KEMCO, eh? Now and again they love to do one thing outdoors of their consolation zone (which is retro styled JRPGs, in case you’ve forgotten or have been dwelling underneath a rock). Typically these video games work, like in Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom, and typically they don’t, like Raging Bytes.
The most recent recreation to flee from their steady is METRO QUESTER, and whereas a whole lot of their video games are in a retro type, this takes that to the following degree. So, on condition that this isn’t an RPG, regardless of what the sport’s retailer web page says, what ought to we make of it? Nicely, include me to the longer term and we’ll try to seek out out.
METRO QUESTER is about in an apocalyptic future (is there every other variety?); an apocalyptic future designed by a manga artist by the identify of Kazushi Hagiwara. The yr is 20XX and a lethal virus has unfold. The air is polluted, the water is stagnant, and now, simply to place the cherry on the cake, it seems that horrific monsters have began to emerge from underground. With all that in thoughts, you’d suppose that the final place that anybody would wish to go is into the deserted Metro techniques, wouldn’t you? Nevertheless, it’s the Metro system of Tokyo by which we head, going deeper underground than must be strictly wholesome to see what we will discover. Will we discover the reply to the issues the world faces? Nicely, we will discover in hope, can’t we…
As I discussed on the high, METRO QUESTER has gone again to advert even precedent days than the remainder of the multitude of different KEMCO video games, and the very first thing it put me in thoughts of was an previous ZX Specturm recreation, with out the twenty minutes of screeching whereas it hundreds.
The presentation of issues feels fairly unusual, with a really restricted palette of primarily inexperienced in the primary display. The motion is considered from above, and as we discover, we will discover numerous gadgets, and even monsters. Now, the monsters just about all look the identical on the primary display, simply totally different colors to point their issue, from blue as much as pink. The battle display, whenever you get right into a scrap, can be simplicity itself, together with your character’s portraits lined up on the left hand facet of the display and the enemies arrayed on the fitting. There are not any voice overs, however there’s some fairly good music that matches the motion completely. All in all, the presentation is about as fundamental as it might probably get. Even the design of the characters and monsters, whereas undeniably trendy, options no animation in any way. You actually should see METRO QUESTER in motion to grasp simply how retro it’s.
The precise gameplay may be very a lot of two halves – fight and exploration. Exploration is an odd factor, all issues thought-about. We have now to wander across the place, looking for sufficient meals to maintain the workforce going, all whereas attempting to find “Purification Gasoline” which we have to preserve exploring. As soon as we run out of mentioned gasoline, we’re returned to base, no questions requested.
But while on the market, there are numerous issues to take a look at, along with the aforementioned assets – breakable partitions, (which can or might not comprise monsters), vaults, new characters to recruit and in addition new campsites to find. As soon as a brand new campsite has been situated, you may transfer your base there, that means that it then turns into doable to discover from the brand new space extra simply. It does take a number of quantities of meals to maneuver the bottom, nonetheless, so you may’t simply do it willy-nilly. Principally, wander about, both avoiding fights or entering into scrapes, after which the opposite half of the sport comes into play. The combating.
This combating system additionally requires little or no interplay from us. Firstly of the combat, every of our 5 workforce members can choose as much as three actions to carry out, relying on what number of motion factors they’ve accessible. That can be utilized throughout three assaults, three defensive or assist actions, or a combination of each. Queueing up assaults like this can be a bit bizarre, particularly because the enemies can even stack up assaults. When you set the spherical in motion, it then performs out and we see what’s left on the finish of the spherical. From there, rinse and repeat till both we win, or the enemies do and we get up within the base, minus meals and gasoline, after all. If somebody is knocked out, however we nonetheless win the combat, then it prices extra gasoline to get them again on their ft, and this then has a knock on impact on how lengthy the exploration facet of issues can proceed.
The fight is each extremely easy and fairly difficult in equal measure, with a Hate system in play that makes the enemies focus their assaults on a sure character. So, if in case you have a tank, in a position to soak up a whole lot of punishment, making them Hated is an effective way to take the warmth off the extra fragile characters. With a number of lessons of characters to seek out and recruit, and a large roster of characters in complete, there’s all the time an excellent combine to be discovered. It might be mentioned that getting the fitting workforce with complimentary expertise is kind of vital.
The gameplay present in METRO QUESTER is weirdly compelling, and whereas there are a selection of achievements that aren’t awfully difficult, pleasingly they’re associated to progress by way of the sport; this implies there’s all the time one thing to try for. Looking for new areas and tools, levelling your characters up once they accrued sufficient EXP factors, and fielding the most effective workforce you may is oddly moreish. Regardless of the gaming X issue is, METRO QUESTER seemingly has it.
Maybe it received’t be everybody’s cup of tea, however for avid gamers seeking to make a journey down reminiscence lane, METRO QUESTER is a pleasant departure from the same old KEMCO type. As a complete, it simply works.
