Rad (video game)

Last updated
Rad
Rad game cover art.png
Developer(s) Double Fine Productions
Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment
Director(s) Lee Petty
Producer(s) Kevin Johnson
Malena Annable
Designer(s) Gabe Cinqueplami
Programmer(s) Chad Dawson
Artist(s) Derek Brand
Composer(s) David Earl
Engine Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
ReleaseAugust 20, 2019
Genre(s) Action
Mode(s) Single-player

Rad is a roguelike action game developed by Double Fine and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in August 2019 and for Amazon Luna in May 2021.

Contents

Gameplay

Rad is a roguelike video game played from an isometric perspective. [1] In the game, players control a teenager whose goal is to explore a procedurally-generated wasteland for effigies known as respirators, items that may restore the human civilizations after a devastating apocalypse. As the character explores the wasteland, their genes will mutate, granting players additional powers and perks. For each character, players can have unlimited passive bonuses and at most three active mutations. [2] If the player character dies, they will be replaced by a new character. [3]

Development

Lee Petty, the director for Headlander , served as the game's director. The game was inspired by his teenage years and his love for 1980s aesthetics. [4] In each run, abilities are gained randomly. According to Petty, this creates different combinations, which enables players to better explore the strengths and weaknesses of each mutation. [5]

The game was officially announced in March 2019 by Bandai Namco Entertainment. [6] The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on August 20, 2019, and for Amazon Luna on May 13, 2021. [7] [8]

Reception

Rad received "mixed or average reviews" for Switch, Windows, and PlayStation 4, and "generally positive reviews" for Xbox One according to review aggregator Metacritic. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Destructoid praised the game's aesthetics, lore, and sense of humor, while criticizing the load times and noting its short length. IGN noted the game's difficulty, calling it "the good kind of tough" and similarly lamented the sluggish frame rate and load times. Nintendo Life lauded the game's combat and dozens of hours of content while taking issues with the RNG balance and the Switch port's handheld performance. PC Gamer called the game's encounter design "pitch perfect", criticizing the game's later levels for feeling "brutally unfair", writing, "Double Fine could crunch the numbers to make the early-game grind more effortless, but that would still leave a serviceable-at-best roguelike...Rad is painfully style-over-substance". Push Square praised the title's core concept, world, and varied gameplay while calling out the lack of multiplayer, uninspired enemy design, and loading times. GameSpot was critical of the game, finding the dialogue, mutant powers, and post-apocalyptic 80's universe redeemable, while criticizing its luck-based progression, cheap deaths, and its inability to teach its deeper mechanics.

Related Research Articles

<i>Mr. Driller</i> Video game series

Mr. Driller is a puzzle video game franchise created by Yasuhito Nagaoka and Hideo Yoshizawa for Namco. The eponymous first game was released in 1999 for arcades and several home consoles, such as the PlayStation. Gameplay in the series consists of controlling Susumu Hori, the titular Mr. Driller, or one of his friends and destroying colorful formations of blocks to make it to the bottom of a well. In order to survive, players need to collect air capsules to replenish their depleting oxygen and avoid being crushed by falling blocks.

<i>Klonoa</i> Video game series

Klonoa is a platform video game series created by Namco in 1997. It stars Klonoa, an anthropomorphic creature who explores dream worlds. The series includes two main games: Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (1997) for the PlayStation and Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (2001) for the PlayStation 2. A remake of Door to Phantomile was released for the Wii in 2008, and remasters of both games were released in 2022. The series also includes a set of handheld games released between 1999 and 2002 for the WonderSwan and Game Boy Advance.

Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the series began with the release of Dark Souls (2011) and has seen two sequels, Dark Souls II (2014) and Dark Souls III (2016). It has received critical acclaim, with its high level of difficulty being among its most discussed aspects, while the first Dark Souls is often cited as one of the greatest games of all time. The series had shipped over 35 million copies outside of Japan as of 2023. Other FromSoftware games, including Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, share several related concepts and led to the creation of the Soulslike subgenre.

<i>Everspace</i> 2017 video game

Everspace is a 3D space shooter with roguelike elements developed and published by German studio Rockfish Games. It was released in 2017. A sequel, Everspace 2 was released in 2023.

<i>Twin Mirror</i> 2020 video game

Twin Mirror is a 2020 adventure game by Dontnod Entertainment. Co-produced with Shibuya Productions, the game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 1 December 2020. It received mixed reviews from critics.

<i>Digimon Survive</i> 2022 video game

Digimon Survive is a visual novel with tactical role-playing game elements developed by Hyde and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.

<i>Windjammers 2</i> 2022 sports video game

Windjammers 2 is a 2022 sports video game developed and published by Dotemu. It is the sequel to the 1994 Neo Geo game Windjammers, co-produced by Data East and SNK. Windjammers 2 was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, and Xbox One on January 20, 2022. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the visuals, new content and gameplay mechanics.

<i>Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot</i> 2020 video game

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an action role-playing game developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, based on the Dragon Ball franchise. It was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows in January 2020, Nintendo Switch in September 2021, Stadia in October 2021, PlayStation 5 in January 2023, and Xbox Series X/S in February 2023. The game follows the main protagonist Goku and the Z-Fighters throughout the events of the Dragon Ball Z anime, including anime-original storylines and moments.

<i>One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4</i> 2020 video game

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is an action-adventure video game developed by Omega Force and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. It is the fourth installment in Pirate Warriors video-game series, based on the One Piece franchise. It is a sequel to the 2015 game One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3. It was released on March 27, 2020.

