REVIEW : FORECLOSED (PS5)
The core of Foreclosed, a work signed by the independent Italian company Antab Studio, can be summed up in these few words: a playable cyberpunk graphic novel that has been able to draw the attention of enthusiasts since its initial appearances. The urge to create a perfect union between video games and graphic novels emerged during our interview with the creators of Foreclosed, with the help of a stylistic approach with definite effect.
I of Foreclosed gameplay footage have piqued interest in the project in recent months, demonstrating a third-person action that, while not disturbing the genre’s fundamental dynamics, seems to offer a great selection of elements.
The road test, on the other hand, reveals more than one feature that isn’t quite as compelling as it should be.
Identity theft
In Foreclosed, we take on the role of Evan Kapnos, a guy whose identity and control over his cybernetic systems, as well as access to the city’s blockchain, have just been stolen. Kapnos must next find a method to restore his rightful properties before they are auctioned off with the help of a strange figure. Thus begins an escape that leads him to uncover a true conspiracy behind the major robbery of which he was a victim, all presented in the style of a graphic novel, complete with sequences and comical conversations that have a great impact. visual.
The plot of Foreclosed follows a predictable and frequently stingy pattern of turns that can keep you hooked to the screen, even though the speed of the narrative is always sustained and fascinating. Furthermore, the appearance of multiple-choice conversations has no discernible impact on the story’s progression, revealing itself as tinsel for its own sake rather than useful addition to the production.
The adventure of Kapnos transmits a decent dose of tension, especially in the early stages of the game when, fully defenceless and yet disbelieving for the robbery that occurred, we are immediately hunted by mystery individuals determined to stop us by any means.
The beginning of Foreclosed makes it clear that there are several playful souls ready to amalgamate within the game to give life to a multifaceted experience: a first phase in which we can only get by hiding from our attackers is followed by the discovery of the first cybernetic powers in our possession, useful for silently eliminating enemies and solving some very simple puzzling.
It gets serious once you receive your gun, which is the lone weapon in the game but comes with a slew of active and passive upgrades that can be used intelligently along the way. There’s a little bit of everything in Foreclosed, including typical third-person action, stealth periods with isometric views, escapes, riddles, and several upgrades.
Although only a limited amount of these upgrades can be equipped at once, the ability to modify the upgrades set at any moment allows you to try out different combinations with each new encounter until you find the best configuration for your needs. As you progress through the game, you get new abilities that allow you to interact more with the world, such as telekinesis, which allows you to lift select objects and fling them at full speed at opponents, quickly eliminating them.
Kapnos also has a few hacker techniques under his sleeve, which he may use to open doors, neutralise foes quietly, sabotage defensive turrets, and proceed calmly towards the next target.
All of this attacking strength, however, cannot be employed arbitrarily. If it is true that our weapon’s bullets are unlimited since it is technically feasible to employ the powers and upgrades equipped continuously, misusing these capabilities will overwhelm our firmware, sending it into a spin for a few seconds, leaving Evan vulnerable to the adversaries.
The lost energy is automatically regained by hiding behind cover, but it only takes a few strikes to eliminate the protagonist (and the protagonist is even more vulnerable at close range), which is why it’s critical to consider your attack methods thoroughly. Attackers usually assault in groups, and being too exposed can backfire: it’s better to attack and seek cover, focusing on one adversary at a time to kill the opposing troops quickly and efficiently.
Firmware update error
Foreclosed’s lighthearted heart is built on solid foundations that succeed despite its lack of novelty. The actual issue with the game is that none of these characteristics is adequately utilised, resulting in a rapid loss of bite.
Analogous speech for the puzzles, which are quite simple and repetitious and, as designed, fail to significantly enrich the gameplay flow. The most serious issue in firefights is an enemy AI that is anything but brilliant. When our attackers arrive in huge numbers, they appear threatening, but they remain essentially stationary in their position, never leveraging the surrounding cover, making them a very easy target.
Of course, this serves the graphic novel narrative at its core, but if the cyber powers weren’t entertaining to employ at the time, we’d be left with entirely forgettable gameplay, and even so, the scenario isn’t ideal.
It’s probably for the best that Foreclosed doesn’t have a long shelf life at this point. On the contrary, the short duration of this fun atmosphere prevents it from becoming unsettling over time. The creators have ensured that their title would work in several circumstances, but there is still a sense that more could be done to make a memorable production on all levels, including replayability.
Cyber-novel
On the other hand, there isn’t much to say from an artistic standpoint: Antab Studio has done an outstanding job of bringing an evocative and stylish cyberpunk world to life, due to the expert use of chromatic filters that provide an excellent shot. a unique and intriguing gaze
The graphic book effect is rendered optimally both in the storey and in the playful phases, where frequent shifts from the third-person view for shooting moments to the isometric view for stealth portions occur naturally and without any technical doubt. The camera’s control is beneficial; there is no dip in frame rate even during the busiest stages, and the settings have good characterization, resulting in meticulous attention to detail.
