Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Codename: Tenka delivers classic first-person shooting action that will immediately feel familiar to fans of early 90s Doom-inspired titles. You pilot Joseph B. Tenka through tight corridors, sprawling industrial complexes, and bio-engineering laboratories, battling waves of corporate guards, mutated creatures, and hulking Bionoid prototypes. The core combat loop emphasizes fast movement, careful strafing, and well-timed reloads, with each weapon—from the standard pulse rifle to experimental railguns—feeling distinct and satisfying.

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Where Tenka really stands out is in its mission design. The game offers over 20 carefully crafted levels, each introduced by a detailed briefing that sets up objectives ranging from sabotage and data theft to all-out base infiltration. You’ll need to adapt your tactics constantly: some stages demand stealthy hacking of security consoles, others descend into full-frontal firefights against waves of reinforcements. Secret areas peppered throughout the maps reward exploration with ammo caches, weapon upgrades, and lore bits that enrich the scenario.

The game also incorporates Bionoid-specific abilities to spice up the standard run-and-gun formula. As a prototype warrior, Tenka can unlock enhancements such as temporary damage mitigation, short-range teleportation, or enhanced sensor vision to detect hidden traps. Mastering these powers alongside conventional firearms adds a layer of strategic depth, especially on higher difficulty settings where resource management becomes vital. While there’s no built-in multiplayer, the strong level variety and hidden shortcuts encourage replayability for those who love diving back into atmospheric shooters.

Graphics

Visually, Codename: Tenka strikes a balance between nostalgia and atmosphere. Built on a modified Doom engine, the game uses 2.5D environments and sprite-based enemies, but enhances them with dynamic lighting effects, flickering warning lights, and realistic smoke and steam. The result is a moody, industrial aesthetic that reinforces the sense of corporate terror and environmental decay.

Texture work is solid, with rusted metal panels, grimy floor tiles, and bio-organic growths creating convincing sci-fi backdrops. Key set-pieces—like the massive Bionoid production vats or the high-security armory room—showcase detailed environmental storytelling. Enemy sprites benefit from well-animated death sequences and splatter effects, heightening the tension when you narrowly escape an ambush.

Performance-wise, Tenka runs smoothly even on modest hardware, thanks to its lightweight engine. You can tweak resolution and detail levels, but the default settings hit a sweet spot between clarity and authenticity. Occasional screen shake during explosions and subtle post-processing filters add cinematic flair without demanding top-tier graphics cards. Overall, it’s an art direction that feels timeless and perfectly suits the game’s dystopian future vision.

Story

In the year 2096, Earth has become a wasteland of pollution and endless corporate wars. The remaining colonists pin their hopes on Extrevius 328, a distant facility reputed to manufacture fearsome Bionoid warriors. You step into the boots of Joseph B. Tenka, a Bionoid-in-training who quickly discerns the nefarious plans of his corporate overlords and resolves to turn the tables from within. The premise sets a grim tone of rebellion and survival against overwhelming odds.

Most of the narrative unfolds through mission briefings and in-game terminals, offering mission context, hidden lore, and the occasional character aside. While you won’t find lengthy cutscenes or voiced dialogue, the tight writing and environmental cues—half-burnt dossiers, hacked video logs, and bloodied hallways—convey a sense of urgency and dread. The corporate executives and security chiefs emerge as suitably ruthless antagonists, though the game keeps the focus squarely on Tenka’s single-minded crusade.

Though the story structure is straightforward, it excels in atmosphere and pacing. Each briefing teases new revelations about Extrevius 328’s true purpose, and every completed mission deepens your resolve to expose the facility’s darkest secrets. The sparse narrative presentation fits the gameplay perfectly, ensuring you stay immersed in the tension without being bogged down by excessive exposition.

Overall Experience

Codename: Tenka offers a compelling blend of classic FPS mechanics and immersive sci-fi horror. The combination of fast-paced combat, Bionoid-specific powers, and eerie corporate environments creates a tense, engaging experience from start to finish. The 20-plus missions ensure you’re never far from a fresh tactical challenge, while the moody visuals and atmospheric audio design—complete with ambient hums and distant alarms—keep the adrenaline pumping.

For players seeking a nostalgic return to the golden age of shooters, Tenka delivers exactly what it promises: tight controls, inventive level design, and a darkly intriguing narrative. Newcomers to retro-style shooters will find the learning curve manageable, thanks to adjustable difficulty modes and clear briefing instructions. The game’s length—roughly 8–10 hours on a first playthrough—offers good value, especially when factoring in secrets and challenge runs.

Ultimately, Codename: Tenka stands as a worthy entry in the indie FPS revival movement. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it polishes every facet of the Doom-clone formula to a fine sheen, layering on an engaging storyline and oppressive atmosphere. Whether you’re a veteran looking for a dose of nostalgia or a sci-fi enthusiast hungry for corporate-dystopia thrills, Tenka is a solid pick that won’t disappoint.

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10