Game Review: PowerSlave Exhumed (Xbox Series X)

The best FPS game you never played, with zero hyperbole, Powerslave Exhumed is a phenomenal game that puts most other remasters to shame, but that’s Nightdive Studios for you. A studio who treats each remaster with so much love and care, for the most part. They’ve given us remasters of forgotten classics like of Turok 1, 2, and 3, the first 2 Quake games, Blade Runner, Doom 64, The Thing, System Shock 1 and 2, Killing Time, Forsaken, Shadowman and many more.

Yet, they’ve hit a high with Powerslave Exhumed that, if there’s any justice, should see the game reach a whole new audience.

Coming from Lobotomy Software, known as Powerslave in North America and Exhumed in Europe, the game was released in 1996/1997 (depending on territory). It would end up on PC, the Sony PlayStation, and the Sega Saturn. Each release was different in certain ways, but it’s the PlayStation and Saturn releases that are particularly important here. Two versions that had their pros and cons, and in an inspired move, Nightdive Studios has taken both games and smashed them together to give us one complete game that uses the best of both. It’s very ambitious, but goodness, do they nail it.

It’s a blast to play, offering fun gameplay with intricate layers of exploration and fresh ways to approach levels and combat. Alongside that, it has a story that is so silly, it could be a Serious Sam story. It has very creative level designs, gorgeous retro graphics, unique weapons, varied enemies, tons of challenges to get the most out of the game, and so much more.

Set in the late 20th century, players take on the role of a nameless solider whose helicopter is shot down while on route to the ancient Egyptian city of Karnak, which is under attack from alien forces known as the Kilmaat. What do they want? They are going to resurrect King Ramses and use his power to take over the world. They have his mummified body, and it’s up to the player to get it back, all under the tutelage of King Ramses’ spirit.

See? Silly, but fun, and both endings (good and bad) add the cherry on top in their own way.

Gameplay is made up of first person shooting, of course, but what makes Powerslave Exhumed special, is that it has ‘Metroidvania’ elements too. As new weapons and ancient artifacts are found, new abilities are unlocked, which allows players to go back to previous levels and reach new areas. It’s a simplified version of this kind of gameplay, but it makes it so much more than just another Doom clone. Especially as it’s not quite as action packed as that, and other iconic FPS games are.

Don’t be fooled into thinking combat isn’t fun though, or wild, because it is. The variety in enemies and their attacks, coupled with the fluidity of the controls and environments makes for some thrilling battles, especially when it comes to bosses (even if the final one is a bit too easy). Up the difficulty to ‘hard’ or ‘pharaoh’ and suddenly, it’s a whole new game as far as combat goes.

It is one of many parts that Nightdive Studios has improved upon, and every aspect of the game has been treated with such respect. The level of detail in this game, all the subtle improvements, the custom options, features that seem pointless at first, but add so much, hell, even the achievement/trophy list is inspired, this is the new bar setter for remasters.

You may never have played Powerslave / Exhumed back in the day, but there’s no excuse now. It’s one of the best FPS games ever made, and this remaster showcases that, and so much more, in all its vibrant glory.