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RECORE (XONE)
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Publisher: Microsoft.
Developer: Armature Studio. Released: September 2016. Genre: Action/Adventure. Other versions: PC. Posted 15th April 2024. By Shane Battams © 2024 |
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ReCore would stand out amongst Microsoft’s catalogue of Xbox One exclusives both as a unique title and because of the pedigree behind it. It was a collaboration between Comcept and Armature Studio, the former led by Mega Man alumni Keiji Inafune, the latter involving former developers from Retro Studios of Metroid Prime fame. Sadly, for a number of reasons, ReCore would go down as a minor footnote in the console’s library. However, like many modern games, an update has since offered some improvements.
A couple of centuries into the future, the world is ruined by the Devil Dust disease, causing Earth to be rendered uninhabitable. As efforts to explore new planets led to Far Eden, corebots tried to create the new world while survivors entered cryosleep. But Joule awakens to a barren world, with those corebots now corrupted and stability systems offline. She, along with her robotic companion Mack, begin to explore the cause and try to find her father. Piecemeal storytelling isn’t great, with Joule a bland lead and her few acquaintances even more dull, but there is some appeal in this lost world peppered with some cool bits of environmental storytelling, such as the remnants of the corebot workforce left in ruin, adding something to the narrative.
ReCore proffers an interesting setting, but doesn't manage to excel in any department
ReCore’s progression bears a lot of similarities to both Mega Man and Metroid. Taking place in a sub-open world that’s divided into a handful of large areas, each are populated with collectables, and dungeons that range from story-related to traversal challenges and combat arenas. Much of the progression revolves around finding Prismatic Cores, as dungeons are often blocked until you collect a certain amount. Like the aforementioned games, finding new upgrades for both Joule and her robotic companions allows you to collect even more Cores. The world itself is a little bland in spots, and some of the navigation can be quite awkward, but it does emit some charm, akin to an early sixth-generation title.
Joule comes equipped with a rifle, initially loaded with a single bullet type. But as you progress, you earn a trio of colour-coded ammo which not only deals more damage to certain foes but also is used to activate certain switches. Joule is also assisted by a Corebot, initially Mack in a K-9 unit but eventually finding three more, each opening previously blocked paths. K-9 can dig into the ground for items, AP-3 can smash through objects, SP-DR’s arachnid functions let you grind along certain gaps and the last allows Joule to glide and use vents to launch into the air. Both dungeons and hub areas feature a plethora of blocked locations becoming available as you find these upgrades, incentivising return visits. Not to mention, along with this extra freedom, the robo animations can be delightfully fun to watch.
Joule comes equipped with a rifle, initially loaded with a single bullet type. But as you progress, you earn a trio of colour-coded ammo which not only deals more damage to certain foes but also is used to activate certain switches. Joule is also assisted by a Corebot, initially Mack in a K-9 unit but eventually finding three more, each opening previously blocked paths. K-9 can dig into the ground for items, AP-3 can smash through objects, SP-DR’s arachnid functions let you grind along certain gaps and the last allows Joule to glide and use vents to launch into the air. Both dungeons and hub areas feature a plethora of blocked locations becoming available as you find these upgrades, incentivising return visits. Not to mention, along with this extra freedom, the robo animations can be delightfully fun to watch.
FOCAL POINT: DEFINITIVE EDITION
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ReCore was met with a mixed reaction, but a “Definitive Edition” update would launch a little under a year later. In terms of additions, it offered a new story chapter revolving around a forgotten faction and their plan that has reemerged after the ending of the base game. This takes you to a whole new region known as Starving Sea, with new dungeons to explore and a new Corebot to unlock – the T8-NK. It proves both adept in combat and offers a way to traverse sinking sands safely. On top of this, a previously included region now has a sandstorm system which presents new dungeons and collectables to find. It’s a great deal, and there’s a plethora of mechanical and technical improvements such as reduced loading times, an increased number of fast travel points and a reduced grind in reaching the endgame. These factors make it the best way to experience ReCore, and was perhaps the version players should have received in 2016, though certain issues still remain, it must be noted, such as with the combat.
