Original Story: After years and years of teasing and waiting, Replaced is finally live on Xbox & Game Pass - and the reviews are now rolling in for this neon-soaked atmospheric platformer.
With there being lots of eyes on this one since it was first revealed, we've decided to gather up some of these early reviews to show you what folks think of the game so far!
Without further ado, here's what the critics are saying:
"Sad Cat Studios has finally delivered the game they've been promising for years, and it's every bit as brilliant as I'd hoped. Featuring an incredible tale of what it is to be human, Reach touches hearts and rips some out as he hops and wacks his way across Phoenix City and beyond. This is an Indie Game of the Year contender, no doubt about it."
"Replaced is, after all, about emotion, which it has in abundance, with a story that resonates deeply, feels refreshing without reinventing the wheel, and, moreover, doesn't feel the need to provide all the answers."
"Replaced is a stunning achievement in art direction and atmosphere that just needed a bit more time in the oven - but what's here is well worth your time despite the rough edges."
"The combat is the star of REPLACED. It’s so satisfying and slick that I couldn’t get enough of it, and when combined with numerous traversal puzzles, stealth sections, and action set-pieces the whole is far more glorious than the sum of its parts."
"The defining strength of Replaced—besides the stunning visuals—lies in its cultural commentary. Though the main narrative focuses primarily on one aspect of the apocalypse, organ donation and the subsequent dehumanisation that comes from losing a part of oneself, there's plenty of flavour there for the world's other tragedies: extreme poverty, the frivolity of the elite, fascism, police state and especially the dangers of technology. Sad Cat elegantly depicts these themes, and I believe anyone who plays Replaced is going to have an enlightening experience, which I imagine is exactly what the studio was going for."
"REPLACED is a visually stunning and narratively gripping cyberpunk adventure that’s hard to look away from, even when it stumbles. Its gorgeous 2.5D world, compelling story, and thoughtful character work make it stand out, but frustrating readability issues in both platforming and combat occasionally impede the experience. Despite these shortcomings, REPLACED’s style and substance shine through, making it an easy recommendation for fans of cinematic platformers and dystopian thrillers."
At the time of writing, Replaced has a Metacritic rating of 80 and an OpenCritic score of 78, so it sounds as though this long-awaited title has largely been worth the wait.
