LBR received an Xbox review code from Dolores Entertainment to review Time Rift.
Time Rift is a puzzle shooter from indie developers Lightshards and Abiding Bridge. It features retro arcade visuals with polished modern graphics, a subtle sense of humor, and an emphasis on story-driven action.
In Time Rift, a reformed hacker must test the security system of a questionable new client. Ex-employees will try to recruit you for a cyber attack while you dodge and redirect the firewall, shoot through gates, and even manipulate time to solve fast-paced puzzles.
Time Rift originally launched in 2022, and is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. A new PlayStation 5 version just launched last week on March 7th. Here’s a console release trailer for context:
Time Rift has some familiar visuals and ideas, but it still took me by surprise. Don’t let the nostalgic, Tron-like environment fool you. This indie immediately distinguishes itself through its narrative hook, which includes a genuine sense of humor.
The writing boasts some legitimately sharp wit. The criticism of unfair corporate practices feels sincere, and particularly relatable at this time in the industry. Mass layoffs rattle gaming employees worldwide, and reports of toxic workplaces continue to emerge.
The company narration before each level is full of corporate jargon, forms, and processes, with jokes at their expense.
But this always feels natural, especially with some top-notch voice acting. There’s a down-to-earth charm and nuance in every bit of dialogue, even in the private server messages.
Time Rift has a compelling story that unfolds quickly and intelligently. It tests your morals, and organically weaves into the gameplay itself.
Running through levels with a firewall at your back feels like a mix of Pac-Man and Asteroids. There’s a great sense of urgency, as well as collectable crypto dots that the game amusingly recognizes as arbitrary.
Some earlier levels will feel too easy, since you can freeze or rewind time. But the overall clock continues to run, and the puzzles do become properly challenging. You’re likely to be stumped now and then once chapter 2 rolls around.
The gameplay maintains its swift pace by continuing to evolve. Each stage adds more obstacles or enemies, and new abilities to overcome them. Some walls and nodes won’t respawn after you rewind, and later enemies will shoot bullets at you.
Time Rift emphasizes puzzle gameplay and excels in that lane far more than it ever could as a routine arcade shooter.
Final Thoughts
Time Rift successfully balances thoughtful puzzles with a swift, modern take on old school arcade action. It also boasts a slick narrative with genuine humor and intrigue. Although it hardly reinvents its genre, Time Rift is a charming indie with heart and plenty of content to explore.
Score: 8.5/10
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