Sadly, no singular gameplay element of ReCore stands out. Combat utilises a lock-on system and focuses on building combos, where chaining together damage allows Joule to instantly extract a core from a bot. Ally Corebots also join you in battle, with a lethal move which can help build said combo faster. However, it never grows particularly interesting, even when you factor in colour-coded foes and combos, and cheap encounters with bosses can test your patience rather than skill. Platforming is functional, and it can be fun to use your exo’s double jump to climb higher formations. Nevertheless, dungeons fail to capitalise on these strengths, with blandly linear designs and straightforward progression hardly incentivising a return visit. Optional dungeons come with secondary objectives that offer rewards depending on how many you complete at once, but they all follow the same formula and grow stale fast.
It’s ReCore’s padded runtime that feels more egregious. As mentioned, prismatic cores are the key to opening up dungeons, both story-related and optional. Multiple times through the short story, your journey will come to a halt as you’re required to earn more cores. It grows increasingly tiring, reaching a crescendo with the final tower. A five-floor gauntlet that each requires more cores to unlock, the last few hours of this one become dreary, tedious and unsatisfying. For players at launch who had to wade through lengthy load times, poorly placed collectables and grinding to become strong enough to meet the requirements for this endgame, it likely proved the breaking point.
It’s ReCore’s padded runtime that feels more egregious. As mentioned, prismatic cores are the key to opening up dungeons, both story-related and optional. Multiple times through the short story, your journey will come to a halt as you’re required to earn more cores. It grows increasingly tiring, reaching a crescendo with the final tower. A five-floor gauntlet that each requires more cores to unlock, the last few hours of this one become dreary, tedious and unsatisfying. For players at launch who had to wade through lengthy load times, poorly placed collectables and grinding to become strong enough to meet the requirements for this endgame, it likely proved the breaking point.
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ReCore’s apocalyptic world isn’t wholly original, but there’s some distinctive visual aspects nonetheless. The sandy terrain weaves and waves with your movements, the ruined terrain of a potential new world is well rendered and lighting is attractive. Some sandstorms, which completely cloud your vision, are the highlight. Nothing is amazingly detailed and animations can be a touch rigid, but it looks solid. The only sore spot are the repetitive enemy designs, consisting of but a handful of robot types and only worsening combat’s lack of dynamism. The music is rather well done, proving bombastic during combat yet melancholic during downtime as needed. Some tracks are better than others, however. The acting and writing are acceptable, with nothing standout despite the potentially rich world to dive into. The effects all hit the mark, such as sharp guns and robot squeals.
ReCore certainly isn’t the worst exclusive an Xbox console would see, but considering the raft of talent behind the game, it’s also quite disappointing how the elements never form a cohesive whole. There’s nothing bad in terms of gameplay or mechanics, but it doesn’t excel at one element either – whether it’s the thin storytelling, unfulfilling combat or straightforward dungeon designs. Not even the improvements with the “Definitive Edition” could make this into a killer new IP. More forgiving gamers might be able to find some fun here, but otherwise, this one is probably best left to rust.
ReCore certainly isn’t the worst exclusive an Xbox console would see, but considering the raft of talent behind the game, it’s also quite disappointing how the elements never form a cohesive whole. There’s nothing bad in terms of gameplay or mechanics, but it doesn’t excel at one element either – whether it’s the thin storytelling, unfulfilling combat or straightforward dungeon designs. Not even the improvements with the “Definitive Edition” could make this into a killer new IP. More forgiving gamers might be able to find some fun here, but otherwise, this one is probably best left to rust.
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VERDICT
"ReCore’s elements never form a cohesive whole, with thin storytelling, unfulfilling combat and straightforward dungeon designs marred further by noticeable padding." OVERALL: 5/10 |
OTHER GAMES WITH APOCALYPTIC SETTINGS REVIEWED
Mad Max (2015, Xbox One)
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Rage 2 (2019, Xbox One)
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