Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Planet Alcatraz delivers a robust real-time-with-pause combat system that will feel familiar to fans of classic Fallout and Neverwinter Nights alike. You’ll maneuver Boar and, eventually, up to three additional cadet-turned-convicts through tight corridors, open wastelands and makeshift settlements. Pausing the action to issue orders or toggle between characters gives you strategic control over each firefight, whether you’re ambushing rebel slavers or fending off mutated wildlife.

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The character development system is built around Traits, Skills and Perks, faithful to the Fallout lineage but streamlined for a smaller-scale experience. Early on, you’ll choose Boar’s starting attributes—strength, perception, charisma, and so on—and specialize in combat, tech abilities or social skills. As you rescue your fellow cadets, they bring unique skillsets and personal perks that enrich your tactical options and open new dialogue paths.

Exploration is non-linear: once you crash onto the prison planet, any direction is fair game. Scavenging for supplies, hacking terminals and talking your way past adversaries all play into your progression. Side quests range from raiding a cannibal enclave to broker uneasy truces between warring gangs. Each decision can ripple across Alcatraz’s fractured communities, so there’s real satisfaction in forging alliances—or burning them to the ground.

Graphics

Planet Alcatraz runs on the same 3D engine as Dawn of Magic, offering isometric camera angles and character models that, while not cutting-edge, boast a solid level of detail. Textures can appear dated at times, particularly on environmental assets, but clever lighting and shadow effects help mask technical limitations. Day/night cycles and weather changes—acid rain, sandstorms—lend atmosphere to the prison planet’s harsh landscapes.

Character portraits and dialogue screens feature hand-painted art that contrasts nicely with in-engine visuals, giving each companion and NPC a distinctive flair. Animation is sometimes stiff, especially in melee combat, but special effects—explosions, energy blasts, flares—feel impactful. Load times are reasonable, and performance remains stable even with many enemies onscreen.

The UI strikes a balance between old-school CRPG menus and modern convenience. Inventory screens display item models and stats clearly, while skill trees and perk descriptions are accessible without excessive sub-menus. Map markers and quest icons guide you without removing the joy of discovery—just be prepared for occasional clipping or camera shifts in cramped corridors.

Story

You begin as Boar, an imperial cadet sent undercover as a convict to investigate a rumored spaceship project. When the drop-pod crashes, your team scatters across Alcatraz’s perilous zones: slave markets, rebel outposts and savage wilderness. Reuniting with your fellow cadets becomes your first major quest, and each rescue reveals more of the planet’s twisted power structures.

The narrative leans heavily into dark humor and politically incorrect themes, courtesy of Dmitry Puchkov’s controversial source material. Racial segregation, misogyny, homophobia, debauchery, slavery and even cannibalism permeate the setting. While some players may find the satire biting and thought-provoking, others could be uncomfortable with the unflinching depiction of taboo subjects.

Dialogue is extensive and branching, with dialogue trees that reward a high Charisma or Barter skill. You can negotiate truces, blackmail rivals or simply intimidate your way through obstacles. Multiple endings hinge on your ultimate choices: will you destroy the shuttle and abandon the Empire’s interests, seize the vessel for yourself or broker a fragile peace between factions? The non-linear plot ensures high replay value.

Overall Experience

Planet Alcatraz is an ambitious indie RPG that captures the spirit of early 2000s party-based CRPGs while injecting its own brand of black humor and moral ambiguity. Its real-time-with-pause combat, deep character progression and open-ended quests will appeal to veterans of Fallout and Neverwinter Nights. Expect a tight budget presentation—some rough edges in animation and texture work—but don’t let that distract from the game’s core strengths.

Thematically, Alcatraz isn’t for the faint of heart. Dmitry Puchkov’s influence ensures the script pushes boundaries, challenging players to confront ugly societal truths through satire. If you can handle the politically incorrect content, you’ll find a layered world full of memorable NPCs and morally grey decisions. Voice work is solid, if not stellar, and background music underscores the barren, lawless atmosphere.

Whether you’re scavenging for gear, debating a brothel madam or storming a slave pens compound, Planet Alcatraz offers hours of richly woven quests and strategic combat. It’s a niche title, best suited for RPG enthusiasts who prioritize narrative freedom and character customization over glossy graphics. For those players, Alcatraz delivers a uniquely twisted, post-apocalyptic odyssey you won’t soon forget.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10