Shaun Munro reviews Immortal Redneck…
Though it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, this kooky collision of classic FPS mayhem and roguelite survival proves just nimble enough to largely please fans of both. While it lacks a distinct sense of personality, Immortal Redneck nevertheless serves up breezy shooting and a fiendishly addictive progression system, both of which make it a perfect fit for Nintendo’s hybrid platform.
The player controls a redneck gallivanting in Egypt, who following a seemingly fatal accident is transformed into a mummy. From here, the task is clear; conquer the three labyrinthine, dangerous pyramids in front of you and maybe, just maybe, learn a little more about what the hell happened to you.
The core gameplay loop is incredibly simple; you enter a pyramid and shoot your way through a series of interconnected, randomly-generated map configurations, in the hope of reaching the bosses within. You will die a lot, but fear not; death is merely an inconvenience here, as upon expiring you’ll be hurled back to the outside hub era, where you can spend your collected resources on upgrades, new abilities and even some godly assistance to further your progress.
Whether or not Immortal Redneck truly clicks for you will depend almost entirely on your tolerance for repetition, for though the dungeons themselves are randomly generated, the elements within are drawn from a rather limited stock pool, and environments quickly begin to feel quite samey.
Furthermore, dying when deep into a pyramid can prove rather frustrating given the time required to return to that point, but at least the resource and upgrade system ensures your effort always means something. When you finally kill a boss after toiling and upgrading for hours, it is a mighty feeling indeed.
It’s this carrot-and-stick appeal, of constantly making yourself more powerful for the next run, that allows the game to endure through over-familiar scenarios that would otherwise feel quite laborious. Progression will certainly seem too padded for some all the same, given the highly incremental, compartmentalised nature of upgrading compared to the potential brevity of a successful run through one of the pyramids, and that’s totally understandable.
That’s a big part of the reason why this game is such a snug fit for the Switch, though; you can embark on a quick dungeon run before bed or on the train, which while insignificant in the scope of the big picture, will nevertheless contribute towards filling out your skill tree. It is not, in my estimation, a game that benefits from lengthy play-sessions, if only because it draws attention to the game’s overall lack of variety. In bite-sized chunks, though? It’s a blast.
As for the shooting itself, aim assist and motion controls are smartly activated by default, which are especially useful when playing the game in handheld mode, particularly given the number of the enemies the game tends to throw at the player. There’s nothing remarkable about the gunplay here, though some too-good-to-spoil weapon unlocks don’t hurt, and it’s certainly a step or two above “functional”. Given the rather straight-forward nature of the combat, that’s more than sufficient.
Technically, the game is meanwhile a bit of a mixed bag; few will be expecting textural marvels from a game like this, though the general art style is fairly bland and forgettable. This is made worse by a disappointing 30 FPS presentation and blatant visual downgrade in handheld mode, where it could occasionally even be called “ugly”. Aurally, the game barely makes a dent at all, with the scant voiceover dialogue playing like a low-effort Duke Nukem parody (which is clearly the point, but perhaps try harder next time?).
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about Immortal Redneck is its pronounced lack of personality. Despite its agreeably goofy premise and clear desire to both homage and lightly mock classic FPS tropes, there’s curious little charm or entertainment value when it comes to the needlessly foul-mouthed protagonist, the enemies or the general overworld. Though the game evidently makes light of the parochial nature of old-school FPS fare, it’s sadly not done enough to also subvert it.
If you’re craving an undemanding shoot ’em up romp that has little time for niceties such as an actual narrative, Immortal Redneck‘s minimalist carnage just might do the trick. It does a rock solid job fashioning a “just one more” cycle of play, and what it lacks in nuance or substantial diversity, it decently compensates with a fun – if undeniably bloated – suite of customisation and progression.
Pros:
+ Addictive central gameplay loop.
+ Great customisation.
+ Fun motion controls.
Cons:
– The repetition can feel like busy-work.
– There’s not much charm or personality.
– Underwhelming presentation.
– Adult tone feels forced.
Rating: 7/10
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch (also available on PS4, Xbox One and PC).
Shaun Munro – Follow me on Twitter for more video game rambling.
