Prodeus

Developer: Bounding Box Software Inc. | Publisher: Humble Games | Release Date: 2022 | Genre: Action / First Person Shooter / Indie | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

The retro first-person shooter has made quite the comeback in recent years, with titles such as Dusk, Amid Evil, Ion Fury, and Wrath: Aeon of Ruin proving that there is still plenty of life left in the genre. Prodeus by Bounding Box Software is another title that proudly wears its old-school inspirations on its blood-soaked sleeve. However, instead of simply trying to look like something from the nineties, Prodeus combines retro-style shooting with modern rendering, lighting, particle effects, and enough gore to paint every level red several times over.

Players take on the role of what appears to be some type of human cyborg caught in the middle of a war between the forces of Chaos and Prodeus. The story is kept deliberately vague, and most of what players learn comes from short text briefings before each level. These are enough to provide a little context for the carnage that follows, but anyone expecting a deep or memorable narrative will be disappointed. Thankfully, Prodeus is not a game that needs a complicated plot. Like the classics that inspired it, this is a game about running fast, shooting everything that moves, and hunting for secrets before heading to the exit.

The campaign is hand-crafted and accessed through a simple overworld map. This map allows players to travel between levels, replay completed stages, visit shops, and take on weapon trials. The levels themselves will feel immediately familiar to anyone who spent time with the original Doom. There are colored keys to find, doors to unlock, secrets tucked away behind suspicious walls, and rooms that suddenly trap players with a horde of monsters until everything is dead. It is a formula that has been around for decades, but Prodeus executes it with enough energy and polish that it rarely feels stale.

One of the best things about Prodeus is the level design. Levels are large enough to encourage exploration without becoming confusing, and the automap is very useful for keeping track of where players have already been. Most stages also contain secrets, hidden Ore Fragments, and optional areas that reward observant players. Often, these Ore Fragments can be seen from a distance, but figuring out how to reach them is another matter entirely. This gives the exploration a satisfying puzzle-like quality without slowing the pace too much.

Ore Fragments can be spent in shops on new weapons and upgrades, including useful movement abilities. These include things like a dash and double jump, which open up more traversal options. However, players do not need to purchase everything to complete the campaign. In fact, anyone who only wants to blast their way through the levels can do so without worrying too much about finding every last secret. Completionists, on the other hand, will have plenty to keep them busy.

Prodeus also features weapon trials, which challenge players to complete short target-shooting stages with specific weapons. These are a neat diversion and provide another way to earn Ore Fragments. They are not the main attraction, but they fit nicely into the overall progression and give players an excuse to master the arsenal.

The weapons are exactly what fans of the genre would expect, but that is not a complaint. Players start with basic firearms before gaining access to shotguns, a minigun, rocket launcher, grenade launcher, energy weapons, and more. Most weapons also have a secondary fire mode, which makes them more versatile than their old-school counterparts. The shotguns feel satisfyingly powerful, the heavier weapons can tear through groups of enemies, and the explosive weapons are just as dangerous to the player as they are to anything standing nearby.

Combat is fast, messy, and extremely satisfying. Enemies burst apart under sustained fire, limbs fly, and blood splatters across floors, walls, ceilings, and just about every other surface. Better still, the blood remains, so by the end of a large fight the entire arena often looks like someone tried to repaint it using a shotgun. The dismemberment system adds a lot to the feel of the combat, and few things are as satisfying as reducing a room full of enemies to piles of gore.

The enemy roster consists of plenty of familiar archetypes. There are basic fodder enemies, shotgun-wielding threats, flying enemies, heavier foes, shielded enemies, cloaked enemies, and a few mini-bosses that later show up as regular opponents. Players will also have to dodge sniper fire and deal with enemies that can quickly punish careless movement. Much like Doom, the challenge comes from prioritizing threats, managing space, and keeping enough health and ammo pickups in reserve to survive the next ambush.

Unfortunately, the checkpoint system does take some of the bite out of the game. Instead of forcing players to restart levels from scratch, Prodeus uses checkpoints that are usually generous enough to remove much of the tension from dying. This makes the game more accessible, but it also means that some of the challenge associated with classic shooters is diminished. Players can still adjust the difficulty before starting a level, which helps, but the forgiving checkpoints make Prodeus feel a little less punishing than its inspirations.

Visually, Prodeus is a fantastic blend of old and new. The game uses modern 3D environments with dynamic lighting, particle effects, and high-resolution effects, but everything is filtered through a retro aesthetic. For players who want an even more old-school look, the game can convert enemy models into sprites, which gives the action a much more authentic nineties feel. It is a great option and one of the neatest ways the game bridges the gap between modern technology and retro presentation.

The environments also do a good job of evoking classic shooters without simply copying them. Industrial corridors, demonic structures, tech bases, lava-filled areas, and grotesque arenas all make an appearance. Anyone familiar with Doom will recognize many of the visual cues, but Prodeus still manages to look distinct thanks to its lighting, effects, and overwhelming amount of gore.

The soundtrack is another highlight. Prodeus features a dynamic metal soundtrack that shifts with the action, and it does a great job of pushing players forward. The music kicks in hard during firefights and settles down during exploration, which gives the game a great rhythm. The weapons also sound excellent, with enough punch and impact to make every shot feel meaningful.

Controls are responsive and fluid, which is essential for a game this fast. Players can jump, dash, spring across gaps, and eventually double jump through levels while dodging projectiles and enemy fire. Movement feels modern without losing the immediacy of classic shooters, and the gunplay remains satisfying from start to finish.

In addition to the campaign, Prodeus also includes cooperative and competitive multiplayer. The campaign can be played in four-player co-op, while competitive modes support up to sixteen players in Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and more. We focused primarily on the campaign, but the inclusion of these modes adds extra value for players who want to keep playing after the credits roll.

Replay value is also bolstered by leaderboards and scoring. Each level tracks performance based on factors such as completion time, kills, secrets, and other stats. This encourages players to replay stages for better results, especially if they missed hidden areas or want to improve their times. On top of this, Prodeus includes a fully integrated level editor and built-in community map browser, which is one of its strongest features. Players who enjoy custom content will find plenty of community-made maps to extend the experience far beyond the campaign.

Overall, Prodeus is a bloody love letter to classic first-person shooters. It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, and its vague story will be forgotten almost as quickly as the text briefings disappear from the screen. However, the shooting is so satisfying, the level design so strong, and the presentation so polished that these issues are easy to overlook. The checkpoint system makes the game less challenging than it could have been, but it also keeps the pace brisk and prevents frustration. Fans of Doom, Dusk, Amid Evil, and Bombshell should feel right at home.