Developer: Gunfire Games
Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment
Available on Steam, PS4, Xbox One
As of yet, I have not played the co-op mode, so this is not a full review.
Remnant: From the Ashes (“Remnant”) is an action RPG with a third-person perspective. The combat is dynamic, but sparse, as you will find plenty of open space between dungeons and bosses. Yet, you won’t discover the fun until you’ve progressed quite a ways into the game. And not just the tutorial.
During the tutorial phase, I was pumped. Combat was prevalent and fun! There is also plenty of dialog and world building that is interesting but unoriginal. After restoring power to the facility, known as Ward 13, you exit the tutorial and enter the vast, post-apocalyptic world. At this point, be prepared to manage your limited stamina so you can move through a lot of open space. There isn’t much to see as the world is fairly generic. Instead of a glut of enemies, you get small pockets of hordes that can vary from two to several – let’s say ten. Enemies vary in difficulty but, generally, your job at this point is to learn the costs and benefits of close-range versus ranged combat. You are armed with a pistol, rifle, and your trusty sword.
Remnant is brutally difficult at times. Regular bad guys and mobs are easy enough to disperse, but when I would hear the faint shrieking sound that means a champion has appeared, I found myself spinning around looking for it. Champions require a tactical approach. Some are weak to a specific weapon type, while others require up-close action and then dodge-rolling and immediately firing your pistol. That’s all awesome, but the champions do so much damage that I found myself dying while following a strict, tactical approach and nearly killing the champion that slayed me. Frustrating.
Overall, my few hours with Remnant started slowly but got much better. I’m looking forward to putting more time into it and I recommend you try it if it sounds fun to you. Remember, Steam and Epic allow you to return digital purchases, albeit with conditions.