T.E.C. 3001
Gameplay 8
Graphics 8
Sound 8

T.E.C 3001 is a game where you learn the ropes within a few levels, but can spend hours perfecting the moves. The speed of the game is exhilarating and while there is some trial-and-error involved it is also very addictive. If you are looking for a game where you can just jump in and get the adrenaline flowing without bothering with storylines or cut-scenes then T.E.C 3001 is a great option especially for its price.

Gameplay: Fast paced and challenging runner that can become quite addictive.

Graphics: Simple, but visually striking without interfering with the gameplay.

Sound: Some fitting tracks and sound effects, but nothing really memorable

Summary 8.0 Great
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

T.E.C. 3001

Developer: Phoenix Game Studio | Publisher: BulkyPix | Release Date: 2014 | Genre: Action / Indie / Racing | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Thanks to an energy deficiency in the future, humanity sends a cutting-edge robot into virtual space to collect batteries. As the T.E.C 3001 which, incidentally stands for Tesla Energy Collector, it is your mission to collect energy leftovers in order to fix things. In case this sounds somewhat confusing, fear not as it basically means you have to run really fast through some virtual-reality style levels while collecting a certain amount of batteries before you reach the exit.

T.E.C 3001 was originally an iOS and Xbox 360 Indie title, but it has finally made its way to PC. Developed by a small team from Serbia, the game takes a very basic concept and adds a few twists along with plenty of speed to create an adrenaline pumping experience. In case you have never played these types of “Endless Runner” games, your character is constantly moving forward, usually at breakneck speeds and it is your job to steer him through the obstacle course that lies between you and the exit. In order to survive you will need to jump, double-jump, and slide as well as perform a speed boost, usually with a split second to decide which one is appropriate for the upcoming obstacle. There is a certain amount of trial-and-error involved as some obstacles are almost impossible to dodge unless you already know that they are coming. Thankfully levels are not too long and there is usually a generous assortment of check-points to ease the frustration.

The game has 41 campaign levels to test your reflexes and the challenge gradually increases to the point where you will be scared to blink in case you miss an obstacle and come to a crashing end. There is also an endless mode, which simply challenges you to run as far and as fast as you can before succumbing to the speed and obstructions. The split screen multi-player mode provides some local fun, but unfortunately you cannot challenge your friends online. In case all of this doesn’t sound like enough value for money, the game has recently been updated with 12 new Free Run bonus levels which you can access after completing the campaign. Considering the low price of the game this is actually quite a bit of content and kudos to Phoenix Game Studio for not inflating the price just because they added some Steam achievements and trading cards for the PC release.

T.E.C 3001 is definitely not a game for players with poor reflexes. As I’ve mentioned earlier, the game runs at breakneck speeds and you constantly have to make split second decisions to stay on the course. Your robot, which looks like a Terminator interestingly enough, has to run across narrow pathways suspended in the air so one wrong move will send it plummeting to its doom. Frequent gaps and branching pathways will also keep you on your toes and some levels pack some very interesting elements like requiring you to turn around run in the opposite direction when you reach the end of the level. The game can also be quite sadistic at times with paths that literally require you to jump off and back on when encountering obstacles that block your way completely. It is obviously quite challenging, but very rewarding when you get it right.

The visuals are fairly basic, but considering the speed at which the game runs this isn’t really an issue. Everything has that TRON meets the Matrix style glow going on and running through certain gates changes the color scheme of the level which is a cool touch. The music is quite fitting with some suitably electronic sounding songs, but nothing that I would call particularly memorable. As the game has a few more moves to master than your typical Endless Runner the controls do take a while before they feel intuitive. The play style also switches around between levels at times so on one level you might be able to freely move around the track while on the next you only have to maneuver between three set lanes. There are even levels that play out like a rhythm-action title and require you to press the right button when over certain floor tiles in order to increase your speed and reach the exit in time. Eventually you will encounter floor tiles that fling you into the air or sections where you have to glide so there is always something new happening to keep you things from becoming stale.

T.E.C 3001 is a challenging and addictive game with a price low enough to make it an impulse buy. There is unfortunately no level editor or workshop support to extend the longevity of the game as the developers simply didn’t have the funds to include these features. This is really one of those games that can easily hook you and keep you busy for much longer than what you anticipated. If you enjoy games like Race The Sun and Avoid – Sensory Overload you really should check out T.E.C 3001.

