REVIEW – You could call the game with the strange name not-F.E.A.R. because, in terms of genre, it is the same as the nowadays sadly neglected and better deserving IP (an FPS), and otherworldly forces and powers are also represented in it. At least here, there is no Pear instead of Alma because then you could justifiably throw the dinosaur PC out the window, as this game would not be unique.

Become the ultimate badass in Trepang2: A gory, action-packed FPS set in the near future. Unleash all hell on your enemies, dodge bullets, and leave a trail of destruction in this hardcore and frenetic shooter.

To hell

Expectations should not be set too high. Trepang2 is not a AAA game, but something for which the developers are asking just thirty euros, and a demo can be downloaded from Steam, so it’s recommended by default that fans of the genre check it out (since unlike other pathetic AAA publishers, Denuvo hasn’t been that into the demo here). In the game, you control Prisoner 106, and in the tutorial stage, you escape from the heavily defended building to the roof, where you’re extracted. The story is clichéd and boring to the point where we have amnesia, so we have no idea who we are, no idea why our lives are being threatened, and unfortunately, the cliché pile makes it easy to guess that, oh, a nasty, sinister, evil giant corporation is behind it all. Weapons, armor, and slowing down time (bullet time is like a full-on attempt to mimic F.E.A.R.) all pop up throughout the tutorial. Later on, things get a bit more complex, although the levels remain at the level of a wooden block stopping the subway, despite the multi-story buildings.

On the positive side, however, the destructibility of the game makes it possible to forget the linearity, as this gameplay element gives us more flexibility to defeat the bad guys. As a result, the gameplay and atmosphere are above average. Because the developers have gone to almost every length to make the combat outstanding, on the one hand, they have neglected several things, and on the other hand, the gunplay has become a fun experience. It’s fast, bloody, and a joy to experience and watch, and the weapons have varied slightly from today’s offerings as the plot takes place in the near future. Of course, the usual range is present, from pistols through assault rifles to shotguns, but you can also use mines and grenades. The arsenal is varied enough, and it’s worth adding that it can be upgraded on the workbenches. A laser sight? An enormous stock, maybe better efficiency? There will be a solution for all these needs, so Trepang2 is not lacking. Several difficulty levels are available to the player, so those unfamiliar with the genre won’t immediately struggle with not succeeding because they can take out their opponents with a bit of practice. The tutorial offers an excellent introduction to the gameplay.

From hell

You can choose your mission (often with multiple objectives to complete) from your headquarters, but you can also practice, as there is also a combat simulator. You can also change the look of your character if you don’t like the default one hundred and six. Trepang2 doesn’t rely on realism, nor does it want to be, but instead provides a more arcade experience with combat at its core. Alongside the HP-loading “docks,” there’s also a classic atmosphere with ammo and armor pickups scattered here and there, and alongside these, you can open up a pallet of cheats. This way, you can prepare for even more headshots because, yes, our nameless, faceless opponents tend to fall apart… but even so, you can’t say the AI is weak. Artificial intelligence is surprisingly adept, so it can take us apart at a moment’s notice if we have one of our careless moments.

The gunplay is good but can often become repetitive. The story is also forgettable, even if it doesn’t usually carry much weight in this genre. Some of the maps felt somewhat uncooked, and the game’s length must be pointed out. It takes 3-4 hours to play through Trepang2, so the short tag should be applied to this game. It’s fast, action-packed, but it ends quickly. However, because of the cheats, we won’t leave it on GOG after one playthrough (because you can certainly access the game there, too!). Several elements are reminiscent of F.E.A.R. but are nicely executed, so it can’t be called a tedious experience.

But what the hell does trepang mean?

Trepang Studios’ game (which reminds us of a Hungarian car game, Terep 2, aka Terrain 2; imagine if Terep/Terrain Studios developed it…) would have got an eight out of ten with a slightly longer playthrough, but it will have to settle for a seven-and-a-half. Unfortunately, the clichéd storyline is occasionally bogged down by the gameplay, which can still be described as entertaining and brutal. The demo is worth a try, and if you like what you see there, it’s worth investing in the whole game right away because what’s frenetic there is also available in a larger dose. Good AI and many cheats will keep it on the SSD longer.

-V-

Publisher: Team17

Developer: Trepang Studios

Style: FPS

Release: June 21, 2023.