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TREPANG2 (XSX)
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Publisher: Team 17.
Developer: Trepang Studios. Released: October 2023. Genre: FPS. Other versions: PC; PS5. Posted 16th June 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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Paying homage to a particular wave of first-person shooters from the mid-2000s that relied on explosive action and slow-motion mechanics, such as the excellent F.E.A.R.), Trepang2 certainly isn’t subtle about its influences. The second game from Trepang Studios, who started development in 2016 as a way of learning Unreal Engine, is a melting pot of ideas. Gunplay, stealth, military contractors and horror all play a key role, but the elements avoid bubbling over, instead melding its diverse themes and action into an exciting package. Fans of the genre craving an explosive and challenging solo experience should seek this out.
Subject 106 is the amnesiac protagonist of the story, bound in a black site facility and enduring a form of brainwashing. After a timely rescue and prompt murdering of the military guards to escape, he joins the Taskforce 27 group who look to put Horizon out of business for good. This includes shutting down a scientific facility which hides horrid truths, taking over several black sites and even fighting against an allied cult. It’s a breezy story, though one that shows some novel twists and turns which keeps you on your toes. The dialogue and writing are also oddly witty, whether it’s the cowardly High-Value Targets who freak out over enemy comms or the guys on your side remarking on a prior mission.
Trepang2 is an explosive, adrenaline-charged thrill ride. Fans of 2000s shooters will love it
Really though, it’s the adrenaline-pumping action which takes centre stage. Trepang2 is a fast, fluid FPS that is as smooth as it is challenging. Whether firing a pistol, shotgun or minigun, every weapon packs a punch and can reduce foes to viscera sharpish. While enemies are numerous and can take you down quickly, 106 does have some tricks to utilise. A cloak function allows you to sneak, temporary gifting breathing room, but more importantly, damaging foes builds Focus, allowing you to slow time. The effect is outstanding: whether it’s the whirring of gunfire around you, foes exploding with impactful shots, or the environment splintering around you as shards of concrete fly, it’s immensely satisfying. The hyper physics also help, allowing your kick and slide to send enemies flying and a well-timed grab lets you pick them out of the air.
A varied campaign sees you taking on military guards, unsettling monsters and cultists galore, keeping things fresh despite the high kill count. The missions also feel well-designed, allowing for some flexibility outside of mostly linear stages. In one mission, for example, you can initially pick off cultists with a silenced sniper rifle, or just jump straight in and go-loud. Tough bosses make their presence felt, often ending each mission in challenging fashion, but a plethora of HVTs also appear depending on your chosen difficulty and their tough armour or tactics can shake up your approach. It’s a challenging game, especially as you climb the insanely tough higher settings, but it also feels very rewarding to overcome. It never devolves into cheapness, as you can overcome any battle with quick wits and careful use of your abilities.
A varied campaign sees you taking on military guards, unsettling monsters and cultists galore, keeping things fresh despite the high kill count. The missions also feel well-designed, allowing for some flexibility outside of mostly linear stages. In one mission, for example, you can initially pick off cultists with a silenced sniper rifle, or just jump straight in and go-loud. Tough bosses make their presence felt, often ending each mission in challenging fashion, but a plethora of HVTs also appear depending on your chosen difficulty and their tough armour or tactics can shake up your approach. It’s a challenging game, especially as you climb the insanely tough higher settings, but it also feels very rewarding to overcome. It never devolves into cheapness, as you can overcome any battle with quick wits and careful use of your abilities.
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The presentation is also ace, contributing to the best aspects of Trepang2. The visuals are clean yet detailed, whether it’s the colder facilities initially or the eye-catching Jorvik Castle. Characters animate naturally and appropriately react to your shots, while ragdolling foes never grows old. Destructive environments only add to the chaos, as you can chew through wooden walls with ease. Performance is also rock solid at 60fps for the most part, with rare, minor drops. The sound might be even better. The effects are on point: heightening every bullet shot, every screaming foe and environmental damage, even in slow-motion. Voicework is over-the-top but fits the tone and is well delivered. The music is the highlight, however, a tour de force of chomping guitar tracks, adrenaline-pumping electronic and heavy metal.
The only thing you could perhaps levy at Trepang2 is that it leaves you wanting more. There are only five campaign missions in total which, although individually quite long, means the story is completed in around four hours. There’s a plethora of side missions, typically revolving around wave-based defence. Similarly, these can be cleared quickly, bumping up the total to around six hours. There is also a Horde mode of sorts with the Combat Simulator, which allows you to change between several maps and gear up using cash earned in-game. It’s great fun, though oddly, supports no co-op, or indeed multiplayer of any kind. Consequently, social players will feel left out in the cold, though there’s a decent amount for lone wolves to tuck into.
The only thing you could perhaps levy at Trepang2 is that it leaves you wanting more. There are only five campaign missions in total which, although individually quite long, means the story is completed in around four hours. There’s a plethora of side missions, typically revolving around wave-based defence. Similarly, these can be cleared quickly, bumping up the total to around six hours. There is also a Horde mode of sorts with the Combat Simulator, which allows you to change between several maps and gear up using cash earned in-game. It’s great fun, though oddly, supports no co-op, or indeed multiplayer of any kind. Consequently, social players will feel left out in the cold, though there’s a decent amount for lone wolves to tuck into.
Trepang2 is insanity in the best possible way: a blood-pumping thrill ride that indulges in excess action. Ace shooting mechanics, varied missions and destruction from both environments and foes make every shot feel like an explosion. Satisfying slow-mo mechanics and technical prowess add further to the quality. While those wanting a longer experience or multiplayer may be turned off, any genre aficionados looking for something which hits like a ten-ton hammer should give this one a try: even if it’s only to be able to slow time, slide kick a foe into the air and turn them into viscera with a shotgun blast.
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VERDICT"Despite being a touch brief, Trepang2 is insanity in the best possible way: a blood-pumping thrill ride that mixes ace shooting mechanics, varied missions and explosive destruction." OVERALL: 8/10 |
OTHER GUNS-BLAZING FIRST-PERSON SHOOTERS REVIEWED
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Doom Eternal (2020, PlayStation 4)
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