Roman Sands RE:Construct is likely one of the strangest video games I’ve performed shortly, and that’s saying one thing, as a result of I’ve performed a lot of bizarre video games recently. On a floor stage, this first-person journey seems to be an eccentric expertise about performing menial duties for the entitled company of an odd luxurious resort. It shortly turns into obvious that there’s far more happening behind the scenes: time appears to be looping, and in addition, the apocalypse may be nigh – or did it already occur? Regardless of having demoed this sport twice now, I’m nonetheless not fully positive what it’s about, however I can confidently say I’ve by no means performed something fairly prefer it.
My demo of Roman Sands RE:Construct was break up into two acts. Originally of Act 1, I woke up on the shore of a seashore; trying up, an enormous resort stood within the distance, heatwaves radiating from it. Solely moments after stumbling into the foyer, I’m “greeted” by a gaggle of demanding boomers who all appear satisfied that I’m really an worker right here. They’re all clearly sad; the elevator is damaged (which appears to be everybody’s foremost concern) however on high of that, the A/C is off, a drunk man is wasted on the pool deck, and Sylvia wants a rattling margarita pronto. They’re largely whole jerks, and it appears my job is to repair all their issues. How enjoyable!
In fact, this being a online game, nothing is straightforward. Roman Sands RE:Construct doesn’t simply need the participant to finish everybody’s requests, it desires them to take action as shortly and effectively as doable. Each time the participant leaves one room of the lodge and enters one other, time advances; finally, the day will finish, and if the participant hasn’t fastened the elevator by that time, the day repeats. In different phrases, this a part of Roman Sands RE:Construct is run-based, with the driving concept being that the extra you play, the higher you’ll get at optimizing your path by the lodge. For instance, my first run by, I had no concept that one of many visitor’s drugs have been situated in a suitcase outdoors. As soon as I knew that, I might decide them up for her on my subsequent run earlier than she even had the possibility to ask.
Not every thing is regular on this place, in fact. In truth, as I roamed into the basement of the lodge – or as one of many company put it, “the place they put issues I don’t take into consideration” – I discover a Cthulhu-esque tentacle monster locked behind a door. There’s additionally some kind of unusual biomass seemingly rising on/within the elevator, which I purpose most likely isn’t good! Then there’s the truth that everyone seems to be speaking concerning the solar on a regular basis, and the way it’s seemingly getting larger; perhaps the apocalypse is about to occur, and perhaps all these persons are dwelling out their remaining days at this unusual place. I didn’t get any agency solutions throughout my demo, however whatever the unusual situation, the sport knowledgeable me to “maintain your head down and ensure everybody will get what they need.”
It’s a really bizarre premise. It’s additionally considerably performed for comedy, as a result of Roman Sands RE:Construct gamifies each motion to a hilarious diploma. For those who decide one thing up, there’s an excellent probability the sport will congratulate you for it. Even choosing up an apple is an occasion worthy of a textual content popup that dominates the complete display screen for just a few seconds. For those who work together with a door or discuss with somebody, your rating will go up. Do all of it shortly and you’ll maintain a combo going, with numbers popping up on-screen to remind you of your efficiency. A guiding arrow factors you to your goal, and should you comply with it, you get a pace enhance, which I discovered fairly humorous.
The extra duties you full in a day, and the sooner you full them, the extra XP you get. Then, you should purchase persistent upgrades at in-universe “gacha machines” that may perhaps show you how to make extra progress in your subsequent run, like a Janitor’s Equipment that you should use to wash up a person named Bunk after he vomits throughout himself. Doesn’t that sound enjoyable?! If not, which may simply be the purpose. The premise of you, enjoying a buyer service-focused worker who’s looking for methods to optimize their job efficiency in an arbitrarily gamified system, feels deliberately on-the-nose to me. Perhaps you’re speculated to really feel slightly trapped on this place. “The Solar approaches,” the sport knowledgeable me after failing to finish a day efficiently. “Work more durable.”
Whereas I’m personally not the most important fan of what I’ve seen of this sport’s artwork route – it feels a bit in all places for me and simply isn’t to my tastes – it’s definitely artistic and assorted. The lodge company seem like paper cutouts, standing round aimlessly in a sparsely lit, minimally designed 3D area. If you chat with a personality, they’ve a flashy animation of them dramatically turning in direction of the digital camera, after which a visible novel-style scene performs out. The world is eerie and empty, shaded in an odd purple gentle. All of it feels synthetic and unsettling to exist in.
After the elevator was fastened, issues managed to get even stranger (I really feel I ought to point out this sport is made by the identical group who developed the equally unusual horror title Paratopic). The demo features a transient glimpse into Act 2 of Roman Sands RE:Construct, which picks up oce the primary set of duties within the lodge have been accomplished. Nonetheless in first-person, I awaken in a futuristic-looking facility that’s much more empty than the resort. In accordance with some data from the writer, it’s meant to be a “decrepit zoological analysis facility.” A voice speaks at me over the radio: “Get up. Your cow died. Suffocated in a single day.”
I look over and, positive sufficient, there’s a useless cow within the room with me. I’m tasked with rewiring some electronics to divert oxygen away from the cow’s holding tank, or one thing alongside these traces. The vibe of this part is way much less energetic than that of Act 1 – no large flashy numbers popping up on display screen, no funky music underscoring your customer support speedrun. One thing has undoubtedly gone unsuitable right here. What’s my position on this thriller, I questioned? Perhaps the apocalypse has already occurred, and its too late. Meck, perhaps every thing occurring on the lodge isn’t even actual!
Frankly, I do not know how all of the items match collectively but – if there’s one factor that Roman Sands RE:Construct does exceptionally nicely from what I’ve seen to this point, it’s that it’ll definitely maintain you guessing. It’s too early to say if this unusual sport will really be enjoyable to play in the long term, as a result of I do really feel its premise dangers buckling underneath the burden of its personal ambitions, that its narrative may be slightly too far on the market to hook some gamers. However it’s attention-grabbing and totally different, and that’s price one thing in my e book. Roman Sands RE:Construct is deliberate to launch on Change someday in 2024.