RAD Game Review
3 Step Game Review
About the Game
Released
August 20, 2019
Developer
Double Fine
Price
US$ 19.99
(MAY VARY PER LOCATION)
Game Description
RAD is a 3D action rogue-like set in a post-post-apocalyptic world, where humanity has faced armageddon not once, but twice. Playing as a teenage protagonist, you must venture into the Fallow — an ever-changing, radioactive wasteland filled with unknown and unspeakable creatures. But humanity’s future comes at great personal cost, as the deeper you journey into unknown lands, the more you will expose yourself to gnarly toxins which will wreak havoc on your fragile human form. The fate of the world depends on you, your trusty bat, and… (continues…)
Step 1: Playing Conditions
Read below the game basic characteristics. If it is something you see yourself playing, move on to Step 2: Graphics & Sound.
Gameplay Overview
Rad is simply HARD. The juvenile look and feel of the game can give an opposite first impression, but this is not a lay back and chill game. The objective is really simple: complete all 6 levels of the game without dying. Death means starting over (it can also be qualified as a ROGUELITE genre as some elements are saved after death: currency, unlocked items, and NPC upgrades).
To have fun playing RAD, you need to accept the gameplay challenge instead of considering a reason for frustrations. There is no game tutorial, levels have different versions of themselves, character mutations are RANDOM, hp restoration is scarce, etc…
RAD’s challenge is to learn how to play around these small unexpected variables, after that beating the 6 levels will be easy.
Step 2: Graphics & Sound
Watch 5 to 10 minutes of any video below. If you like what you see and hear, move on to Step 3: Game Evaluation.
Step 3: Game Evaluation
Build your expectations about the game by learning what it offers and how was The Partisan Spy’s experience.
USER INTERFACE
The game is simple, the UI is SIMPLE. It follows the game graphic style and all elements are similar to the gaming industry design. On the menu, there is an information archive, which is really useful as in-game tooltips (mutations) sometimes disappear really fast. One cool feature is the possibility to REMAP mutation abilities keys without the need to access the menu.
STORY
The story VALIDATES and makes acceptable every eccentric aspect of the game. The game has cutscenes at the beginning and end of the adventure. The character has a site to interact with friendly NPCs and at some levels, there are side-missions related to the story.
Beyond that, the MAIN DRIVER to play the game is beating the levels and not solving its story.
COMMUNITY POTENTIAL
RAD has a DAILY CHALLENGE game mode and a global leaderboard, so players can compete for better daily performance. It’s a great initiative to connect players around the game and give them a reason to keep playing a PVE game.
It goes beyond the traditional PVE game delivery but it doesn’t seem to be enough to reach SSP levels as PVP games.
GAMEPLAY MOOD TRACKER
MOOD ANALYSIS
The tracker shows that my mood was between ENTERTAINED and EAGER for 60% of gameplay time (25 hours).
Spikes to EXCITED are mostly related to accomplishments and downs to NORMAL can be associated with getting used to the gameplay.
A mood behavior that can be seen in every game, the more a game is played more common it becomes and fewer emotions it brings.
GRIND FEELING
Strange as can be, there was NO GRIND feeling in a 6-level game. The pain felt after death in a roguelike game is undeniable and having to begin all over again can be related to grinding. What differs RAD is that every run is UNIQUE. The randomness of levels, mutations, and bosses brings an element of surprise for every run. Even though mobs are the same, mutations are not, which makes you always rethink your combat strategy.
LOVED THE MOST
The challenges and small surprises the game brings with all the random variations. It makes you constantly change your strategic approach to the game.
DISLIKED THE MOST
Even though the limitation of game information is part of the game challenge, having a basic mechanics tutorial wouldn’t hurt.
EVALUATION SUMMARY
RAD is an entertaining and challenging experience.
Mechanics are so simple that the first run will convince you that you can beat the game. That is RAD’s magic. You won’t rest until you complete the game and the more you play, the bigger will become the obsession about it. RAD is HARD and SIMPLE, all in one.
Games that are able to put together these 2 qualities and still be fun to play, deserve our time. For what RAD delivers its price tag is fair and remember that the ROGUELIKE genre is not for everyone, take into account this play condition when considering buying the game.
Choices & Advice
DON’T BUY IT
IF YOU ARE 100% SATISFIED WITH THE GAMES YOU ARE PLAYING OR HAD YOUR SHARE OF THE ROGUELIKE GENRE.
WAIT TO BUY
IF YOU BELIEVE THE GAME IS NOT AT YOUR PRICE POINT YOU CAN WAIT FOR A SALE.
BUY NOW
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A HARD & FUN ROGUELIKE CHALLENGE.
GAME LIFETIME
GAME CAN BE 100% COMPLETED IN 15-30 HOURS, DEPENDING ON YOUR LUCK.
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