Launch Day Disappointment
After eight years of anticipation, Replaced, the pixel art indie game from Thunderful, finally launched today. The 2.5D platformer, set in a retro-cyberpunk world, combines action with environmental puzzles. However, players on Xbox Series S are facing significant issues that overshadow the excitement of the release.
Serious Bugs on Xbox Series S
Developers from Sad Cat Studio discussed the game’s problems, stating that players may encounter a memory-related hang in the transition between Chapter 4 and Chapter 5, especially if they play the game in a single session. Even more troubling is that the ending cinematics do not work correctly on the Series S version, leaving players unable to fully appreciate the conclusion of the game.
Workaround Available
To mitigate the Chapter 4/5 transition issue, players can quit and restart the game, which seems to prevent the RAM shortage that triggers the crash. Unfortunately, this workaround does not fix the broken ending cinematics, which many players were looking forward to experiencing.
Patch on the Horizon
A patch is reportedly in the works and scheduled to go through Microsoft’s certification process on April 15. Developers hope to roll it out immediately after it clears the certification, bringing relief to those playing on the Series S.
PC and Series X Versions Perform Well
Interestingly, both the PC and Xbox Series X versions of Replaced appear to be functioning correctly, which raises questions about the technical disparities between the two Xbox consoles. Given that this game features beautiful pixel art and a 2.5D perspective, it’s surprising that these issues arose.
Positive Reception Amidst Issues
Despite the rocky launch on Series S, early reviews for the game have been largely positive, with a current score of 81 on Metacritic. Most critics have given the game high marks, with many 8s and 9s, though a few lower scores hold it back.
It’s unfortunate that the focus on these technical issues might overshadow the game’s artistic achievements and gameplay. As patches roll out and stabilize the experience, players may soon find that Replaced lives up to its potential as a standout indie title.