<i>Little Nightmares II</i> 2021 video game

Little Nightmares II is a puzzle-platform horror adventure game developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It may be played as a self-contained experience. The story follows Mono, who must work together with Six, the protagonist from the previous game, to survive the horrors of the Pale City and discover its dark secrets. The game was released for Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One on 11 February 2021. An upgraded version, titled Little Nightmares II: Enhanced Edition, was developed by Supermassive Games and released on 25 August 2021 for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S.

<i>One Piece: Pirate Warriors</i> Video game series

One Piece: Pirate Warriors also known in Japan as One Piece: Kaizoku Musou, is a series of action-adventure video games developed by Omega Force and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is based on the One Piece manga and anime franchise by Eiichiro Oda. It is the most successful One Piece video game series, with over 8 million copies sold.

<i>Skatebird</i> 2021 skateboarding video game

Skatebird is a skateboarding video game developed by American studio Glass Bottom Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Amazon Luna on September 16, 2021. Versions for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were later released in 2023.

<i>Samurai Warriors 5</i> 2021 video game

Samurai Warriors 5 is a hack and slash game by Koei Tecmo, and a reboot of the Samurai Warriors series, part of the long-running Warriors series of hack and slash games published by Koei Tecmo. As a "fresh re-imagining" of the franchise, the game features an all-new storyline, revamped character designs, and a new visual presentation. It was released in Japan in June 2021 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, with a worldwide release in July for those platforms and PC via Steam. A version for Amazon Luna was made available on June 30, 2022.

<i>Hot Wheels Unleashed</i> 2021 video game

Hot Wheels Unleashed is a 2021 racing game developed and published by Milestone based on Mattel's Hot Wheels toyline. The game was released on September 30, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Versions for Amazon Luna and Stadia were made available in July and September 2022, respectively. A sequel, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, was released in October 2023.

<i>Pac-Man Museum+</i> 2022 video game compilation

Pac-Man Museum+ is a 2022 compilation video game developed by Now Production and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Being a sequel to the 2014 compilation title Pac-Man Museum, Pac-Man Museum+ includes 14 games from the Pac-Man series, with additional features such as missions and online leaderboards.

<i>Rogue Legacy 2</i> 2022 video game

Rogue Legacy 2 is a platform video game developed and published by Cellar Door Games. It is the sequel to 2013's Rogue Legacy, and the game was released for Windows via early access in August 2020. The full version was released in April 2022, for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, followed by a Nintendo Switch port in November. The game was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in June 2023.

<i>One Piece Odyssey</i> 2023 video game

One Piece Odyssey is a 2023 role-playing video game developed by ILCA and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. A part of the One Piece franchise, it was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. It is also set to release for Nintendo Switch in July 2024.

<i>Skul: The Hero Slayer</i> 2021 video game

Skul: The Hero Slayer is a 2021 roguelike-action platformer developed by SouthPAW Games and published by Neowiz. The game was released on January 21, 2021 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux, and launched on October 21, 2021 for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4and launched on June 4, 2024 for Android and iOS. In the game, players control a skeleton named Skul as he attempts to save demonkind from their enemies, the heroes. The player can remove Skul's head for different skulls, granting new combat abilities across randomly-generated levels. The game received positive reviews on release.

<i>Exit the Gungeon</i> 2019 video game

Exit the Gungeon is a 2019 bullet hell platform game co-developed by Dodge Roll and Singlecore Games and published by Devolver Digital. It was released for iOS through Apple Arcade on September 19, 2019, for macOS, Windows, and Nintendo Switch on March 17, 2020, and for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 13, 2020. A sequel to Enter the Gungeon, players take control of one of four playable characters as they attempt to escape the collapsing Gungeon. The game received mixed reviews on release.

References

  1. ↑ Higham, Michael (March 25, 2019). "Double Fine's New Game Rad Goes For A Bizarre Post-Apocalypse". GameSpot . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  2. ↑ Khan, Imran (March 20, 2019). "Hands-on with Double Fine's Newest Action Game, Rad". Game Informer . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ McCaffery, Ryan (March 20, 2019). "RAD First-Look Preview: A Roguelike for the Rest of Us". IGN . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  4. ↑ Sullivan, Lucas (March 20, 2019). "Hands-on with Double Fine's top-down roguelike Rad, a mix of Bastion and Nuclear Throne". GamesRadar . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  5. ↑ Hawkins, Josh (March 21, 2019). "Double Fine's Lee Petty on how Rad stands out in the crowd". Shacknews . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ Tarason, Dominic (March 20, 2019). "Double Fine announce RAD, a post-apocalyptic hack n' slasher". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  7. ↑ Minotti, Mike (May 20, 2019). "Double Fine and Bandai Namco aren't ending the world when Rad launches August 20". VentureBeat . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  8. ↑ New on Luna+: RAD , retrieved 2022-12-18
  9. 1 2 "Rad for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures . Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Rad for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures . Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Rad for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures . Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Rad for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures . Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ McClusky, Kevin (18 August 2019). "Review: RAD". Destructoid . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Santa Maria, Alex (15 August 2019). "Rad Review | Gnarly, tubular, and straight up choice". GameRevolution . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  15. ↑ Clark, Justin (16 August 2019). "Rad Review - Welcome To The New Age". GameSpot . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  16. ↑ McCaffrey, Ryan (16 August 2019). "RAD Review". IGN . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  17. ↑ Vogel, Mitch (27 August 2019). "RAD Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Parton, Mitchell (2 September 2019). "Rad (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  19. ↑ Clayton, Natalie (22 August 2019). "Rad review". PC Gamer . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  20. ↑ Eker, Nathaniel (15 August 2019). "RAD Review (PS4)". Push Square . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  21. ↑ Mejia, Ozzie (15 August 2019). "RAD review: How do you do, Fallow kids?". Shacknews . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.