This year, in my opinion, has been one of the best in terms of new downloadable games. We’ve seen tons of great games come out, some of them even payware, for free! We also got to see some old-school classics such as Half-Life 2, Portal, and HL2: Episode 1 re-release. Then we saw the amazing announcement of a new Half-Life game. However, the biggest news of all is something that nobody was expecting: the series that defined the first-person shooter genre turned into a VR game. That game is “Half-Life 2: Lost Coast”. Not only that, but the game is a sequel to “Half-Life 2: Episode 1” and “Half-Life
The cyberpunk genre has a long history, and the last few years have seen the genre make a strong comeback in the form of games. They’re no longer a niche genre—they’re mainstream. So for many gamers, the question is, “What is cyberpunk?” I’ll be honest, I don’t have an answer. The genre is so expansive that it has no single definition. It can be anything from a well-written story filled with vivid imagery and thought-provoking themes, to a crappy movie with a shallow plot. However, the most important element that defines the genre is the use of technology in place of traditional human elements.
For a game by the name of Forza Horizon 4, it seems like the series has been around for a while now. But it’s only been a few years. Forza Horizon 3 was released in 2016 and was a prequel to the previous Horizon games. Forza Horizon 4 was released in 2018, and it has taken the series to new heights. Although I’m not sure how new heights are possible since the first Forza Horizon game was released in 2013, and the last one was released in 2016.
While most people associate the word “cyberpunk” with the bumpy launch of Cyberpunk 2077, other games have made excellent use of the sub-genre throughout the years. However, it evokes a deeper look into future civilizations and the horrors that may happen if we don’t exercise caution in keeping the powers that be in check.
FORECLOSED, a new comic book-inspired cyberpunk action game, makes excellent use of the aesthetic, but does it transfer to engaging gameplay? Let’s have a look.
Less-than-ideal story and gameplay can’t be hidden by stylish looks.
The style of FORECLOSED is something that no one can criticize. The game has an instantly recognizable comic book cyberpunk aesthetic. The concept is intriguing as well. You take on the role of Evan Kapnos, who wakes up one morning to discover that his business has gone bankrupt, and as a consequence, his whole identity has been foreclosed.
While Evan begins by attempting to do the right thing, he is soon drawn into a plot that has him on the run and avoiding gunshots early on in the narrative.
The narrative itself is OK, but not very gripping. The game does have some downtime when you may pick conversation choices, but it also has lengthy stretches of battling rooms full of monsters in between exposition, so it doesn’t have the narrative-focused vibe that the game’s official description suggests.
One of the most thrilling aspects of the game’s early hours is the way it transitions between comic book-styled cutscenes and gameplay. For example, the screen will often be divided into panels before smoothly moving into gameplay.
You’ll also see yourself fleeing from armed adversaries via the eyes of surveillance cameras during an early pursuit scene, providing a visual treat beyond the usual third-person action.
FORECLOSED is fashionable, and it is well aware of it. For a time, it was enough to let me overlook certain gameplay flaws, but when we take a closer look, we can see that the game has a lot of flaws.
For begin, there’s a hacking minigame that requires you to hit directional buttons in a certain order. It works flawlessly, but it never becomes any more complex.
The same may be said about concealed switches that can be found within walls or dispersed across an area utilizing your eyesight. Once the opponents are defeated, you’ll need to locate and hack them all in order to progress. They’re fun at first, but they quickly become a tedious part of the game.
Combat is also a mixed bag. I could never make the gunplay to seem snappy enough, no matter how much I tweaked the aim sensitivity and aim help in the settings. It was usually a bit slow, and precise motions were tough. Most of the time, I’d simply strafe to line up my shot.
Enemies also flood regions and just stay there, resulting in easy shootouts. On the normal level, you’ll also find yourself dying in a matter of bullets, although the load times on PS5 were fortunately lightning quick.
Without a real cover system (you can crouch behind objects, but that’s it), combat may be difficult, especially when you’re battling against the aiming sensitivity while navigating several opponents who are pouring down fire on you.
When you combine your powers with the stealth mechanism, things become even more intriguing. Special powers, such as telekinesis, which allows you to pick up and hurl items at opponents, may be added to battle via cybernetic implants.
These provide some much-needed variety to the action, but not enough to overcome the game’s repetitious mechanics and simple opponent AI. Stealth is fascinating, and being able to see through barriers with your eyes is very useful.
Taking down opponents requires pressing the triangle button to overload their brain implants, which was a great touch and another clever twist on a familiar concept.
It’s disappointing to watch FORECLOSED master the fundamentals and use an amazing style, yet fall short of really pushing the needle beyond the fundamentals. Even with the simple gameplay, I would still suggest the game if the aiming could be improved or if additional adjusting choices were included.
While the game’s gameplay will always be superficial, this change to the controls would still make it a fun cyberpunk adventure, even if the narrative and gameplay fall short of their promise.
The rest is taken care of by the excellent presentation.
When it comes to a game’s aesthetic, I’m willing to overlook some of the gameplay if it’s visually appealing. FORECLOSED boasts some of the finest comic book-inspired visuals I’ve ever seen, and it employs this aesthetic to stunning advantage in its presentation.
It’s a pity the gameplay couldn’t equal that degree of refinement, but if a patch fixes the faulty aiming, gamers may anticipate a light and easy, but absolutely beautiful, trip into the cyberpunk universe.
6.5/10 for the overall performance.
Bradley Ramsey is the author of this article. Insert date – August 16, 2021
The game FORECLOSED is a unique stealth adventure game set in a cyberpunk universe, offering unique action-based gameplay, that will test your skills, reflexes and sense of adventure.. Read more about cyberpunk 2077 bad reviews and let us know what you think.
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