ReCore Review

With a budget price, ReCore could be a litmus test for future Xbox One exclusives. With Keiji Inafune and former Metroid Prime developers working on the project, ReCore came with a small amount of expectation, yet its combination of unique mechanics, a captivating world, and accessible gameplay made it an interesting proposition for fans of action-adventure games.

Set 200 years in the future, ReCore follows the story of Joule Adams, a young woman who awakens on Far Eden, a world that was supposed to be the last hope for humanity. However, upon waking up from cryosleep, she discovers that the planet is in ruin, and she is alone, save for a group of robots called Corebots. These mechanical companions are not just there for decoration but play an essential role in the game’s combat mechanics. The game’s narrative unfolds as Joule explores this desolate world and tries to uncover the mystery of Far Eden’s downfall. Along her journey, she is joined by several Corebots, starting with Mack, a dog-like robot that helps Joule with combat and traversal. As she proceeds, she encounters more Corebots, each with unique abilities that aid in both puzzle-solving and combat.

The combat in ReCore is a unique mix of strategy and action. The key feature of the combat is color matching, where Joule must match the color of her attacks with the color of the enemies’ armor. For example, if you encounter a red Corebot enemy that shoots fire, you need to switch to Joule’s red ammo weapon to deal the most damage. Additionally, Mack and other Corebots you find along the way have special abilities that can be triggered in real-time to gain an edge in battle. The interplay between matching ammo colors, using companion abilities, and timing your attacks creates a fun, engaging, and satisfying combat experience. Boss fights take this a step further, requiring you to think on your feet, constantly adjusting your strategy by swapping between colors and calling on your companion at just the right moment.

As you progress through ReCore, you’ll collect blueprints that allow you to upgrade your Corebots. This system adds depth to the gameplay, as you can customize your robots to enhance their abilities, making them stronger and more resilient. The upgrade system for the Corebots is fairly straightforward, with players collecting Cores that enhance the performance of their companions. As you explore Far Eden, you can also collect more Cores to add to your Corebots, speeding up their upgrades. However, Joule’s weapon upgrades are a bit different. Unlike the Corebots, Joule’s weapon upgrades automatically as you play through the game, without requiring Cores or blueprints. While this might seem like an odd design choice, it doesn’t detract from the experience too much. The player still feels progression through the upgrades of their Corebots and weapon, keeping the game’s pacing intact.

Although ReCore doesn’t feature a fully open world, its world design is big enough to feel expansive while still being manageable. The game world consists of large, open environments interspersed with smaller, more contained areas. The main story levels are housed in a compact yet engaging world, with side dungeons scattered across the map. These dungeons allow you to explore at your own pace and provide additional challenges that test everything you’ve learned so far. Some of these dungeons include timed challenges or complex platforming sections that require precision and quick reflexes, but they are well-designed and help prevent the gameplay from feeling repetitive. While some of these challenges may initially seem daunting, they serve as an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics and make you a more skilled player. However, as you progress through the game, you’ll eventually encounter similar challenges, which could feel a bit repetitive after a while, especially in the later stages.

Graphically, ReCore is a visually pleasing game with a distinctive art style. The world of Far Eden is beautifully rendered, with vast desert landscapes, crumbling ruins, and stunning sunsets. The game uses soft lighting and a muted color palette, which, combined with the ambient soundtrack, creates a calming and immersive atmosphere. The game’s music, composed by the legendary Metroid Prime composer, Kenji Yamamoto, further enhances this relaxing experience. However, while the visuals and music are impressive, ReCore isn’t without its issues. At launch, the game had some glitches, including visual bugs where you could see the inside of walls or objects, breaking immersion. Additionally, the game suffered from longer-than-expected loading times, which could disrupt the flow of gameplay. While some of these issues were patched after launch, the loading times could still be improved, particularly considering the relatively small size of the game world compared to other open-world titles.

The combat, world-building, and exploration in ReCore give the game a lot of potential, but its flaws hold it back from greatness. The game’s relatively small scope, repetitive challenges, and technical issues prevent it from being a groundbreaking title, but it is still an enjoyable experience. With its affordable price, ReCore can be seen as a budget title that offers solid gameplay and an engaging story. It shows promise for future Xbox One exclusives, offering a glimpse into what could be accomplished if given more time and resources.

In conclusion, ReCore is a game with a lot of heart and ambition. While it may not have reached the heights of some of its more prominent peers, it is a competent and enjoyable action-adventure game. The mechanics are solid, the world is fun to explore, and the combat provides enough depth to keep players engaged throughout the experience. If you are looking for a solid action game with a compelling story and strategic combat, ReCore is definitely worth checking out, especially at its budget price. With a few tweaks to its technical performance and more variety in its challenges, ReCore could have been a much more memorable title. Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable, if imperfect, journey through the world of Far Eden.

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