Time Recoil

Time Recoil isn't going to redefine the cyberpunk genre, win awards for its writing or make players philosophize on the ethics of time travel. It’s a satisfying blitz that wants to chill you out and challenge you, and that's enough.

70%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, replayability

77% User Score Based on 43 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

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About

Time Recoil is a top-down shooter game where players can slow down time and execute stylish ultra-kills to bend the rules of time. As a time-traveling agent, defeat the evil organization Tempus to save the world by manipulating time and unleashing powerful attacks. With a unique mechanic that ties slowing time to your kill combos, players must strategize and master the art of bullet time to succeed in their mission.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+12

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

story9 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique time-slowing mechanic that adds excitement and strategy to the gameplay.
The graphics and soundtrack are well-received, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
The gameplay is fast-paced and fluid, allowing for quick restarts and a satisfying experience despite its short length.

The core gameplay is marred by frustrating design choices, such as instant enemy reactions and off-screen attacks.
The story is poorly executed and fails to engage players, often feeling like an afterthought.
Randomized weapon drops and repetitive level design lead to a tedious experience, making it difficult to maintain interest.

story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The story has been widely criticized for being confusing, bland, and feeling like an unfinished draft, with many reviewers noting its lack of engagement and depth. While some appreciate the time-travel elements and the attempt at a more fleshed-out narrative compared to previous titles from the developer, the overall execution is seen as subpar, often bogging down the gameplay with tedious dialogue and repetitive missions. Despite its shortcomings, a few players found enjoyment in the unique gameplay mechanics, suggesting that the story, while weak, does not completely detract from the overall experience.
- “Interesting time-travel story delivered via short conversations in between missions - and in some cases, via dream-like 'missions'.”
- “The story is interesting, even if hard to follow because of the time travel, paradoxes, multiple timelines, and flashbacks. The music is fitting, and the graphics are passable.”
- “Having a more fleshed out story, as well as quick missions, the time manipulation mechanic, and twin-stick arcade thrills, sets this game up to be a more layered take on the now familiar genre.”
- “The story feels more like the early draft of a story rather than a full story.”
- “The story is weird and confusing.”
- “The story is forgettable, and it bogs down the fast flow of the game, which could use some more serious polishing as it still feels unfinished in certain parts.”
gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
46%
8%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique time-slowing mechanics and fast-paced, fluid action, likening it to popular titles like Hotline Miami. However, criticisms include repetitive level design, an unforgiving one-hit kill system, and a reliance on a death combo mechanic that detracts from other gameplay elements. Overall, while the game offers fresh ideas and enjoyable mechanics, it suffers from issues that may frustrate players.
- “A top-down bullet-hell game with a unique time-slowing/time-stopping mechanic which lets you dominate the battlefield against overwhelming odds.”
- “This is a fun game with fast and fluid gameplay.”
- “Though the story is basic and the game isn't terribly long, clocking in at around three to four hours, its unique gameplay does a lot to carry it, and new ideas are introduced that help keep things fresh.”
- “Core gameplay is broken garbage with a lot of very questionable design decisions.”
- “- Tedious gameplay; every level is the same thing with a slightly different objective, but it's all the same.”
- “The game's one-hit, one-kill playstyle is unforgiving for gamepad users, and the mechanic of comboing kills to keep your slo-mo meter filled is frankly unsatisfying.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
18%
18%
The music in the game has received widespread praise, with many reviewers highlighting its fitting and engaging nature, particularly the catchy 80s synthwave soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some describe it as "pretty good" rather than exceptional, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's intensity and enjoyment.
- “I really like the soundtrack and the controls are responsive.”
- “Recommended for the soundtrack alone!”
- “Time Recoil's time travel gimmick is handled with much effort, as it is creative and does a lot to keep the action exciting and hectic, which is further enhanced by the catchy 80s-inspired music.”
- “The story is interesting, even if hard to follow because of the time travel, paradoxes, multiple timelines, flashbacks, etc. The music is fitting, but the graphics are passable (the orange suit evokes some cheesy spy movie connotations).”
- “Just like Neon Chrome, the graphics are slick, but the music captures the tension of the story very well.”
- “[Solid gameplay design, fitting soundtrack].”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the slick visuals and retro style, while others criticize them as passable or unspectacular. Although the game runs well and features nice colors, issues like muddy visuals and design flaws detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are decent, they do not elevate the game significantly.
- “Graphically, the game looks good and it runs really well.”
- “Just like Neon Chrome, the graphics are slick and the music captures the tension of the story very well.”
- “Nice colors and retro style graphics, and I love the shooting mechanics.”
- “Still, things like the randomized ammo drops, muddy visuals, and poorly designed puzzles are needlessly frustrating, and your time and money would be better spent elsewhere.”
- “Time Recoil packs a lot of fun into a relatively short experience, but the lack of effort invested into the plot, visuals, and audio holds it back from sitting at the top of the genre.”
- “The story is interesting, even if hard to follow because of the time travel, paradoxes, multiple timelines, flashbacks, etc. Music is fitting, graphics are passable (the orange suit evokes some cheesy spy movie connotations).”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, as each level feels repetitive with only minor variations in objectives. Despite this monotony, many still enjoy the gameplay, noting that even the most grind-heavy moments can be fun, though achievements can range from trivial to tedious.
- “Tedious gameplay; every level is the same thing with a slightly different objective, but it's all the same.”
- “The achievements come in two forms: trivial and tedious.”
- “But even at its most grindy, it's still fun.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers some replay value due to its unique time-travel mechanics and engaging gameplay, though its short length may limit long-term interest. Players express a desire for additional modes to enhance replayability, especially when compared to similar titles like *Neon Chrome*.
- “It's not long, but it's got some replay value and it's a tight, weird little time-travel slo-mo top-down shooter.”
- “I do hope they add some extra modes to further extend replayability though.”
- “Not sure how replayable this is, particularly in comparison to Neon Chrome.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews suggest that the game's optimization may not meet expectations based on previous experiences, indicating potential issues with performance stability.