Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Merchants of Brooklyn delivers a visceral, first-person combat system that places brutal melee and improvised weaponry at its core. Players primarily rely on Matteo’s biomechanical arm, which can shift between devastating fist attacks, high-powered ranged weapons, and secondary modes like explosive charge or electric shock. This versatility keeps encounters fresh, whether you’re dismembering an opponent up close or hurling severed limbs as improvised grenades.

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Beyond its signature dismemberment mechanics, the game offers a modest progression system. As you rescue fellow Neanderthal fighters in the slums, you unlock new arm upgrades and combat techniques. Each upgrade feels meaningful: transforming your arm into a biological ammo launcher or a mini-nuke emitter drastically changes how you approach enemy strongholds controlled by the Merchants of Brooklyn.

Exploration is mostly linear but punctuated by arena battles, environmental puzzles, and hidden caches of upgrade materials. The lower city’s winding alleys and half-sunken streets encourage close-quarters scuffles, while the sky bridges of the upper city introduce ranged skirmishes and platforming challenges. Occasional stealth sections break up the relentless brawling, though the game’s strength remains in its kinetic, blood-soaked confrontations.

For those who crave social carnage, the multiplayer mode extends the core mechanics into team-based skirmishes and free-for-all brawls. Fighting alongside or against friends in custom arenas—complete with environmental hazards and destructible set pieces—adds replay value beyond the single-player campaign. However, matchmaking can feel sparse outside peak hours.

Graphics

Visually, Merchants of Brooklyn paints a striking contrast between the flooded remains of old Brooklyn and the gleaming utopia above. The water effects are especially impressive: rippling surfaces, submerged debris, and reflections that react dynamically to explosions and combat. These environmental touches heighten immersion as you wade through waist-deep pools or leap across rain-slicked sky bridges.

The character models showcase gruesome detail, from the coarse musculature of the Neanderthal clones to the bio-metallic sinews of Matteo’s arm. Dismemberment animations are satisfyingly gory without devolving into pixelized blur, and weapons leave realistic scars and blood sprays on both opponents and environments. Occasional texture pop-in occurs on lower-end hardware, but most players will appreciate the game’s gritty aesthetic.

Lighting plays a pivotal role in setting the mood. Dimly lit lower levels feel oppressive and dangerous, while the upper city’s neon glow and polished surfaces convey a cold, technologically advanced society. Dynamic shadows cast by cranes and scaffolding add depth, especially during twilight missions. Lens flares and motion blur may divide opinions, but they do reinforce the game’s cinematic ambitions.

Performance is generally solid on modern systems, though minor frame drops occur during particularly chaotic battles. The PC version offers comprehensive graphics settings—texture quality, shadow resolution, and post-processing effects can be tuned to balance fidelity and frame rate. The console ports run admirably, albeit with slightly reduced draw distances and lower water reflection quality.

Story

Set in 3100 A.D., Merchants of Brooklyn unfolds a dystopian tale of exploitation, survival, and vengeance. Global warming has submerged most of Brooklyn, forcing humanity to build skyward. Neanderthals, cloned for their brute strength, become the underclass—until the criminal Merchants of Brooklyn turns them into gladiators for blood sport. The premise is dark yet compelling, mixing eco-crisis and bioethical horror.

Players experience the narrative through the eyes of Matteo Savio, a champion fighter betrayed and mutilated by his handlers. His journey from arena slave to revolutionary liberator is driven by personal stakes and broader themes of freedom versus oppression. The introduction of his biomechanical arm—infused with the scientist’s DNA—adds a sci-fi twist that deepens his connection to both his captors and his fellow clones.

While the overarching storyline hits familiar beats—betrayal, uprising, final showdown—it compensates with strong set pieces and a cast of memorable characters. Voice acting is serviceable, with Matteo’s anguished growls and defiant proclamations selling his quest for revenge. Supporting characters, from the shadowy scientist to rival gladiators, enrich the world but occasionally fall into archetypal roles.

Pacing can be uneven: arena sequences and major battles deliver memorable adrenaline rushes, but interstitial dialogue sections sometimes drag. Nevertheless, the narrative’s core—Man vs. System, flesh vs. machine—remains engaging through to the climactic assault on the utopian summit. For players invested in its rich lore and moral questions, Merchants of Brooklyn offers a satisfying sci-fi saga.

Overall Experience

Merchants of Brooklyn stands out as a bold, uncompromising action game that blends visceral combat with a thought-provoking backdrop. Its core appeal lies in the biomechanical arm mechanics and the satisfaction of brutal, physics-driven dismemberment. While the campaign’s length is moderate—around 10–12 hours for first-time players—the variety of weapons and arena rematches encourage multiple playthroughs.

Multiplayer extends the carnage into customizable arenas, though the community remains niche and best enjoyed with friends. Co-op challenges, survival modes, and leaderboards offer depth for those seeking competitive thrills. Single-player fans will appreciate the steady drip of arm upgrades and the escalating spectacle of Matteo’s crusade.

Minor quibbles—such as occasional pacing lulls, repetitive enemy types, and matchmaking wait times—do little to overshadow the game’s core strengths. The narrative, while familiar in structure, leverages its unique setting to explore themes of identity, exploitation, and technological hubris. Visually arresting levels and high-impact sound design further immerse you in this flooded dystopia.

In sum, Merchants of Brooklyn is a must-play for action enthusiasts who favor brutal melee, inventive weapon transformations, and a sci-fi story with moral weight. Its combination of feral Neanderthal strength, biomechanical ingenuity, and societal commentary makes it a memorable addition to the first-person action genre. Potential buyers seeking a gritty, adrenaline-fueled adventure will find much to love here.

Retro Replay Score

4.8/10