Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. puts players in the powered suits of two elite soldiers, each armed with a distinct arsenal of weapons and abilities. From rapid-fire pulse rifles to devastating rocket launchers, the variety of firepower ensures that every encounter with the insectoid hordes feels unique. Mission objectives range from sterile extermination runs to high-stakes sabotage, all under the looming threat of a 120-hour countdown that injects an undercurrent of urgency into every firefight.

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The controls, built on the proven Turok 2 engine, deliver a familiar yet responsive experience. Movement is fluid, allowing you to strafe, dodge, and dash through swarms of alien bugs with satisfying precision. Weapon switching is seamless, letting you adapt on the fly when a new threat emerges or ammunition for your primary firearm runs dry. Veteran players of first-person shooters will feel right at home, while newcomers will appreciate the straightforward feel of aiming and firing.

Cooperative and solo play each bring their own flavor to the game. Tackling levels with a friend in split-screen co-op amplifies the tension and camaraderie, forcing you to coordinate tactics against wave after wave of enemies. Solo players, meanwhile, can experiment with both Armorines to discover which suit best matches their playstyle—whether it’s the heavy-hitting brute or the agile recon specialist. Either way, the clock is ticking, and every second saved in clearing a sector can be the difference between victory and total planetary invasion.

Weapon upgrades and environmental interactions are woven into the map design, rewarding exploration with extra ammo caches, protective armor, and secret passages. Finding hidden control panels to trigger explosive traps or unblock sealed corridors adds an extra layer of strategy. This interplay between raw firepower and clever navigation keeps the gameplay loop feeling fresh, even as the bug onslaught grows more ferocious with each mission.

Graphics

Leveraging the Turok 2 engine, Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. brings the bug-infested battlegrounds to life with surprisingly detailed environments. From the dimly lit tunnels of subterranean hives to the sprawling, neon-infused corridors of research stations, the level design strikes a balance between claustrophobic tension and wide-open firefights. Dynamic lighting casts ominous shadows across insect chittering nests, heightening the sense of unpredictability lurking around every corner.

The insect enemies themselves are rendered with an unsettling authenticity, with chitinous plates, multi-jointed limbs, and glowing eyes that track your movements. Animation cycles for the bugs—from skittering larvae to towering queens—are smooth and varied, keeping combat visually engaging. When a heavy weapon blast tears through a swarm, the resulting particle effects and debris fly convincingly in all directions, showcasing the engine’s capacity for on-the-fly physics calculations.

Character models for the Armorines retain a rugged sci-fi aesthetic, with battle-scarred plating and throbbing energy conduits that pulse as you sprint or jump. Each suit design is distinct enough that you can instantly tell which soldier you’re controlling, even in the heat of a grenade-infested firefight. Weapon models are equally well-crafted, featuring rotating barrels, animated recoil, and muzzle flashes that emphasize the raw power behind every shot.

While textures may show their age compared to modern titles, they carry a certain nostalgic charm that underscores the game’s late-90s roots. The occasional pop-in or low-res surface is easily forgiven when you’re ducking behind cover to avoid a bursting acid spit from a giant arachnid. Overall, the visual presentation strikes an admirable balance between retro authenticity and action-packed spectacle.

Story

Set in a not-so-distant future, Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. plunges you into humanity’s last stand against a ravenous insect plague. As one of two specialized Armorines, you are humanity’s ultimate weapon—equipped with cutting-edge power armor and tasked with preventing the complete eradication of human civilization. The narrative framework is simple but effective: locate and eliminate the hive leaders before the 120-hour extinction timer expires.

The campaign unfolds through concise mission briefings and data logs scattered throughout each level. Though the storyline doesn’t delve into deep philosophical territory, it borrows thematic elements from the hard-hitting, militaristic tone of Starship Troopers. Dialogues from field commanders and intercepted transmissions flesh out the stakes, painting a picture of desperate scientific efforts gone awry and the moral cost of unleashing bio-engineered horrors.

Each mission feels like a chapter in a larger war diary, revealing snippets of global catastrophe and the shifting battle lines. There’s a sense of progression as you move from quarantined laboratories to infested military outposts and finally to the heart of the bug empire. While the narrative may not rival character-driven epics, it provides enough context to keep you invested—especially when the hive queen you’ve spent hours tracking finally emerges for a climactic showdown.

The blend of sci-fi action and survival stakes keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. Players who appreciate straightforward military sci-fi with a dash of horror will find themselves drawn into the escalating crisis. In the end, it’s the ticking clock, the relentless alien menace, and the weight of humanity’s hopes resting on your powered suit that deliver the real narrative thrill.

Overall Experience

Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. delivers a satisfying mix of high-octane shooting and strategic urgency. The 120-hour in-game countdown injects every mission with palpable tension, ensuring that each firefight carries more weight than simply clearing another room of enemies. You’re never just wandering a level—you’re racing to save humanity, and that premise alone keeps adrenaline high from start to finish.

The two distinct Armorines offer replay value and personal playstyle customization. Whether you favor brute-force assaults or nimble hit-and-run tactics, the game caters to your preference with balanced weapon sets and movement capabilities. Coupled with co-op support, this flexibility extends the game’s lifespan, making it a reliable pick for solo sessions or shared couch play.

Graphically, the title may show signs of its era, but its impressive engine work and atmospheric level designs still hold up. The alien factions are visually memorable, and the environmental variety—from underground caverns to bio-labs—keeps your eyes engaged even as the bugs swarm in unrelenting waves. The cache of unlockable extras and hidden areas also rewards exploration, further enhancing the overall package.

In sum, Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. stands as a compelling relic of late-90s first-person action, marrying the robust Turok 2 engine with a no-nonsense sci-fi bug war. It’s fast-paced, challenging, and dripping with the kind of cheesy, militaristic charm that starved fans of extraterrestrial extermination will devour. For those seeking a breakneck shooter experience with enough depth to merit repeated visits, this title remains a worthy mission assignment.

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10