Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

ōdi∙um masterfully blends two distinct gameplay modes—Adventure and Battle—into a cohesive experience that demands both exploration and tactical acumen. In Adventure mode, you guide your trio of specialists—Sullivan, Owicz, and Trantigne—through the wreckage of Gorky 17 in real time, searching for clues, keycards, and essential supplies. The top-down view lets you scrutinize every crumbling hallway and abandoned cache, while item chests scattered throughout the environment reward careful examination with weapons, ammunition, and useful artifacts.

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When the lurking mutants finally strike, the action seamlessly shifts into Battle mode, an isometric, turn-based arena where strategy reigns supreme. Each character moves across a grid of squares, weighing the risks of advancing on enemies versus holding defensive positions. Explosive barrels, scattered crates, and environmental hazards heighten the tension, rewarding players who adapt on the fly and make effective use of the battlefield layout.

Character progression injects a welcome layer of RPG depth: every wound you inflict grants experience, unlocking stat points to bolster hit points, accuracy, or defensive capabilities. Weapons themselves level up through use, ensuring that your veteran marksman deals maximum damage with a sniper rifle while your shotgun ace delivers devastating close-range blasts. This intertwined advancement system encourages balanced team development and strategic equipment management.

Beyond pure combat, resource management remains a constant challenge. Ammunition is finite, body armor degrades, and key items dictate the pace of exploration. Deciding when to press forward in search of survivors or when to regroup and heal adds a palpable sense of urgency, making every decision in ōdi∙um feel consequential and engaging.

Graphics

ōdi∙um’s visuals hark back to the golden age of survival horror, pairing pre-rendered 2D backgrounds with fully realized 3D character models. The dilapidated streets and bombed-out buildings of Gorky 17 are rendered with chilling detail, each shattered window and scorched wall contributing to an oppressive atmosphere that keeps you on edge.

The lighting design excels in reinforcing the game’s tense mood. Long shadows stretch across debris-filled corridors, while flickering bulbs and sparking wires cast eerie glows that hint at unseen threats. This dynamic interplay of light and darkness not only heightens immersion but also serves as a gameplay cue, guiding your attention toward hidden passages or approaching enemies.

Character models possess a surprising level of detail given the era’s technical constraints, with distinct uniforms and weaponry that reflect each soldier’s nationality and specialization. Creature designs run the gamut from scuttling, insect-like mutants to hulking, armored behemoths, each variant showcasing unique animations and hit reactions that make battlefield encounters both varied and memorable.

Menus and HUD elements maintain a clean, utilitarian style, echoing the game’s military theme without overwhelming the screen. Inventory screens are intuitive, allowing quick swaps of weapons and armor even in the heat of combat, while status readouts clearly display health, ammo counts, and experience bars, keeping the focus squarely on survival and strategy.

Story

At its core, ōdi∙um delivers a tightly woven narrative of mystery and survival. The city codenamed “Gorky 17” sits in radioactive ruin, its streets haunted by grotesque mutants and the unanswered fates of a previous reconnaissance team. Against this grim backdrop, Sullivan, Owicz, and Trantigne embark on a mission that quickly escalates from routine investigation to a desperate fight for life.

Dialogue-driven cutscenes and in-game notes gradually peel back layers of conspiracy, uncovering hints of clandestine experiments and questionable alliances. Each soldier brings a distinct perspective—Sullivan’s hardened leadership, Owicz’s technical expertise, and Trantigne’s clinical detachment—creating dynamic interplay that grounds the sci-fi premise in human drama.

The pacing of story revelations is handled with care, alternating between quiet moments of exploration—littered with personal logs and environmental storytelling—and sudden outbreaks of violence when mutants swarm. This roller-coaster rhythm keeps the narrative compelling, ensuring you remain invested in both the mission’s outcome and the characters’ survival.

ōdi∙um doesn’t rely on grandiose plot twists or overwritten exposition; instead, it trusts the player to piece together the overarching mystery through contextual clues. This approach rewards attentive exploration, and by the time the final secrets of Gorky 17 surface, you’ll feel satisfied by the narrative journey as much as by the tactical victories.

Overall Experience

ōdi∙um stands out as a hybrid title that respects its tactical roots while embracing the tension of survival horror. Its dual-mode gameplay offers variety without sacrificing depth, providing both adrenaline-charged firefights and methodical puzzle-like exploration. Whether you’re poring over equipment stats or carefully flanking an enemy horde, the game maintains a steady sense of challenge.

The atmospheric graphics and sound design work in tandem to immerse you in a hostile world where every corridor could hide a trap, and every encounter might be your last. Environmental storytelling complements the main narrative, rewarding those who venture off the beaten path to uncover snippets of lore and hidden caches of supplies.

Character progression and weapon mastery impart a satisfying sense of growth, encouraging you to experiment with different tactics and gear combinations. The balance between resource scarcity and empowerment is finely tuned, so victory always feels earned and failure always carries weighty consequences.

For fans of tactical RPGs, survival horror, or science-fiction thrillers, ōdi∙um offers a uniquely engaging experience. Its blend of strategy, atmosphere, and narrative intrigue makes it a title worth exploring, especially for players who appreciate games that challenge both their wits and their nerves. Whether you’re investigating every nook of Gorky 17 or carefully planning your next assault, ōdi∙um delivers a memorable journey through the shattered remnants of a world gone awry.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10