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Platform:<\/b> PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release:<\/b> 2022 <\/p>\n
Loopmancer is an upcoming cyberpunk time-looping action roguelite by eBrain Studio poised to slash its way to your living room this year. The game looks promising, and I got to test my mettle against a demo to see how well it\u2019s shaping up. <\/p>\n
The story centers on a detective named Xiang Zixu, who gets killed during a mission tracking an underground crime lord. However, he awakens back in his apartment earlier that morning. That\u2019s right, our officer is trapped in a mysterious loop, but he retains memories of his past \u201clives.\u201d Figuring out the cause of this loop will be one of the core plot points, and eBrain promises that players’ accumulation of knowledge plays an essential role in shaping Loopmancer\u2019s storytelling. For example, there are multiple outcomes based on your actions. You may decide choices differently based on events from a prior loop. It was hard to see the scope of that vision during this small slice of the game; I only saw incidental examples such as Xiang attempting to warn his superiors of upcoming events and them gradually taking him seriously (or at least humoring him) with each loop.<\/p>\n
Xiang is armed with an arsenal of melee weapons, ranging from swords to bar stools, and firearms. Combat feels fast and fluid. I wailed on enemies up close, dashed to avoid retaliation or close gaps, and unloaded bullets from afar. As a sucker for stylish action, Loopmancer is hitting the right notes. You can also use extra equipment such as proximity mines and grenades to clear mobs. If that’s not enough, Xiang sports a cybernetic arm capable of unleashing assaults such as bolts of electricity or a stream of flame. Loopmancer encourages skillful use of your moveset. Enemies hit hard and can regularly throw players off by activating damage-absorbing defensive states or executing uninterruptable attacks. Death came swiftly and often, which is why it\u2019s good to upgrade abilities, weapons, and stats with permanent enhancements between runs. <\/p>\n