Arcen Games doesn't want their games to go easy on you. Bionic Dues places you immediately into a no win situation. You're a trainee, freshly inducted into the Corps. You are able to command huge, powerful mechs, but you face hordes of machines bent on your destruction. You'll have to be crafty, and you'll be required to use every tool at your disposal. Win the day, and you'll become the front line of defense against a relentless army. Fail, and all of humanity is lost.
This was my introduction to Bionic Dues, a new roguelike Mech game from independent studio Arcen Games. At the outset, I was given control of four mechs. Each had their own specific roles and combat styles. The science mech was perfect for hacking doors and support, the Tank had solid hit points and weapons, the brawler was built to get up close, and the sniper specialized in high precision, long range attacks.
The mechs are heavily customizable. You can install upgrades to their weapons and systems to improve their defensive and offensive capabilities or give them access to new abilities entirely. Want your brawler to be able to hack doors like a science mech? Plug in a hack module. Sniper not accurate enough? Install a new scope on his rifle.
Every game of Bionic dues is procedurally generated, meaning the mission will never be the same twice. Some will go fairly quickly, with your objective only a couple rooms away. Others will become long fights through narrow corridors, desperately trying to get to the exit.
I lost my science and sniper mechs almost immediately. Left with only two mechs, I thought I was completely screwed. I kept on, and through some clever use of the remaining mechs abilities, cautious combat and a bit of luck, I made it to the exit.
After the mission was finished, I got a look at the city map. A number of missions were now available to me, branching out like a tree through the city. Completing one unlocked the next branching missions. There will be a number of different mission types in the finished game, as well as ways for your mechs to complete missions without having to engage every enemy.
Arcen Games titles have traditionally had great depth and challenge to them. Bionic Dues is no exception. I'm excited to see the finished game when it's ready. In the mean time, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with some of Arcen Games other titles. And there is no better way to do that than by picking up the Arcen Games Humble Bundle. It only has a few days left and it includes every game Arcen has released to date. It's a hell of a deal, helps out charity and will help Arcen put the finishing touches on Bionic Dues.
