ReCore

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 612 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
ReCore Game Cover
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From legendary creator Keiji Inafune and the makers of Metroid Prime comes the "ReCore Definitive Edition", an action-adventure masterfully crafted for a new generation. As one of the last remaining humans, forge friendships with courageous robotic companions and lead them on an epic adventure through a mysterious dynamic world. Includes the new "Eye of Obsidian" adventure and "T8-NK" Corebot fr…

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 612 reviews
story77 positive mentions
grinding52 negative mentions
  • The game features enjoyable platforming mechanics and a charming protagonist with robot companions.
  • The visuals and art style are appealing, creating an immersive environment.
  • The combat system, while simple, can be engaging and allows for strategic use of robot abilities.
  • The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and grinding, especially in the later stages.
  • There are numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with enemy AI and level design.
  • The story is underdeveloped and relies heavily on audio logs, leaving players wanting more narrative depth.
  • story332 mentions

    The story in the game is generally perceived as underwhelming and lacking depth, often relying on audio logs for backstory rather than a compelling narrative. While some players found the premise intriguing and the world engaging, many criticized the plot for being predictable, repetitive, and ultimately unsatisfying, especially in its conclusion. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a driving force, leading to mixed feelings about its execution.

    • “The story, while a bit skeletal, perfectly brings the world to life and invites immersion; I was swiftly drawn into this game and loving it more than expected.”
    • “The story revolves around a lady trying to understand why a colony wasn't properly set up on a new planet while she was in stasis.”
    • “The characters are endearing, and if you take the time to listen to the collectible audio logs that give the backstory, you will root for them and cheer Joule and her companions on.”
    • “The story is really lackluster; I would like to be able to switch between all the bots for assistance in missions or have a way to adjust my loadout.”
    • “The story just ends with a shockingly bad cliffhanger and with no resolution or explanation for the events that have happened on the planet.”
    • “The main quest line is a bit of a letdown, with 5-6 pretty good dungeons, spread out with a little bit of story and hunting enough prismatic cores that culminates in a super tedious 5-level dungeon of an unfun back and forth between frustratingly long fights and platforming puzzles.”
  • gameplay233 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of platforming, third-person shooting, and exploration mechanics that can be engaging but often suffer from repetitiveness and bugs. While some players appreciate the intuitive controls and the variety of mechanics, others criticize the combat for being simplistic and the overall experience for being marred by design inconsistencies and a lack of depth. Despite its flaws, the game offers a nostalgic collectathon feel that may appeal to fans of retro-style gameplay, though it may not satisfy those seeking a polished experience.

    • “As for the gameplay mechanics, they are well designed and feel intuitive.”
    • “The gameplay is really good, but unfortunately too many bugs for my taste.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very retro in style, and progresses like old 'collectathon' games in the same vein as Banjo Kazooie and Spyro.”
    • “The weakest part is combat; it never evolves from beginning to end. Every move and mechanic remains the same; if you don’t like it in the first 2 hours, you never will.”
    • “It is very inconsistent too; when it works, it can be engaging and fun, but when it doesn’t, it is an absolute mess. The worst part is the camera lock-on; it’s almost impossible to make it focus on one enemy without it jumping randomly to other enemies or even objects in the environment, making combat very frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay and world never evolve beyond the basics in the introduction, and having to fight mobs of similar enemies while repeating a tug-of-war minigame to get the necessary resources out of them is tedious.”
  • graphics68 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the art style and visual aesthetics as appealing and engaging, while others criticize the overall quality as mediocre, dated, or plagued by graphical glitches and bugs. Many note that while the visuals can be nice, they often suffer from issues like low-resolution textures and inconsistent lighting, leading to a less immersive experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight for some, but a significant drawback for others, particularly given the game's 2016 release.

    • “Aesthetics are really appealing and the art direction feels really nice.”
    • “The visuals in the game are nice to look at; I tend to look around the area once I've defeated the enemies because of how pretty it is to me.”
    • “Great game... really good graphics and play system... I am not done yet... still playing.”
    • “Graphics on PC could have been much better.”
    • “Very broken graphics, very short, lacks depth, cool universe/backstory.”
    • “First of all, there are massive graphics glitches in the desert levels where polygons flicker wildly over half of the screen at times.”
  • grinding52 mentions

    The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often seen as tedious and unfulfilling, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive tasks and a lack of meaningful rewards. While some enjoy the grind as part of the gameplay experience, others find it excessively padded and detrimental to overall enjoyment, particularly in later stages where it becomes a chore rather than a challenge. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the game's potential, leading to a mixed reception among players.

    • “Grinding is tedious and not rewarding enough.”
    • “The gameplay and world never evolve beyond the basics in the introduction, and having to fight mobs of similar enemies while repeating a tug of war minigame to get the necessary resources out of them is tedious.”
    • “I can't believe that this is a 'definitive edition'... it's an extremely tedious, repetitive, frustrating game with a grind that pads out the gameplay.”
  • stability45 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting game-breaking glitches, visual bugs, and technical issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users experienced frustrating softlocks, inability to progress, and frequent resets due to these bugs, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and poorly polished. While some players noted minor glitches, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game is a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Those worried about Windows 10 compatibility don't bother; it's nothing but a complete lie. I can run this on my system with Windows 7 with no problem. It booted up the first time with no glitches.”
    • “The game is also buggy as hell.”
    • “The glitches prevented me from being able to progress and I had to reset about 5 or 6 times.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess, and it starts in... in the damn menu.”
  • music34 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and moody soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, reminiscent of iconic scores like Star Wars. However, some players find the battle music repetitive and uninspired, often feeling out of place or lacking variation. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it suffers from issues like repetitiveness and occasional mismatches with gameplay.