*Review originally published April 2014.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows XP
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz Dual Core Processor
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Integrated Graphics (256MB)
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • OS: Windows 7 / Windows 8
  • Processor: 3.0GHz i5 Dual Core or equivalent
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Radeon HD 3600 (1GB)
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Hard Drive: 1 GB available space
  • OS: OS X Mountain Lion
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz Dual Core Processor
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Integrated Graphics (256MB)
  • OS: OS X Mavericks
  • Processor: 3.0GHz i5 Dual Core or equivalent
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Radeon HD 3600 (1GB)

Related posts

Arcade Spirits

Arcade Spirits

Arcade Spirits is a visual novel that is packed with romance, great writing and plenty of nostalgia for anyone who grew up practically living in arcades during the eighties. It features a diverse cast of characters that are all interesting enough that you want to spend more time getting to know them. The story is perhaps not the most original, but it still managed to draw us in and keep us interested right to the very end. It is also one of the most inclusive visual novels that we have played, but nothing about it feels forced or tacked on, which is even better. If you love visual novels and want something a little different from the usual fare, then Arcade Spirits is highly recommended. Gameplay: Plenty of choices that actually matter and a very engaging storyline to keep you hooked. Graphics: Bright and colorful with plenty of backdrops and great character designs. Sound: The synthwave soundtrack is great and the voice acting even better.

Aliens vs. Predator™

Aliens vs. Predator™

An atmospheric human campaign, frantic wall and ceiling crawling Alien campaign and stealthy Predator campaign all combine for an entertaining package. I would have loved to see more variety in the locations but the game was fun to play despite its flaws. Definitely worth it if you spot it at a bargain price. Gameplay: Standard FPS fare as the marine but the Alien and Predator campaigns offer something new. Graphics: Nice graphics and great animations. Sound: Lance Henrikson does a great job but the rest of the voice overs are so so.

Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas

Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas

Oceanhorn impresses with its charming visuals and addictive gameplay while drawing a lot of inspiration from the Legend of Zelda franchise. It doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the Zelda games, but it comes very close which is quite impressive. Even more impressive is the fact that it was originally a mobile title and the developers actually put in a lot of effort to polish it up for PC. Thanks to its length, charm and polish we can definitely recommend Oceanhorn to all fans of the genre. Gameplay: More than a little familiar if you’ve played any of the Zelda titles, but still a lot of fun. Graphics: Bright, colorful and detailed. Sound: Decent voice acting and a great soundtrack.

A Hat in Time

A Hat in Time

Help Hat Girl retrieve the time pieces that fuel her spaceship in this colorful and charming 3D platformer. It is definitely a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre and offers a rip-roaring adventure across large, colorful levels. The hat swapping antics and the way in which the game constantly switches things up certainly makes for an engrossing experience. It is not without its flaws and could have benefited from a bit more polish, but what is on offer should definitely not be missed if you have fond memories of classic 3D platformers. Gameplay: Solid 3D platforming action and plenty of variety. Graphics: Bright, colorful and more than delivers on its promise of being “cute-as-heck.” Sound: The soundtrack is great and the game even features some nice voice acting.

Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa

Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa

Uncover the mysteries of Fujisawa Academy by using your special powers to reveal their secrets in this first development project from PQube. The game is a lot of fun and offers a nice mixture of visual novel, match-3 mini-games and even a sprinkling of ecchi content. The story is gripping from the get go and to uncover all of the secrets you are going to have to pay attention and make the right choices or else you might find yourself back at square one. Although it can become a little repetitive and it is a little too easy to miss some vital story branches, the game is a lot of fun and well worth the effort. Gameplay: The story is interesting and your choices have a big impact on how things play out. Graphics: Great character designs and some nice Cgs. Sound: Full Japanese voice acting for all the characters.

Toast Time

Toast Time

It would be easy to dismiss Toast Time based on its simple visuals, but doing so would rob you of quite an addictive and challenging experience. Using a toaster to battle interdimensional enemies intent on destroying your alarm clock is just as goofy as it sounds, but this doesn't stop the game from being a lot of fun. Gameplay: Toast Time captures the "just one more go" spirit of the simple arcade games from yesteryear. Graphics: The visuals are very simple but quite charming, especially with all the ways to customize TERRY. Sound: The audio is great, and each level has its own catchy tune.

Leave a comment

four + eighteen =