Relic Hunters Zero: Remix [Switch]

Rogue Snail’s Relic Hunters Zero: Remix is a fun 2D twin-stick shooting roguelike where you take on the role of the Relic Hunters. You have two starting characters to choose from, with a total of seven available after being unlocked when meeting certain requirements, and as these characters you can play through four game modes. As well as the classic Adventure Mode, there’s three other modes: Endless, a continuous mode that will provide you a challenge; Storm mode, which grows exponentially harder and crazier the longer you last; and Daily Mode, a daily challenge that gives you new ways to play.

In the main 12-stage Adventure mode, you are tasked with collecting ancient relics that are hidden throughout the levels, saving them from the Ducan enemies who have been sent here to retrieve them for the Ducan Commander. These relics will provide him and his army the power they need to take over the world, so you must stop them before it’s too late! The relics you find can be activated to give you a variety of buffs that will greatly help you on further runs, and can be added singularly, or as many as you like (even the whole lot!) to give you the best chance for survival to make it all the way through to take the Ducan Commander on.

Visually, everything is really vibrant and looks great with simple but well designed levels. Stacks of what appear to be pallets as well as plant-like structures are located across the map, serving as barriers for taking cover, but can also be destroyed through repeated damage, which adds a nice quality to the game. It’s a lot of fun playing as Pinkyy and just bashing through to catch enemies unaware. Playable characters are well designed, with unique appearances to match their personality/gameplay style. There’s a few different weapons to choose from, and whilst the character-specific weapons are pretty decent - including Pinkyy’s fists, which are deadly and will wipe through enemies with relative ease; and Raff‘s Keytar, that has massive musical note bullets - the standard weapons that can be found throughout levels and purchased from the shop are all pretty lacklustre. Strangely enough, the other modes have a much larger arsenal available to you, and a more diverse bunch of enemies too, which is something I’d have liked to have seen incorporated into the main Adventure. The audio of Relic Hunters Zero: Remix is jolly and upbeat, with a really fun, chiptune soundtrack that makes it a joy to listen to, even if you’re on your hundredth run.

Within the other game modes you’ll come across other enemies as well as bosses, which are more varied and add more to the gameplay. Instead of digging up pieces of relic like you would in Adventure, Endless has you digging up treasure that may reward you with new weapons. Storm requires you to purchase chests to unlock the Boss Teleporter, and makes for a continuously challenging time. Both of these modes give you the ability to recycle unwanted weapons, which earns you gears to upgrade your current weapons, something that is absent from Adventure.

There are in-game achievements available for you to complete, adding further challenge to the game. This is something I always like to see in Switch games, as being a mostly-Xbox player I’ve grown accustomed to achievements and enjoy the encouragement they give me. The Daily Mode is fantastic too, adding further replayability to the game - getting you to keep going back for more.

Overall, we had a great time with Relic Hunters Zero: Remix and at the price of £10.79 on the Nintendo eShop, you’re getting a fun game that is equally entertaining alone or in co-op, with plenty of content to keep you interested. I’d have liked to have seen a more expanded Adventure mode, considering all of the extra weapons and enemies within the other modes, so I’m hopeful for what Rogue Snail will do in future.

In the end, we decided to give Relic Hunters Zero: Remix the Collecting Asylum rating of 8/10.

Have you played Relic Hunters Zero: Remix yet? What did you think of it?
Let us know in the comments below!

- V x

Thank you to Akupara Games for the Relic Hunters Zero: Remix Switch review code!