The minimalistic nightmare that is Repose takes you back almost 40 years to the feeling of an old school dungeon crawler. It’s visuals are stripped back. Movement is restricted. Gameplay is basic. Yet despite feeling like a game that came out decades earlier, it’s still an engaging dive into an unnerving world. Akupara Games are no strangers to publishing titles from developers who try something different. Last year’s Cryptmaster is one such example, and a personal favourite of mine, Mutazione, is another. Get ready to take on the weird world of the dead internet.
You’ve been tasked with collecting oxygen tanks in an underground facility. Simple enough, right? After all, how bad can it be? Pretty damn terrible, actually. Each step you take brings you closer to the end of your run. Every new frame has been designed with simple yet clear details, and although the world is in black and white, there’s still a sense of dread. When you do encounter someone or something down there, you’ll be surprised at how unnerving it actually is.
There is no fluid movement in Repose. You don’t wander the depths with any consistently. Every step brings up a new frame. One minute there’s no enemy in front of you, the next frame you see a creature ready to strike. It’s intimidating at first, just as much as it is claustrophobic. Never knowing what lies ahead is part of the fear you feel while exploring. Some of the creatures are unsettling. Finding the bodies of dead employees never becomes familiar. This world is awful, and Bozó Attila Bertold has crafted it beautifully.
Repose has a straightforward premise. Every step you take drains energy. You have a set number of steps in every location, and it is about getting to the next save point without dying. Oh, and die you will. While death is a constant, learning from your mistakes is all part of its draw. Finding the next objective in a shorter time, or taking out an enemy that managed to kill you first is part of why I enjoyed it so much. Using your axe requires you to ready it before swinging. If you don’t do this in time, the enemy will kill you first.
Like groundhog day in a dystopian fever dream, repetition is a given. It’s dark and secluded down there, with multiple paths to take. Choosing which one is the most efficient can take time. However, perseverance is key. Every move you make has consequences, but seeing efficiency pay off is so satisfying. Then, finding the next bed for you to save the game and continue on from is always a welcome sight. When you watch that energy deplete with no objective in sight, only to stumble across the answer with a few steps left, is about as pleasing as it gets.
There’s an element of resource management in Repose. Not managing your storage, but being strategic as to when you use your key items. Firstly, enemies aren’t always static. They move around and can be hard to know when they’ll jump at you or fire at you. The only means of ranged combat is a handgun. On the surface, it’s great knowing you can turn to your pistol to despatch enemies at range. The big issue with using it however, is that it takes up a good amount of energy to fire. Yes, an enemy will die instantly, but is it worth the risk at losing your energy?
Secondly, a cup of tea will restore your energy. Knowing when to use this without knowing what’s next or where you are offers a risk and reward element to gameplay. You’re constantly looking at your energy gauge in the bottom right, and with a map system that does little to aid your exploration, drinking tea to early can mess up your run. These hidden strategies make Repose so much more exciting. The learning curve is steep and can lead to frustration, but getting it right and reaching your objective thanks to careful planning is well worth it.
For those looking for something different, Repose is worth your time. The old school design is impressive. Its hidden strategy only becomes more involving. Some of its archaic charm might put off players, but if your willing to embrace this unique style of gameplay, there’s plenty to enjoy. Games such as this are few and far between in today’s expansive gaming library, and for a solo developer to come up with something as smart as this, there’s few reasons to not at least give it a chance. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
