Remnant from the ashes review9/21/2023 ![]() ![]() Environments can be laid out in different ways and dungeons located in different places, while some areas may or may not appear in your campaign at all. Remnant’s most unique feature is its dynamically-generated campaign. I didn’t see as much variety with either melee weapons or armour, but it is possible that I didn’t encounter them because of the way Remnant’s campaign works. It’s an exciting and creative arsenal, far more compelling than a torrent of nigh-identical assault rifles. Some weapons have replaceable mod powers, letting you modify your favourite gun with an area-of-effect heal or the ability to summon a minion to your side. During my time with Remnant, I also wielded a gauss rifle that created black holes, a pistol that fired swarms of bees, and a radioactive beam-rifle. After defeating a fire-spitting demon called Singe, I crafted a submachinegun that fired incendiary bullets as a default, with a power that turned it into a flamethrower. These weapons are as unique as the bosses used to make them. The real treasures, however, are dropped by bosses: powerful items which can be taken back to Ward 13 to craft new weapons and weapon mods. You’ll pick up one or two interesting items per area, usually a ring or a necklace that provides a specific buff. Unlike The Division, which drip-feeds the player incrementally better guns, Remnant’s loot is less common and more tailored. It’s also the moment when the game’s systems start to pay off. It’s the beginning of a brilliantly bonkers pan-dimensional adventure. You’re on Rhom, a desert planet populated by spear-chucking cavemen, living in the shadow of ancient obsidian obelisks that stab upwards to a sun caught in an eternal eclipse. Within minutes of this event, you’re no longer wandering the ruins of Earth. (Image credit: Perfect World Entertainment/Gunfire Games) Guns that shoot bees Then, as you’re walking down another grey and dilapidated street, Remnant suddenly conjures a castle out of the sky, and the whole game becomes far more interesting. It’s all fine, but nothing stands out about the design. ![]() Gradually, you pick your way through the ruins, moving between glowing crystals analogous to Dark Souls’ bonfires and fighting some creatively-designed bosses (more on those later). You also can’t rely on enemies dropping ammo, and you burn through your own supply quickly, so where possible it's best to get up close and personal, dispatching opponents with your melee attacks. Even basic enemies are aggressive and hit hard, so to stay alive for any length of time you need to evade their attacks. While Remnant resembles a cover shooter, in practice it plays much more like Dark Souls from an over-the-shoulder perspective. The only saving grace is that you don’t have much time to admire the scenery, as the Root are up in your face like pollen in summertime. It’s all rusted piles of rubble, hollowed-out tower blocks, and dank brown sewers. Remnant’s representation of a destroyed Earth is generic and dull, like Gears of War viewed through bloodshot eyes. It’s a lackluster opening, and the first hour of the campaign doesn't fare much better. (Image credit: Perfect World Entertainment/Gunfire Games) ![]()
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