ReCore
A third-person platformer blending action RPG and Metroidvania progression.
ReCore is a 2016 action-adventure and platform game made by Armature Studio and Comcept, with Microsoft Studios handling publishing. The story centers on Joule Adams, an early volunteer for the planned colony on Far Eden. She awakens from cryo-sleep centuries later to discover that the mission has gone wrong. Accompanied by three robotic companions called corebots, she explores Far Eden to learn what happened.
The game world is open, encouraging exploration and resource gathering. Joule’s weapons come in three colors—red, blue, and yellow—each effective against enemies of the same color. Both her weapons and her corebots can be upgraded. The corebots help in fights and with puzzles. The camera is third-person, and the design includes action role-playing and Metroidvania-style progression and systems.
Development started in early 2014. The director was Mark Pacini, known for the Metroid Prime trilogy; the writer was Joseph Staten; and Keiji Inafune provided the concept. The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, and Metroid series were major inspirations. Armature Studio handled most of the development, while Comcept focused on story and world-building. Asobo Studio also helped both teams. The game launched for Windows and Xbox One worldwide in September 2016, becoming the first title in the Xbox Play Anywhere program.
Critics gave ReCore mixed reviews. They praised its blend of genres, visuals, atmosphere, characters, audio, platforming, and controls. Opinions were split on the story, loot system, open world, mission design, and combat. Many noted technical problems at launch, especially long and failed loading screens, which Microsoft later fixed with patches. A Definitive Edition, made by Armature and published by Microsoft, came out as a free update on August 29, 2017. This version was better received due to technical fixes, faster loading, gameplay changes, and extra content.
**Gameplay**
ReCore is an action-adventure platformer with a third-person view. Joule has three corebot companions that assist in combat and puzzles. Players can improve these bots by finding blueprints and materials, boosting their attack and defense. Cores can be swapped between bots to change their abilities, and their frames can be rearranged. Joule can level up her weapons and health. Her ranged weapons use three ammo types—red, blue, yellow—each effective against matching enemies.
Quick Facts
- Title
- ReCore
- Developer
- Armature Studio · ComceptAdditional work by Asobo Studio. Definitive Edition developed by Armature Studio.
- Publisher
- Microsoft Studios
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Windows · Xbox One
- Released
- NA · September 13, 2016 · AUS · September 13, 2016 · JP · September 15, 2016 · EU · September 16, 2016 Definitive Edition WW · August 29, 2017
- Genre
- Action-adventure, platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Director
- Mark Pacini
- Producer
- Keiji Inafune · Fannie Gunton
- Designer
- Eric Weiss · Berenger Fish · Masahiro Yasuma
- Programmer
- Jack Mathews
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
ReCore is set roughly 200 years in the future. In the early 2020s, a disease called the Dust Devil Plague ravaged Earth. An organization named Mandate launched missions to the planet Far Eden, discovered many light-years away in the first decades of the 21st century. Thousands of corebots were sent to build atmospheric processing facilities, and the first colonists were sent to hibernate in cryo-sleep for 200 years while terraforming finished. During this period, many colonists vanished and the corebots became corrupted. The game begins as Joule Adams and her corebot Mack walk past the wreckage of her cryo-sleep crawler. They obtain a power core to bring the crawler back online, then reactivate a terraforming pylon that had been offline for ninety-six years. Joule receives a distress signal, obtains a prismatic core, and encounters enemy corebots led by Victor. She meets amputee Kai Brehn and his corebot Seth, and later discovers that Victor manipulated corebots to attack maintenance habitats. Joule eventually activates the terraforming system, materializing a hologram of her father from memories hidden in the cores.
Reader's Guide
ReCore received polarized reviews from critics, who commended its innovative genre-combined concept and praised its visuals, atmospheric setting, characterization, audio design, platforming and controls. Its narrative, looting mechanics, open-world, mission design and combat received more divided opinions. Several critics noted technical issues regarding lengthy and unsuccessful loading screens at launch, prompting Microsoft to release several patches. A Definitive Edition version developed by Armature Studio and published by Microsoft Studios was released as a free downloadable update on August 29, 2017. This version was met with generally positive reception due to technical fixes, improved loading times, changes to gameplay and additional content. The game was directed by Mark Pacini of the Metroid Prime trilogy, written by Joseph Staten, and conceptualized by Keiji Inafune. The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man and Metroid series were significant influences. Development began in early 2014 and took 14 months to go into full production, with Armature Studio handling technical assets and Comcept maintaining the base philosophy of the world, characters and story. Asobo Studio assisted in creating the game's world and enemies.
Did You Know?
- ReCore was the first title released under Microsoft's Xbox Play Anywhere program.
- The game's corebots speak a language called DigiMode, which players can translate.
- The game was directed by Mark Pacini, who previously directed the Metroid Prime trilogy.
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