DEAD RECALL is a 2D side-scrolling survival action shooter roguelite for PC that places players in control of an armored vehicle during a modern conflict overtaken by biological organisms called the Aberrants. The experience centers on direct manual aiming and firing of a mounted machine gun while navigating vertical and horizontal movement to counter threats from multiple directions. Combat demands constant player input for every shot, with no automated systems handling attacks.
Gameplay
Players aim the machine gun using the mouse and decide the exact timing and direction of fire. The vehicle supports movement, hovering, and rapid descent to reposition against advancing enemies on the ground and in the air. Biomass collected from defeated Aberrants fuels upgrades through Neural Branches. These choices combine ammunition traits such as homing rounds, armor-piercing rounds, grenades, and ricochets with vehicle modifications including the Arm, Slaughter Bumper, and Strong Acid Tank. Each selection alters area control, close-range damage output, and overall survivability during runs.
Enemy encounters feature ordinary Aberrants alongside Abnormal Specimens formed from failed fusions of multiple organisms and stronger Neural Relay Organisms. Pressure builds as players progress through three distinct sectors within a stage, with enemy variety and intensity increasing. The roguelite structure encourages repeated attempts to refine builds and reach the stage-clear objective.
Game Modes
The core experience follows a single-player progression loop across sectors in each stage. Runs involve harvesting biomass, selecting upgrades, and surviving escalating biological threats until the objective is met. The planned demo covers the opening cinematic plus the full first stage, including all three sectors, the complete build system, Abnormal Specimens, Neural Relay Organisms, and the stage-clear goal. No separate multiplayer or alternative modes appear in the current plans.
Story and Exploration
Scattered Aberrant Investigation Records and dated documents provide fragments of the world's history. Collecting these items at their marked discovery locations allows players to reconstruct events leading to the current conflict and the origin of the consuming weapon. This element integrates into the main runs without interrupting the action focus.
Planned Content and Current State
The full version is planned to include eight vehicles, each with unique handling and combat traits, alongside eight stages. Every stage will introduce a distinct battlefield theme and its own set of Aberrants, expanding options for builds and combat approaches. The demo version already delivers the first stage in full, giving a complete taste of the progression, enemy types, and upgrade systems.
Is It Worth Playing?
DEAD RECALL suits players who enjoy roguelite runs built around precise manual aiming, vehicle repositioning, and iterative build crafting in a side-scrolling format. The emphasis on player-controlled firing and biomass-driven upgrades creates a focused loop of survival and experimentation against escalating threats. Those drawn to indie action shooters with biological enemy variety and light narrative reconstruction through collectibles will find the demo stage a solid entry point. The planned expansion to multiple vehicles and stages suggests growing depth for repeat play once the full version arrives.
