REMEDIUM: Sentinels Review - Simple & Addictive Autoshooting Action

A PC code was provided to SVG for this review. "REMEDIUM: Sentinels" will launch on July 18, 2023, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

"REMEDIUM: Sentinels” is a great game for those seeking simple yet thrilling gameplay that offers a surprising amount of strategy. As a roguelite fast-paced autoshooter, it immerses you in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the Grey Plague, where you must defend the remaining cities against hordes of mutants until your reactor eventually fails. While chaos unfolds on the screen, the game manages to provide simple fun that acts as an oddly cathartic way to decompress after a stressful day.

One of the game's standout features is its easy-to-play, hard-to-master design. From the moment you start playing, you'll find yourself navigating your Sentinel — which is essentially a mech suit –through waves of deadly mutants, relentlessly obliterating enemies with an arsenal of weapons. The controls are few and intuitive (using only the WASD keys), allowing you to focus on the action-packed gameplay and the strategic decisions that lie beneath the surface.

Despite its straightforward mechanics, "REMEDIUM: Sentinels" surprises with its depth of strategy. Throughout your runs, you have the opportunity to choose randomly generated power-ups and upgrade your weapons. It's in these moments that the game reveals its strategic elements. Selecting the most effective options for your loadout can mean the difference between success and failure as the enemy horde evolves and becomes increasingly larger, faster, and more challenging. The ability to combine items and upgrade the abilities that you already have lets you create unique builds and adds an additional layer of depth and replayability.

As you progress in the game, surviving longer rewards you with access to more skills, weapons, and enemies to defeat. You also unlock additional levels and Sentinels as you go. This progression system creates a sense of growth and excitement, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging. With a wide selection of guns and skills, you'll find yourself experimenting with different loadouts to find the perfect combination to fend off the mutants with their unique perks and resistances.

One notable aspect of "REMEDIUM: Sentinels" is its visual style, which may not be particularly graphically intensive. The game's aesthetic is reminiscent of early PS2-era titles, with its slightly pixelated textures and simpler character models. However, it's important to note that this doesn't detract from the overall experience in any way. In fact, it adds a certain charm and nostalgia to the game, harkening back to a time when gameplay and mechanics took precedence over flashy visuals.

Despite its less demanding graphical presentation, "REMEDIUM: Sentinels" still manages to captivate and immerse you in its dark, apocalyptic world. During the heat of battle, as you navigate your Sentinel through hordes of mutants and unleash devastating attacks, the game's atmosphere and gameplay mechanics take center stage. The post-apocalyptic landscapes, ruined cities, and menacing enemies come together to create a sense of tension and urgency, drawing you deeper into the game's narrative.

Although some might expect a visually stunning experience, it's important to recognize that the game's focus lies elsewhere. The emphasis is on the intense autoshooter gameplay, the strategic decision-making, and the satisfaction of overcoming increasingly challenging waves of mutants. The simplicity of the visuals allows you to fully concentrate on the action-packed gameplay, making each moment feel impactful and exhilarating.

In many ways, the visual style of "REMEDIUM: Sentinels" serves as a testament to the game's core strengths. It demonstrates that a game doesn't need cutting-edge graphics to deliver an immersive and enjoyable experience. By focusing on gameplay mechanics, strategy, and the overall atmosphere, the developers have created a game that hooks you in and keeps you engaged, regardless of its graphical fidelity.

To that end, it's clear that the team at Sobaka Studio has listened to player input throughout the game's Early Access phase and put the feedback to good use. The addition of new weapons, enemies, bosses, and maps ensures that there is always something new and exciting to discover. The inclusion of worldwide leaderboards and achievements in the 1.0 release further adds to the game's replayability and provides a sense of accomplishment for your progress.

While "REMEDIUM: Sentinels” may not be a visually groundbreaking title, it manages to make up for it through its addictive gameplay and the way it successfully transports you into its dark, apocalyptic world. It's also a nice taste of what's to come in the upcoming twin-stick shooter "REMIDIUM," which is set within the same world. The lack of graphical complexity becomes inconsequential as you become engrossed in the chaos and excitement unfolding on the screen. Ultimately, the game's ability to pull you in and provide an immersive experience during the heat of battle is a testament to its strength as an autoshooter with a strategic twist.

"REMEDIUM: Sentinels" is delightful and addictive, striking the perfect balance between simplicity and strategy. The game's easy-to-learn mechanics make it accessible to players of all skill levels, while the underlying depth and variety of loadouts ensure that each run feels exciting and different. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or craving a simple, yet immersive post-apocalyptic experience, "REMEDIUM: Sentinels" — with its affordable price of $5 — is a title that will easily keep you entertained for hours on end.