Radio the Universe

Last updated
Radio the Universe
Radio the Universe cover.jpg
Steam thumbnail artwork
Developer(s) 6E6E6E
Publisher(s) 6E6E6E
Engine PIXEL2.0
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Genre(s) Action role-playing game
Mode(s) Single-player

Radio the Universe is an upcoming action role-playing game developed and published by 6E6E6E. The game was originally funded via Kickstarter in 2012. A demo of the game was released for the February 2023 Steam Next Fest, the first time the game was playable since it started development more than a decade earlier. Its full release date has yet to be announced.

Contents

The game has retro-styled 16-bit graphics, and takes place in a gothic cyberpunk setting, in which the female protagonist wakes up to find herself inside a "skyless and desolate labyrinth-city". Radio the Universe takes place within the city, as well as an area in the outer space beyond it called the Null Module. The playable demo was well-received for its graphics and gameplay.

Gameplay

The main character (left) battles a robotic enemy. Radio the Universe gameplay.png
The main character (left) battles a robotic enemy.

The game features top-down action RPG combat with an emphasis on open world exploration. [1] The player can use both melee and ranged combat, and the player leaves behind their unspent experience points when they die in a similar manner to the Dark Souls games. These points can be spent to improve the character's attributes at upgrade stations. The game also contains boss battles, environmental hazards, and puzzles. [2]

Plot

The main character wakes up to find herself trapped, whether physically, spiritually, or both, within a tower that was long abandoned and taken over by mechanoid enemies. [2]

Development

The game was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2012, exceeding its initial goal of US$12,000 and ultimately reaching a total of $81,719, enough to fulfill all stretch goals and greatly expand the scope of the game. Sixe, an indie developer based in Washington, D.C., credited Castlevania: Symphony of the Night , Hotline Miami , Dark Souls and Yume Nikki as inspirations for the game's design, [1] also comparing the game to The Legend of Zelda and describing it as "dark science fiction". [3]

While the game's original estimated release was in March 2014, [1] the game passed several estimated release dates, including late 2016 [4] and winter 2020, [2] with development still ongoing.

Reception

In response to the game's trailer, Tom Sykes of PC Gamer compared the game's aesthetics and gameplay to Hyper Light Drifter , calling it "gorgeous" and saying that he hoped that it was more "revelatory" than the aforementioned game. [4] Jeffrey Matulef of Eurogamer called it "incredibly polished". [1] In a later review of the game's playable demo, Ted Litchfield of PC Gamer said the game "nails the fundamentals", praising the game's focus on efficiently killing enemies. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Matulef, Jeffrey (2013-01-02). "Radio the Universe is one slick looking retro sci-fi action RPG". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  2. 1 2 3 Donovan, Imogen (2020-06-22). "Radio the Universe will launch in winter 2020, after eight years of development". VideoGamer. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  3. Ray Corriea, Alexa (2013-01-03). "Radio the Universe indie action RPG racing up Kickstarter stretch goals". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  4. 1 2 Sykes, Tom (2016-04-09). "Radio The Universe gets new video, now on track for late 2016 release". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  5. Litchfield, Ted (2023-02-14). "This desolate action-RPG about a city at the end of time is 11 years in the making". PC Gamer . Retrieved 2023-04-20.