ReSetna – The First Croatian Metroidvania

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• Developer: Today’s Games
• Publisher: Today’s Games
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Metroidvania
• Release Date: January 31, 2024
• Initial Price: 19.50€
• Reviewed Version: PC

ReSetna is the first Croatian game in the Metroidvania genre. While it doesn’t redefine the genre, it sticks to the classic formula, offering a familiar yet fun experience. Unfortunately, I had some bad luck with the game, where my first save file was simply erased due to a bug before the official release, forcing me to start over and replay everything. What I can definitely say is that ReSetna won’t disappoint you, just don’t expect a title that can compete with the major players.

The plot of ReSetna is set in a world dominated by robots, where organic life has become extinct. You play as a special combat robot, also named ReSetna, whose task is to discover the source of a corrupting signal that has driven other robots wild. The premise is intriguing, and as you progress, you uncover more about the world and your role in it. However, the story is very quickly forgotten. Although you can collect special collectibles and hidden artifacts to gain better insight into the lore, the fact that the story doesn’t keep you very interested doesn’t help the game. The characters you talk to aren’t particularly interesting, but that’s common for games in this genre. The action and gameplay, however, are the main focus, as is exploring the world.

Exploration is Rewarding, But Combat Isn’t Always Fun

The world is divided into different biomes, each with its unique design and story. These areas are visually distinct and add variety to the exploration. Every biome is interesting, the aesthetics are beautiful and unique, but each also introduces its own types of obstacles and traps. For example, the toxic biome had toxic fluid that dealt damage if you entered it, while another biome had various electrical barriers and spikes that you could only cross using a warp. On the other hand, you can also find various hidden items in them, such as skill chips or resource boxes, so exploration is not boring; in fact, the game truly encourages you to explore every corner.

As mentioned, ReSetna follows the classic Metroidvania formula: exploring, backtracking, and unlocking new abilities to access previously unreachable areas. The movement system is fluid, with options like double jump, dash, wall jumping, and warps, which makes navigating the environment extremely pleasant. However, the controls can sometimes feel clunky, especially during combat or after taking damage.

The biggest issue is that the animations are not always completely fluid. There is that small delay that interrupts smooth movement because the animation needs to finish. Additionally, enemies can stun you, which is extremely irritating when you are fighting multiple enemies shooting projectiles at you alongside those fighting you on platforms.

The combat is a mix of ordinary enemies and challenging boss fights. The bosses are definitely the highlight of the game, offering a real test of skill and patience. What certainly benefits this game is the fact that it doesn’t hold back on the large number of enemies, with each biome bringing something new. While it is quite easy to defeat enemies up close, as the game rewards movement and dodging around them, the flying enemies are consequently very irritating.

The Unique Tetris-like Upgrade System

What needs to be emphasized is that the combat itself is fun. Parrying is very good, dodging is solid because it forces the enemy to turn left and right, and you have several special attacks, like hacking to deal maximum damage to enemies. Additionally, there are three special weapons and various shops where you can buy modifications and upgrades. All of this is well-connected and solidly executed.

Yes, you can hit upwards and throw your weapon, but there are some enemies that almost never miss, like the Parasite that shoots a laser at you. Although you can quickly destroy them, a larger group of them is extremely irritating. The other great thing is that the game introduces larger enemies and mini-bosses who are incredibly fun. Each one has unique attacks and provides a satisfying feeling when you defeat them.

There is also a unique upgrade system where you use Tetris-like blocks to optimize your robot’s abilities. This system is a refreshing twist compared to the usual upgrade mechanics in similar games. A large number of the skills are actually useful, so you’ll always have to choose the ones you need at that moment. There’s no need to dwell on the bugs; it’s completely normal and logical that they will be fixed in time, and generally, they don’t impact the gameplay that much.

What definitely can be felt is that ReSetna suffers from a very strange pacing issue. After you defeat the first boss, there will be a period where you spend two hours just unlocking new areas without encountering another worthwhile opponent or boss. Since skills are not tied to bosses but to special structures scattered across the map, this gradually slows down the game’s tempo because the quests practically force you to move from one part of the map to another.

ReSetna is Worth Your Time

The character models and animations are quite basic, lacking the polish and charm seen in other Metroidvania games. The soundtrack is solid, with music that matches the atmosphere, but it rarely stands out. The music only really comes alive during boss fights, where the intensity of the score matches the action. ReSetna seems to be missing some extra “oomph,” a mechanic that would immediately draw you in. While there are certain intriguing ideas, they don’t go that deep, remaining superficial.

Backtracking is also quite repetitive in this game, and the enemies at some points become excessive, making them difficult to avoid at times. However, the ability to teleport from one part of the biome to another is a great feature because it saves you a lot of time, and it would be even better if there were more teleport locations. ReSetna may not define the genre with anything new, but it is good enough to keep you busy for 10 hours. Also, the game is quite inexpensive, so you don’t have much to lose if you give it a chance.

While it may not leave a lasting impression, this is a promising start for Today’s Games and shows potential for future projects. ReSetna may not be the next Blasphemous, but it is nonetheless a solid and fun Metroidvania that stands on its own.

Review copy provided by the publisher