    • “Music is another very good element; it's moody and never feels out of place or annoying. At very brief moments, it even reminded me of the Star Wars soundtrack.”
    • “The music itself is nice and catchy, especially the theme as you're exploring the overworld. It can become repetitive after a while, though, like most games of this type.”
    • “One of the best surprises I found was the musical score.”
    • “The game music can be repetitive.”
    • “This game has battle music (just one track) that plays when combat is initiated, so you'll hear it again and again... and again. It sucks, as it's your stock battle music that could be found in almost any game out there!”
    • “There is only a small variation of theme, and it can be boring to hear that over and over again. Different areas have similar music themes, and sometimes it feels like it doesn't fit.”
  • optimization15 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has seen significant improvements, with many players reporting minimal performance issues and smooth gameplay, particularly for a Unity engine title. However, some users still experience occasional stuttering, freezing, and graphical artifacts, indicating that while the optimization is generally solid, there are still areas that could benefit from further refinement. Keybind management and hardware requirements remain points of contention for some players.

    • “I should also note that I've experienced minimal performance issues in this game.”
    • “Also, I really praise the developer or whoever ported this game because this is the most optimized Unity engine game I've ever played.”
    • “The gameplay is good, performances are rock solid for a Unity game, which is a rare thing.”
    • “Of course, I also wish some things were optimized or trimmed, like the inability to swap cores on the fly and having to go back to the crawler to change out robot equipment.”
    • “Really, all this game struggles with are hardware requirements, because aside from long loading times and occasional stuttering and graphical bugs, this is a really solid, fun game.”
    • “Most of the time, the game runs smooth, but sometimes the performance can drop and start stuttering, and sometimes a serious drop can freeze the game for a couple of seconds. It happened like maybe four or five times in my total 20 hours of playtime.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players appreciating the potential for heartfelt moments and character connections, particularly through companion interactions and specific storylines. However, many criticize the overall narrative as boring and lifeless, feeling that the emotional weight is undermined by repetitive gameplay and uninspired enemies. While the game offers enjoyable mechanics and platforming, the emotional impact is often overshadowed by its flaws, making it difficult for some players to fully engage with the story.

    • “It blends mechanics between many different genres quite seamlessly, has an impeccable presentation with excellent characters, and a bold story that does not shy away from some emotional impact.”
    • “What I loved about the game is not the combat; it's the absolute fun platforming that reminds me of Super Mario 3D games or even the old 2010s Spider-Man games... also swinging with Seth and gliding with Duncan is quite wholesome and I enjoyed it a lot.”
    • “Upgrading and swapping out cores kind of cheapens the emotional bonds you should be forming with each companion, but it's also really cool to mix-and-match abilities to create your dream robot team.”
    • “Lifeless, repetitive, confusing map, boring story, and the most uninspired looking enemies out of a video game.”
    • “But the boring story and small mistakes everywhere make this game really hard to recommend.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky elements, such as funny robots and a humorous robo-dog companion whose banter adds charm. Players appreciate the lighthearted approach to platforming and combat, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics and bugs. However, the humor can sometimes be overshadowed by chaotic gameplay and a lack of sustained engagement over time.

    • “Your gun doesn't appear to do more damage, and even when fighting enemies of your own level, the protagonist is hilariously fragile, even with health upgrades.”
    • “Cool robo-dog companion (I'm normally a lone wanderer type, but their banter is funny and sometimes insightful, so whatever).”
    • “Funny thing is there is tons of crazy platforming in this game, which I am bad at, but they implemented it in a way that does not cause endless frustration as there are checkpoints on the way.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and creativity in both the protagonist, Joule, and supporting characters like Kai and Victor. While Joule is portrayed as a good person, her character lacks substance, leaving players wanting more in terms of narrative and emotional engagement. Overall, the game fails to provide meaningful character arcs, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The game delivers solid gameplay, stunning art direction, and great character design.”
    • “Without spoilers, I will say the story left me wanting so much more in terms of depth and character development.”
    • “Very poorly designed characters; the protagonist looks like a foolish dwarf playing with a toy car in the sand.”
    • “From the names of the enemies to the world and character design, it lacks creativity and fresh ideas throughout the whole game!”
    • “There is no character development; you play as Joule but know nothing about her, and the same goes for Kai and Victor.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a compelling wasteland setting that evokes feelings of isolation and danger, enhanced by menacing environmental threats and changes. While the visuals are praised for their beauty, the repetitive environments detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about the game's immersive qualities. Despite its fresh ideas and strong performance, the reliance on challenging gameplay mechanics can overshadow the atmospheric strengths.

    • “New Eden is full of threats; from mechanical anomalies that will hunt you down relentlessly, to menacing atmospheric changes and hazards that will impede your progress in this adventure.”
    • “After a dozen of kills, I've decided to uninstall ReCore and play another one, and it's a pity because the game has very good and fresh ideas and a fantastic desert atmosphere.”
    • “Now, if you want to hear something good about the game - while the environments are boring and samey, they do invoke a cool wasteland atmosphere and a feeling of being completely alone.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game is perceived negatively, with users labeling it as a low-budget cash grab reminiscent of classic Microsoft tactics, suggesting a lack of value and effort in its design.

    • “The game is a low-budget cash grab.”
    • “The game feels like a classic Microsoft cash grab.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game has limited replayability due to the absence of a branching plot, multiple endings, or a new game+ feature, resulting in minimal incentive for players to revisit it.

    • “And the last is replayability; there is no branching plot, no different or multiple endings, and no New Game+.”
    • “There is little to no replay value in this game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
8-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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