"The future is uncertain. All we have can be lost... But it doesn't have to be that way! We can change the world! For the first time in human history, we have limitless intelligence potential at our finger tips. Technology can save us! And.... Entertain us!"

Is this that Doom Eternal that everyone was yelling about?

This might be the first time I played a game where I didn't really like anything but the core gameplay.

I don't really care about the retro 90s look. I don't think I ever did in my life. But I can at least admire the work they put into their artstyle. It clearly comes from passion/interest into the era/genre. Yet it's very aware of how commercialized and repurposed this genre is. It's glamorized and everywhere. Like plastic. Yeah. It's plastic.

The core gameplay just works for me. It's simple, punchy, and fast. The movement is nice and responsive, I quite like the dash kicks. There's a decent variety of weapons in the game but I have a few problems with it. One being that I just found myself only using the handgun most of the time. The other weapons can be fun (like the sword or shotgun) but the handgun always ended up feeling the most optimal to me. Most if not all the levels have you running a straight line. With the handgun, it has good enough distance and accuracy that it's adaptable to any challenge this game throws at you. There are two enemies that make it difficult but that can be solved with a dash kick, something you always have. I really struggled to find any use with the rifles in this game (rail and plasma). They have awkward crosshairs, slow rate of fire and pushback when firing, in a game all about speed and momentum. Sounds like it goes against the premise, doesn't it?

I haven't even mentioned the fact that headshots give you an extra second. In harder difficulties that's the difference between life and death. What makes headshots easy? The damn handgun!

I can't comment much on the music because I heard the first four notes that played in the main menu, instantly noticed it's generic "retro" music and said no this won't do. I will say I've been enjoying playing the game, running through the levels, popping heads with the handgun while listening to artists like Nicolas Jaar, Ben Frost, Car Bomb, The Armed, Skee Mask, and Gazelle Twin.

Anyways.

Let's talk about Irony! It sure works when it's funny! I won't say this game is not funny at all. It's just not funny most of the time. It has its moments. When Mad Jack says "Learn to say no!" at the start of a level, I'll admit- it got a laugh out of me. I don't know... I enjoy sharp bitter writing more than anyone I know. But the story just left me wishing there was more going on here. It has it's implications that it does but it just ends? What's going on behind the irony poisoned mask? I think there could've been more moments of sincerity. Show me the weird gooner that's behind Mad Jack! For a story that focuses on themes of humanity, technology, and consumption, it doesn't really leave enough time to fully explore this. It lacks imagination. Which is a shame.

It's a decent FPS that's got a lot of what I look for in a shooter of its genre. I find myself enjoying endless mode until the anime girl goes on about slave to adrenaline, endless cycle this and that. Yeah, alright- you're right. I got better things to do. I'll practice my free will and ALT+F4 the shit and do something else.