An interesting game came out on PC a few months back that caught my attention. An adrenaline filled first person shooter that brought me back to the days when the genre was very weird and experimental. They weren’t always good, but at the very least they got pretty weird and were always fun to play. That’s the first impression I got when I learned about “Trepang2” from Trepang Studios. Subject 106, imprisoned by the Horizon corporation, takes center stage as your lead in the game. The narrative unfolds as 106, aided by the mysterious Task Force 27, orchestrates a daring escape from Horizon’s clutches, leaving a trail of casualties in his wake. Their mission: clear out black sites overrun by Horizon’s experiments and unearth evidence to dismantle the corrupt corporation.
The game’s story, while somewhat generic, takes a backseat to its main attraction—the intense, adrenaline-fueled shooting action. As I said, it’s very reminiscent of the experimental PS3-era first-person shooters, “Trepang2” brings back the thrill of those unique and offbeat titles. The supernatural and spooky elements embedded in the game evoke memories of the cult classic “F.E.A.R.,” which I was a huge fan of back in the day. I can’t say if that game still holds up today, but I like to think it does from my memories. The use of the slow-motion mechanic, often referred to as “Bullet-time,” thanks to “Max Payne” and “The Matrix,” that era just injects a nostalgic flavor for me into this gameplay. Despite occasionally getting carried away with its use, the mechanic remains a novel and enjoyable aspect of the game.
The game’s arsenal includes a variety of weapons, complemented by a slick crouch slide maneuver that adds fluidity to shootouts. Weapon modifications provide a creative outlet, allowing you to tailor their loadout and get a bit creative with your playstyle. Supernatural attacks, such as a focus ability for dodging bullets in slow motion and an invisibility power for stealthy approaches, contribute to making the gameplay continually feel fresh. Enemy variety ranges from regular humans armed with guns to grotesque zombie-like monsters, the firefights can get very explosive and graphic really quickly. The story unfolds through a world map, serving as the game’s level select. In between primary objectives, you may find yourself in small arenas for side missions which mostly add to the hectic nature of the game, but mostly feels like extra padding to lengthen out this campaign.
“Trepang2’s” eight-hour or so story is far from perfect. While the level and story structure may not break new ground, the solid and enjoyable shooting mechanics really take center stage. The game’s reliance on its fun shooting may ensure that players are hooked from start to finish, but this heavy reliance can also be its detriment at times. While I did get a very weird and creative first-person shooter like I wanted, it’s still hard for me to fully love it. It’s a great experience for what it is, but once it’s over there is very little that keeps me wanting to go back to it. I’m all about these little games trying something new or even suckering me with its nostalgic tactics, but it really all depends on what you want out of a shooter.
7.5/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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