Roboquest review

Thanks to efforts like Gunfire Reborn, Deadlink, and Sulfur, there’s no shortage of engaging roguelike first-person shooters. And with its responsive gunplay and an impressive arsenal of weapons, Roboquest undoubtedly deserves a place alongside the sub-genre’s best entries.

Developer RyseUp Studios’ undoubtedly draws inspiration from classic FPS titles like Doom. Flaunting lightning-fast players movement, crowds of antagonistic adversaries, and hard-hitting weapons with unlimited ammo, Roboquest demonstrates a command of FPS fundamentals. Pleasingly, the controls are responsive, with precise aiming and movement, allowing you to effortlessly dance around projectiles and unleash a barrage of firepower at robotic foes.

Oodles of Onomatopoeia

Gunplay in Roboquest is a true highlight, with your DualSense haptic abilities delivering a bit of kick with every trigger pull. Whether you’re blasting through enemies with a shotgun, picking them off at range with a bow, or melting them with a laser rifle, each of the game’s 83 weapon feels distinct and rewarding to use. There are even some comic book-style on-screen pop-ups that accompany the shooting. Smartly, Roboquest ensures that even the most basic firearms are at least functional. For anyone tired of anemic standard-issue handguns, RyseUp provides relief with its punchy pistol.

More exotic options, like grenade launchers or rocket-propelled boxing gloves, inject some playfulness by offering new ways to take down opponents. And even if you grab a gun that doesn’t pair with your play style, it won’t be long before you find a replacement.

Weapon Wonderland

Undoubtedly, weapon variety is of one of Roboquest’s core strengths. You’ll wield everything from traditional pistols and rifles to crossbows, elemental guns, and even melee weapons like knives and a dual-blade chainsaw. Nicely, the game’s arsenal doesn’t feel like dozens of variations built from a shallow pool of firearms. Instead, each distinct weapon encourages a different playstyle, with their own ammo count, range, and firing speed. Some even have elemental effects, as well.

This diversity not only keeps the gameplay loop engaging but also encourages experimentation, as you’re constantly discovering new favorites and adapting across subsequent runs. Unfortunately, this kind of variety doesn’t carry over to the game’s environments. Sure, they are vibrant and reasonably detailed, but before long the game’s procedurally-generated settings grow repetitive. Roboquest could have used a bit more environmental and architectural variation.

The Quick and the Dead

Roboquest’s sinuous movement system seamlessly complements its gunplay. The game urges constant motion, with double jumps, dashes, and class-specific abilities that make every gunfight a hectic spectacle. Smartly, environments are intended to keep you moving, dodging, and ziplining through waves of enemies, all while swapping between your equipped weapons. This link between shooting and movement ensures the action remains relentless, offering only a quick (but essential) breather between areas.

The game’s mastery system further elevates experience. Across each run, you’ll gain experience and unlock class upgrades, making it feel like you’re always progressing, even across shorter runs. This meshes with the game’s meta-game progress, where you’ll collect wrenches that provide persistent upgrades back at your base camp.

Final Round

Roboquest delivers one of the most satisfying gunplay experiences in recent memory, bolstered by a diverse arsenal. The game’s dedication to weapon variety, combined with its tight controls and breakneck pacing, makes every run a taut test of skill and adaptability. Whether you’re a seasoned first-person shooter veteran or a newcomer to roguelites, Roboquest’s taut gunplay is certain to keep you coming back for another run.

Roboquest was played on PlayStation 5 with review code provided by the publisher.