When Replaced was first revealed, everyone was enamored by its gorgeous visuals, including myself. The 2.5D pixelated art style was reminiscent of the beautiful HD-2D games like Octopath Traveler and Live a Live . Replaced tells a gripping story about an AI named REACH who gets trapped in the body of its creator, Warren Marsh. It’s surprisingly touching too, as REACH learns what it’s like to be human all the while attempting to get back home and evading the evil Phoenix Corporation.

Replaced ’s combat is fluid, but its clunky platforming and imprecise controls make traversal a headache. Even so, I had a good time learning more about the game’s alternative history 1980s dystopian America.

Scattered throughout the game are different collectibles that provide lore dumps, showcasing what life is like for America’s inhabitants. Whether it’s President John F. Kennedy addressing the nation, or a note left behind a dead miner who got trapped below, Replaced does a stellar job of world-building. It’s very rare that I sit back and actually read every single collectible I find in a video game. Horizon Zero Dawn and Returnal did that to me, and now Replaced joins that list.

As mentioned before, the game’s pixelated art direction is stunning. The ruined buildings, pouring rain, and vibrant colors really pop out. Even when Warren (REACH?) pulls out his device to read his notes, the close up pixels that shape his hand are wonderfully detailed and shaded.

With that being said, it can be difficult to make out what’s in the foreground and the background. I sometimes had issues trying to figure out which objects can be interacted with. Furthermore, sometimes it’s not entirely clear where you have to jump in between platforms, and this resulted in me plummeting to my death plenty of times. It’s an even worse feeling when I did know where to go, but I tried to grab a ledge and I somehow just completely missed when I knew I shouldn’t have. The controls can feel finicky and inconsistent at times, leading to frustrating moments.

Thankfully, the combat in Replaced fares much better. It utilizes a similar system to the Freeflow Combat in the Batman Arkham series, but in 2D. You attack enemies with combos, and when they try to attack, you counter. It’s pretty basic at first, but there are eventually more nuances introduced. For example, the pickaxe is used to break off enemy armor and shields, which block regular strikes and bullets. REACH also has a powerful gun that needs to be charged by continually hitting enemies with physical attacks. Getting hit causes the gun to lose some of its charge, so you’ll need to fight strategically to avoid getting hit.

Firing off the gun is immensely satisfying too. Outside of bosses, it’s essentially a one-shot kill against enemies, and just blasting someone with it feels like the perfect reward for careful play. There’s a sort of rhythm that you can enter in battle, almost like a puzzle: I need to take out the ones with guns first, then the shield enemies, then counterattack the ninjas when they lunge at me, and then aim for the big guy last when all other distractions are gone. The combat really keeps you on your toes, having to plan out your attacking approach while also balancing evasion.

There are also a few forced stealth segments where you hide from the Phoenix Corporation, along with its lackeys and drones. Normally, I don’t like stealth segments, but Replaced adds a bit of variety by letting you hack into enemy turrets and other machines. You’ll play a surprisingly fun mini-game where you’re shown a shape, and then have to choose the correct shape among a few that when put together, to form a complete square. It’s simple, but effective.

In some chapters, you’ll revisit the Railway Station, which acts as a hub area where you can interact with NPCs to take on side quests. Unfortunately, they aren’t all that engaging and mostly boil down to just fetching different kinds of items for them. But they’re rather short and worth completing since they award you with helpful things like health upgrades, improved gear, and expanded med kits.

I also can’t help but mention the absolute banger soundtrack . From bumping and dramatic tracks like “Great Power, Great Responsibility” and “Crushing Bones,” to the soft-laden strings of “Second Chance” and the dark melodies of “No Tomorrow,” the music is quite eclectic and helps sell the whole dystopian cyberpunk atmosphere. The tunes are a throwback to those 80s synth-wave vibes you’d hear in old Apple commercials.

Replaced is a breathtakingly beautiful and narratively riveting game that has engrossing world-building while also delivering solid combat. However, it’s held back by fickle platforming and dull side quests. Still, the memorable music helps elevate the entire experience, making this dystopian adventure worth playing.

Disclosure: Sad Cat Studios sent a copy of the game for the purposes of this review