Review
Released: 2016
Firstly, it was updated to the Definitive Edition with new additions in 2017. Secondly, it received an Xbox One X patch that same year, lifting it from a soft 900p image up to a respectably sharp 1440p. Lastly, it was added to the list of framerate boosted games on the Series S/X consoles this year, updating it from 30fps to 60fps. Including auto HDR and 16xAF!
In short, it means that with a Xbox Series X console you get the definitive version, double the original resolution and double the framerate. Only double the framerate for Series S, but framerate over resolution any day. It all amounts to an even more enjoyable playthrough. Totally free. Fantastic!
ReCore is a typical hidden gem that slid under the radar, it was a Xbox & PC exclusive that casuals didn't notice on rival other platforms. It wasn't a massive triple A budget production either, lacking the polished quality and high-end production cutscenes that reviewers love to give top scores. On top of this, it's a game with a disputable ending quality.
That said, I'd still warmly recommend it any day, here's why.
It’s been years since I played ReCore, so I decided to go with a fresh new save. What immediately stands out, is how charming and fun it is to play. We quickly fall in love with the main female character, Joule. With her cool scavenger outfit, iconic helmet and rifle in bright yellow. Then, of course, we have her super charming companion robot named Mack with serial code K-9. He looks like a dog and he's called Kay Nine, canine, get it?!
Maybe it’s the graphic fidelity of newer times but I feel modern gaming, XB1/PS4 era and upwards, make environments like desserts and canyons, typical lacklustre landscapes in the early 3D days, amazing and beautiful places to behold. ReCore is no exception to that rule: dunes of sand build up around sun-drenched rocks and futuristic sci-fi ruins, treading in the sand leaves footsteps, sandstorms blow over the landscape.
Simple, yet carefully planned touches that make even the most remote, barren and hostile environments look lovely. Working well, in great combination with ReCore’s constant encouragement and loot rewards for exploring.
At the same time, the indoors environments, like caves, are full of blue and orange lit crystals and the futuristic buildings have a great sci-fi look and massive presence to their appearance. The contrast between outdoors and indoors is key to varying a game that doesn't have a ton of environmental variety, such as jungles, towns or snow landscapes.
How best describe ReCore then? It’s a cross between a lock-on, third person shooter, think typical Nintendo circling and lock-on combat, combined with a platformer. Shooting takes damage points off the enemies, which are level based within areas of the map. The enemies are robots designed as insects or animals, predating even Horizon Zero Dawn.
How best describe ReCore then? It’s a cross between a lock-on, third person shooter, think typical Nintendo circling and lock-on combat, combined with a platformer. Shooting takes damage points off the enemies, which are level based within areas of the map. The enemies are robots designed as insects or animals, predating even Horizon Zero Dawn.
In addition to normal firing power, heavy damage is dealt by powering up your weapon and firing an extra strong projectile. An echo of Metroid Prime's combat, combined with conceptual design from Keiji Inafune, who takes influence straight from the Mega Man power shot!
Not far into the game, you begin receiving ammo that corresponds with the colour of enemies. Red ammo takes more damage on red enemies, yellow on yellow etc. Enemies will swap colours during a fight, forcing you to keep up and switch ammo. Battles can be hectic, but commanding your robots to cooperatively attack, helps keep you alive.
Towards the end of an enemy's life bar, you can shoot out a wire and pull it's core straight out of it, killing it instantly. These cores are key items building and upgrading your helper robots. However, removing a core requires tugging and pulling to loosen out of the enemies, precious time you don't have when swarmed by enemies. It's about finding the right timing to do it.
The platforming is precise with a satisfying double jump and dash straight from the get go, the much improved responsiveness of 60fps makes it even more of a joy as a platformer on the Series X/S than back on the Xbox One family.
At first, the platforming is just about getting to higher ledges, jumping form rock to rock. Gradually, the game makes you traverse further distanced platforms, forcing you to dash forwards and reach distant platforms. Then, it adds power rings that reset your double jump and dash, allowing you to reach even further still! It’s incredibly satisfying and the environment will tempt you with distant loot to reach, begging the player to go off climbing.
The shadow of Metroid hangs over the design of the world layout too, with unreachable sectors being opened up as you progress and new abilities from the robot companions are used to back-track older areas and gain access to new places.
While Joule’s level system is automatic, simply making her attacks and defence more powerful, the companion robots can be customised in various ways. K-9 is your first robot, he has a dash attack. Later, you get a spider robot, aptly named SP-DR, who can pull you along vertical rail tracks on structures, even upside down! These rails are super cool and end with daring jumps when one rail stops, mid-air, and you need to double jump and dash to reach the next set of rails to latch on and continue.
Switching these companion robots is instantaneous with the press of a button. Later on, you'll obtain a large gorilla-like robot, aptly named AP-3, who's a great brawler in fights or smash objects into place. ReCore is cleverly designed, requiring all the robots to fully explore the surroundings.
So, is all the focus of ReCore in its gameplay? Not exactly, there’s a fairly well done story presentation going on. Joule is well voiced and her search for her dad in this vast, post-apocalyptic future, 200 years from now, is shown in cutscenes that focus strongly on the impressions it does on Joule herself. In the first such scene, Joule starts a video showing her missing dad, you can clearly see the sadness and longing in her eyes watching it.
Later, when she meets another survivor, she's clearly happy, with a positive attitude, to finally meet another human being. While the cutscenes aren’t the massive "epic" movies seen in high budget titles, they show a warming human side and help fill out a more believable story for world immersion.
What pulls ReCore from a clear five out of six, is the repetitive nature of enemy fights, similar environmental design throughout and the infamous abrupt ending. It lacks a satisfying conclusion. While it’s not a show stopper, it definitely resides in the category of games you play for the entertaining gameplay, rather than for the story. Casual, story mode focused, players should perhaps look elsewhere. That said, the cutscenes are nicely done with some charming personalities.
Going back to ReCore has been a pleasurable reunion, reminding me of how unique it was and giving a flashback to the earlier years of the Xbox One generation. While it will never stand in history as a landmark title of any kind, it’s definitely worth a play, for a cool combination of lock-on shooting, power up shots, exploring and challenging platforming.
Be ready to be heavily challenged both in combat and platforming though!
