Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Derelict blends first-person shooter action with a layer of tactical command that keeps every encounter tense and strategic. You directly control one of five specialized space marines, each equipped with distinct skills—from the communications expert who can highlight enemy positions on the map view, to the demolition specialist whose grenade launcher can blow a hole through reinforced bulkheads. Switching between marines is seamless: use hotkeys or the mouse wheel to leap into the boots of the heavy assault trooper with a belt-fed Gatling cannon, or guide your medic through toxic corridors in a hazard suit.

When not directly piloting a marine, you issue orders in a top-down map view reminiscent of Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels. It’s here that Derelict’s true tactical depth shines: you coordinate squad movements, set waypoints, and designate targets, making full use of each operative’s strengths. The engineer can repair hacked doors ahead of your line of advance, while the communications specialist unveils ambush points before they can spring. This dual-mode system forces you to think both as a foot soldier and as a field commander.

Over 20 progressively challenging levels and five difficulty ranks—from Private to General—the AI becomes more aggressive, healing slows, and enemy respawns become more frequent at higher ranks. This steepens the learning curve and encourages replayability: mastering a map on Private is one thing, but pruning reinforcements and coordinating your squad under General conditions requires careful resource management and split-second decision making. Derelict’s pacing rewards patience and planning over run-and-gun tactics.

Graphics

Visually, Derelict opts for a gritty, industrial sci-fi aesthetic. Dimly lit corridors on the super Battlecruiser Atlas feel claustrophobic, and the flickering emergency lights shine off corroded metal bulkheads and tangled wiring. The level of detail in environmental assets—overgrown maintenance shafts, cracked viewports overlooking Epsilon Eridani F’s crimson skies—immerses you in a ship teetering on the edge of catastrophe.

Marine and enemy models are well-crafted, with rugged armor plating, glowing HUD elements, and visceral hit animations that underscore every firefight’s brutality. Textures remain crisp even in close-ups, and muzzle flashes, sparks from welding torches, and the sickly green glow of alien bioweapons all contribute to a palpable sense of otherworldly danger. Particle effects such as smoke, debris, and dynamic shadows amplify the tension when you’re clearing room after room of hostile forces.

The UI in both first-person and map views is clean and informative. Tactical overlays—highlighting doors, waypoints, and marine statuses—are unobtrusive yet instantly readable. The minimap’s fog of war mechanic, powered by the communications specialist’s scans, provides just enough information to strategize without spoiling the thrill of exploration. In short, Derelict’s graphics consistently reinforce its atmosphere of dread and discovery.

Story

Set in the year 2284 after decades of war between Terran forces and the rebel colony of Mendel, the narrative thrust begins when the United Terran Forces choose the uncolonized world Epsilon Eridani F as a staging ground for an assault on Mendel. The super Battlecruiser Atlas arrives to erect crucial spaceport facilities, only to be hijacked by a mysterious bioweapon. As rumors spread of an infection turning crew members into monstrous hostiles, the U.T.F. dispatches one final marine squad to retake the ship.

You assume command of five battle-hardened marines dispatched in a last-minute dropship. Each operative carries not only their weapons but narrative weight: the comms officer haunted by ghosts of past battles, the heavy gunner seeking redemption after a botched siege, the sapper driven by duty to protect his squad, the engineer wrestling with a machine he once forgot to repair, and the medic who’s seen too many fallen brothers. Dialogue is sparse but effective, delivered through mission briefings and in-game radio chatter that underscore the stakes.

Story progression unfolds over 20 levels, punctuated by distress calls, holographic logs, and tense cutscenes that reveal the true nature of the Atlas infection. As you push deeper into the labyrinthine decks, the line between biological horror and military thriller blurs. Themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the cost of war resonate, making each firefight feel not just like a test of reflexes, but a step toward uncovering a dark secret at the heart of the ship.

Overall Experience

Derelict delivers a potent mix of adrenaline-fueled action and deliberate strategic planning. The dual-control scheme—switching between immersive first-person combat and a tactical overhead map—keeps gameplay fresh across all 20 missions. Difficulty ranks offer a gratifying challenge curve, and mastering squad synergy feels genuinely rewarding. If you relish methodical pacing and high-stakes firefights, Derelict offers hours of engrossing play.

The game’s sound design and musical score enhance its tension, with distant alarms, guttural alien screeches, and heavy‐breathing marines reinforcing the sense of a ship on the brink. Occasional AI pathfinding hiccups in tight corridors are minor quibbles; they rarely detract from the overarching thrill of reclaiming each deck from a relentless enemy. The story’s measured pacing and character interplay give real purpose to your tactical decisions.

For players seeking a throwback to classic tactical shooters with modern polish, Derelict stands out as a well-executed title. Its fusion of strategic map-based commands and visceral first-person combat caters to both planners and action fans. Whether you’re climbing the difficulty ladder to General or replaying missions to uncover every narrative tidbit, Derelict is a compelling purchase for anyone drawn to sci-fi military adventures.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10