RÉPUBLIQUE: ANNIVERSARY EDITION REVIEW – PLAYSTATION 4

Fight The Power

Whoever said that mobile games can’t compete with the best that PC gaming has to offer, must’ve never heard of République.

Back in 2012, it demonstrated clearly that titles on our humble smartphone had the potential to craft engaging and thought-provoking stories to match the best point-and-click adventures…we’re a long way from Snake.

A decade – and a few ports – later, this revamped ‘Anniversary Edition’ rectifies a vast majority of earlier issues, as well as adding an in-game Director Commentary cataloguing the journey of Republique from code to screen.

 

Story

The player is put into the shoes of two characters – a mysterious digital helper and a girl named Hope.

The objective is to help Hope escape the facility where she’s been held captive by an ominous Overseer. The story is an engrossing one and once you start playing, it’s really difficult to put the game down.

If we divulge any more details, it’ll just end up spoiling the suspense and drama that carry this game forward…but needless to say that the topics of a surveillance state, autonomy and free will, greed and politics all feature heavily.

Certainly weighty subject matter at times, but is handled deftly and with a nuance that keeps you equal parts intrigued and intellectually stimulated.

By the end of each chapter – this version retains the original’s episodic format – revelations and twists constantly change your perception of the denizens of the oppressive city of Metamorphosis.

 

 

Graphics and Audio

The graphics might not be what you expect on a recent console like the PS4, however, the developers have given it a significant visual upgrade over the original mobile version.

The baroque architecture and varied environs help create a believable environment and almost feels alive. République pushes at the bounds of scale and polish traditionally expected of an indie game, originally Kickstarted to the tune of $500,000.

While the graphics fall just short of stellar, the voice cast is nothing short of remarkable. Industry veterans like Jennifer Hale, Dwight Schulz, Khary Payton, and David Hayter voice key characters, all doing a fantastic job in bringing them to life.

Hale has previously voiced Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series, Dory in Finding Nemo, and even Killer Frost in Injustice. Payton has worked in the recent hit show Invincible, where he voiced the iconic Black Samson.

Overall, the graphics and the sound are pretty good considering this was Camouflaj’s first title, making their budget stretch to deliver a style and scope far beyond the (arguably more suited) confines of its original mobile format.

 

 

Gameplay

Staying true to the indie formula, République has incorporated excellent storytelling and world-building, however, the other aspects are left a little unrefined.

The gameplay is great but could have benefitted from tightness. If you’re not used to playing older classics of the retro era, you might find the camera and ‘tank’ controls to be initially frustrating.

The quirk is that our second protagonist is unseen, manipulating the world through cameras situated all over Metamorphosis’ hallways and rooms.

So in this console port, you have a dual role of direct input for Hope and cinematic director as opposed to the touchscreen and single press controls of the original – constantly learning how to deal with a fixed camera that…has the best intentions.

For those who’re accustomed to controlling their camera in every direction, this can be a very jarring experience.

If you’ve played stealth games before, you’ll most likely enjoy playing République since it’s an amalgamation of the entire genre. Titles like Metal Gear, Splinter Cell, and Thief are among a few sources of inspiration and while the gameplay isn’t as polished as these, it’s fun nonetheless.

Unlike the traditional stealth games, République forces you to improvise and adapt, since you can’t go in guns blazing. The players don’t have unlimited tools for incapacitation either and you have to plan with the limited equipment that you have.

This is something that most stealth games are afraid to incorporate as it definitely amps up the difficulty level, however, this also makes every leap into the shadows much more regarding and satisfying.

 

 

Summary

République is available on the PS4 for just £15.99 (saving 30% with PS+ at launch).

Considering the price and the unique gameplay experience, it’s money a well-spent. Each of the game’s five chapters is two to three hours apiece, and they’ll keep you busy for a decent amount of time.

So, the final verdict is that République is a great game, but one which appeals particularly to fans of the stealth genre. Marrying that with a layered and complex storyline, some engrossing gameplay and now even VR functionality for those lucky enough to own a headset, it’s an experience that certainly stays with you long after the controller is put down.