Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Chasm: The Rift delivers a fast-paced, old-school first-person shooting experience that places you squarely in the boots of a Marine tasked with investigating a compromised power plant. From the moment you load in, the controls feel tight and responsive, harkening back to the golden era of 90s shooters. You’ll run, jump, and strafe through industrial corridors, weaving between cover and enemy fire as you push deeper into the facility. Along the way, you’ll cycle through a diverse arsenal—ranging from a trusty pistol and shotgun to exotic weapons discovered in later time periods.

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What sets this title apart is its time-travel mechanic. After clearing out the present-day installations and thwarting rogue security systems, you’ll traverse dimensional rifts that drop you into ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, and beyond. Each era introduces unique level layouts, environmental hazards, and themed adversaries, keeping the combat fresh. The pacing ramps up nicely: encounters in the nuclear plant feel claustrophobic and tense, while the wide-open tombs and castle courtyards offer room for more strategic maneuvers.

The enemy variety is a highlight. In present-day sections, mutated security guards and malfunctioning turrets challenge your reflexes, whereas skeleton warriors and armored knights in medieval zones demand patience and precision. Boss encounters punctuate each time period, offering intense set-piece battles that test your mastery of the weapon roster. Health and ammo pickups are thoughtfully placed, encouraging exploration without ever feeling too stingy.

Graphics

The 2022 Windows release of Chasm: The Rift isn’t a simple remaster—it’s a ground-up recreation that preserves the look and feel of the original while smoothing out rough edges. Developers used reverse engineering and meticulous by-sight recreation to rebuild every texture, sprite, and map. The result is a crisp presentation that maintains the title’s retro charm but benefits from widescreen support, modern resolutions, and optional graphical filters.

Lighting and effects have been subtly enhanced. While the game retains its pixelated, low-poly aesthetic, dynamic lighting in dimly lit corridors and flickering warning lamps adds atmosphere without betraying the source. Particle effects, such as sparks from damaged conduits or fireballs in the ancient sections, feel more pronounced and lend weight to combat. Frame rates are a non-issue on contemporary hardware, ensuring smooth performance even in the busiest firefights.

An added bonus is the integrated DOSBox port of the original build. Players can switch between the reconstructed version and the classic DOS experience at will, enjoying authentic VGA scaling, original sound emulation, and the official add-on content as it appeared back in the day. For purists and nostalgia seekers, this dual-boot approach is a welcome inclusion.

Story

The plot of Chasm: The Rift is straightforward yet engaging: a clandestine invasion by time-warping monsters known as the Timestrikers. Your Marine character starts with a simple directive—restore power at a compromised facility—but soon uncovers a deeper conspiracy. The Timestrikers have harnessed the plant’s energy to fracture time itself, funneling troops through rifts into multiple eras. It’s a classic “stop the apocalypse” premise, but its strength lies in how it ties gameplay and setting together.

Each time period you visit expands on the narrative in clever ways. In ancient Egypt, you glimpse early experiments in temporal distortion hidden within sealed pyramids. The medieval chapters reveal the Timestrikers manipulating feudal warfare to sow chaos. By the time you reach the distant future stronghold, the stakes are personal—as you race to prevent a nuclear detonation that could end all life on Earth. Though storytelling is delivered primarily through in-game notes and environmental clues, it remains coherent and motivating.

Dialogue is sparse, letting level design and enemy encounters carry the tension. A few brief cutscenes and recorded messages flesh out the backstory, but the emphasis is squarely on action. This minimalistic approach won’t satisfy those craving cinematic narratives, yet it complements the game’s old-school roots and keeps the focus on exploration and combat.

Overall Experience

Chasm: The Rift’s 2022 edition strikes a fine balance between nostalgia and modern convenience. Its core gameplay loop—blast through corridors, find keys, solve simple puzzles, and face off against wave after wave of foes—remains as addictive as ever. Time-travel segments inject variety, ensuring each hour feels distinct. Veterans of ’90s shooters will appreciate the faithful recreation, while newcomers will enjoy the streamlined controls and performance upgrades.

The inclusion of both a rebuilt engine and an authentic DOSBox port is a standout feature. It’s a testament to the developers’ respect for the original work and offers players choice in presentation. Whether you prefer the polished modern build or the quirks of the classic DOS environment, you’ll find something to love.

Ultimately, Chasm: The Rift is a satisfying throwback that doesn’t overstay its welcome. With roughly six to eight hours of campaign content—including the official add-on—it delivers a solid punch of action and atmosphere. If you’re seeking a bite-sized journey through time-warped corridors and enjoy raw, unfussy shooting gameplay, this title is well worth your attention.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10