Re.Surs is a futuristic 2D side-scrolling shooter from VidyGames, following a detective through the neon dystopia of Modern City. The resar substance sits at the heart of the fiction, functioning as both a drug and a technology.
Three playable characters can be switched mid-battle, each with distinct stats and gadgets such as shields, beacons and grappling hooks. The switching doubles as a health strategy, letting a low fighter swap out for a fresh one.
The twin-stick shooting centres on an overheat meter, with every weapon demanding constant juggling between types during fights. The weapon roster is pleasingly varied, with the pulse rifle, shotgun and resar beam the standouts of the bunch.
The ultimate ability rewards careful timing, with energy building faster as more enemies close in and invincibility wiping the field. Generous health pickups and a full heal on death keep the run flowing through the increasingly chaotic horde fights.
The combat takes a while to settle, with the odd control scheme and symbol-based prompts causing repeated early fumbles. The pyramid section leans heavily on trial and error, which sits poorly against the rest of the design.
The soundtrack is a genuine highlight, with tracks that recall the synth pulse of Hotline Miami in a small way. The story’s mystery around what resar actually is, and the creepy faceless antagonist, keep the campaign engaging throughout.
Overall, the weapon variety and the character switching make this a satisfying run and gun with a proper sense of escalation. The awkward early combat and the constant overheat juggling are the main hurdles, but the game settles into its groove.