Redactem Demo

Video games are reinvented every couple of years, usually thanks to one particular game that manages to introduce some new ideas. These ideas are then copied, borrowed and transformed by hundreds of other games, which is not at all a bad thing, especially when the public demands it. However, sometimes it’s nicer so see someone trying to develop something original, even if it ends up being not so great because of that.

Redactem is a puzzle-platformer in which you have to navigate tough levels using a variety of special powers, such as rewinding time and reversing gravity. Naturally, these concepts have already been used to death before, but there’s always a way to combine them in order to come up with something new. Redactem does that, in a way, although it feels very familiar from the first seconds of gameplay.

Your character’s goal is to make it to the exit door using everything at his disposal. Sometimes this means jumping over a pit full of saw blades, but other times you have to calculate your steps in order to navigate tricky environmental perils. Hence, you have to reverse gravity and rewind time in order to avoid traps and bypass various security measures.

Hostile turrets make an appearance every now and again as well, and they can be devastating if you don’t take the necessary measures. However, they are also vital when it comes to bypassing some obstacles, because you can lure the missiles and dodge just in time to make a whole in the wall. It takes some practice, and it can be quite frustrating at first, but the gimmick works and it’s pretty well integrated.

Speaking of which, the difficulty level might be a turn off for many gamers, especially since you have to pass each level in one go or take it from the top if you miss something. However, this can also be a good thing if you enjoy a challenge, especially since it’s all about good reflexes and hand-to-eye coordination.

Redactem can be pretty fun and engaging if you are a platformer fan, but there’s nothing original about it when it comes to gameplay mechanics. That can induce boredom if you are a more experienced gamer, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing either.