infuriating that it could have been with some tweaks. First things first, this game probably has one of the best visuals out there; every single second of it is **** gorgeous. But everything else just leaves something to be desired... The combat is quite shallow, the puzzles are rather simple, and the story just scratches meaningful ideas instead of delving into them

Good game, good combat system and atmosphere. I didn't find the story anything above average.

This game looks absolutely amazing and this story is ****. Unfortunately, that's it. The gameplay is incredibly bland, boring and frustrating. The climbing mechanics and responsiveness of every action feels like trudging through mud. It's just deeply unsatisfying all together. I have a harsh take because this game was hyped up for years and made out to be something it just absolutely wasn't. I got about 2/3 through and uninstalled because I just wasn't having fun doing literally anything in the game. It **** and it **** to ****. Sorry, not sorry.

I'm sorry but this game is pretty bad tbh. Repetitive, uninteresting, gameplay loop is pretty much braindead. I gave up when I got stuck on a minigame. If you're into old arcades then maybe this is for you.