Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Citizen Abel: Gravity Bone reimagines the first-person shooter as a series of tool-based puzzles and stealth encounters, foregoing firearms entirely. While it borrows Quake II’s movement and aiming mechanics—WASD for movement, mouse to look around—you’ll never actually fire a weapon. Instead, you’ll rely on a camera, spray cans, a hammer, and other gadgets as you carry out your contracts. This shift in focus turns each level into a carefully choreographed stage, where timing, observation, and creative problem-solving are paramount.

The game is divided into two main missions and an extensive, visually striking ending sequence. In the first mission, you play the part of a waiter at a lavish party, tasked with delivering a live Manitoba beast bug in a wine glass to a specific guest without arousing suspicion. The second mission flips the concept: you must photograph five elusive birds scattered across a resort-like beach. Both assignments emphasize exploration, environmental storytelling, and light platforming, with subtle stealth elements that reward patience and planning.

Puzzle design in Gravity Bone is deceptively simple yet highly engaging. You’ll find yourself quietly swapping outfits, mixing drinks, tagging walls with spray paint, or performing gracefully timed jumps to access hidden areas. While the overall playtime is brief—around an hour for a first run—the tight design and multiple pathways encourage experimentation and replayability, as you discover shortcuts or alternative approaches to each objective.

Graphics

One of Gravity Bone’s most striking features is its departure from the drab browns and grays of classic Quake II. The converted engine bathes every environment in bright, lush colors, heavy bloom, and stylized lighting. The result feels more like an interactive art installation than a conventional shooter. Blockheaded NPCs and angular architecture evoke a retro-futuristic vibe, blending low-poly nostalgia with modern post-processing effects.

Textures are intentionally minimalistic, but this works to the game’s advantage, drawing your focus to the composition of each scene. The party hall’s sleek marble floors, the beach’s pastel-toned bungalows, and the neon-lit back rooms all pop with a consistent color palette. Dynamic bloom further blurs the line between object and ambience, making ordinary tasks—like serving a drink or snapping a photograph—visually captivating.

Even the ending sequence embraces a bold visual style, presenting a Portal-like overview map that deconstructs your every move in neon wireframes. It’s a satisfying payoff to the earlier missions, transforming the stealthy walkthroughs into a geometric art piece. From a technical standpoint, the game runs smoothly on modest hardware, maintaining steady frame rates without crashes or slowdowns.

Story

At its core, Citizen Abel: Gravity Bone is a lean narrative experience. You assume the identity of Citizen Abel, the galaxy’s most efficient and economical hit man. There’s no voice acting to explain his backstory—everything is revealed through brief flashbacks, mission briefings, and environmental clues. This minimalism invites players to piece together the plot, giving each contract a sense of mystery and intrigue.

The first mission’s absurd premise—smuggling a live bug in a wine glass—sets the tone: equal parts dark comedy and surreal espionage. The second mission’s bird-photography task adds a layer of whimsical charm, suggesting that Abel’s employer values artistry as much as assassination. As you progress, cleverly placed notes and visual cutscenes hint at the broader political machinations that led you to these unusual assignments.

The final mission debrief, displayed as a neon wireframe animation, ties everything together in a meta commentary on mission planning and human (or alien) fallibility. While the story is concise, it leaves a lasting impression thanks to its bold presentation and the way it subverts expectations. Players hoping for deep character arcs may find the narrative sparse, but those who appreciate impressionistic storytelling will be thoroughly satisfied.

Overall Experience

Citizen Abel: Gravity Bone is a standout indie title that challenges conventional shooter tropes. Its short length and minimalistic design may deter players seeking lengthy campaigns or heavy combat, but those in search of a tight, stylish, and narrative-driven experience will find it incredibly rewarding. The game’s innovative use of everyday tools as “weapons” offers a fresh perspective on interactive espionage.

Immersion is driven by the seamless blend of art direction and gameplay. You’re never interrupted by cumbersome menus or lengthy cutscenes; instead, every action—from slipping through a door to capturing a perfect photograph—drives the story forward. The Cubist-inspired architecture, combined with the vinyl-sounding ambient music, crafts an atmosphere that is both haunting and alluring.

While Gravity Bone’s brevity might feel like a limitation, its high replay value quickly becomes apparent. Speedrunners, completionists, and players interested in finding every hidden detail will appreciate the multiple approaches and secret areas. Technical performance is rock-solid, controls are responsive, and load times are virtually nonexistent, making for a consistently smooth experience.

In sum, Citizen Abel: Gravity Bone is a memorable, artful diversion from mainstream shooters. It’s perfectly suited for players who enjoy narrative experimentation, minimalist aesthetics, and puzzle-oriented gameplay. If you’re looking for a bite-sized adventure that leaves a lasting visual and intellectual imprint, Abel’s contracts are well worth accepting.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10