Trepan 2 (opens in new tab)an epic FPS heavily inspired by Monolith’s FEAR (opens in new tab)kneels on Steam on June 21st.
The release day reveal was accompanied by Trepang 2’s flashy, bloody combat and a new trailer that gave a glimpse into the game’s story. You play a super soldier known simply as ‘106’ who escapes from a research facility belonging to the shady Horizon Corporation. Rescued by a paramilitary group intent on overthrowing Horizon, you are sent back to exact revenge on those who imprisoned you.
All of this serves as a loose framework for fun, over-the-top action. Like the game it’s based on, Trepang2 adds a plethora of effects to its shooters. Encounters fill the air with sparks and debris, and the game’s liberal Bullet Time feature lets you see the shockwave as the explosion ripples through the environment.
It looks great. Combat also adds some extras to the first-person “gun-fu” introduced in the Monolith shooter. These include the ability to dual wield weapons and use enemies as human shields. I especially like how he throws grabbed enemies, staggers other enemies, and shoots grenades at belts to detonate them.
However, the most important factor in recreating FEAR’s FPS experience is the enemy AI. FEAR’s weaponized clones continue to be some of the most insidious enemies I’ve ever encountered in a shooter, and all of Trepang2’s fancy effects make soldiers stupid as rocks. The enemy’s extensive radio chatter heard in the trailer is a promising sign that Trepang 2’s opponents are equally capable of communication. But whether or not they try to pass you is another matter.
Trepang2 won’t be released for a few more months, but if you’d like to try Trepang2 for yourself, there’s a Steam demo available. here (opens in new tab).