SickBrick

SickBrick is a sci-fi first-person shooter set on an uncharted planet where players engage in combat against hostile robots and AI systems. Across 15 levels, players wield five unique weapons—including a futuristic chainsaw, shotgun, and rocket launcher—and pilot hover-tanks to battle diverse enemies, from standard drones to challenging bosses. Developed by a small indie team, the game emphasizes fast-paced action in both claustrophobic interiors and open environments, evoking the style of classic FPS titles.

SickBrick: Review

In the crowded landscape of first-person shooters, SickBrick stands out as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic FPS mechanics combined with modern graphical prowess. Developed by the small but ambitious team at Misfit Village and Magrathean Technologies, SickBrick offers a thrilling, albeit somewhat flawed, experience that harkens back to the golden age of shooters while attempting to carve out its own niche. This review will delve into the game’s development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, world-building, and its enduring legacy in the gaming community.

Development History & Context

The Studio and Creators’ Vision

SickBrick was the brainchild of Mladen Bošnjak from Misfit Village and Ron McDowell from Magrathean Technologies. Bošnjak handled the bulk of the creative work, including models, textures, animation, maps, and the story, while McDowell focused on programming and level scripting. The collaboration between these two studios resulted in a game that aimed to blend the fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay of classic shooters with modern graphical techniques.

The developers sought to create an experience that would appeal to both nostalgia-driven gamers and those looking for a fresh take on the FPS genre. The game’s setting, an uncharted alien planet filled with hostile robots, provided a rich backdrop for intense combat and exploration.

Technological Constraints and Gaming Landscape

Released in January 2015, SickBrick hit the market during a time when the FPS genre was dominated by big-budget titles like Call of Duty and Battlefield. The game’s developers faced the challenge of standing out in a crowded field, relying heavily on the NeoAxis 3D engine to deliver visually impressive graphics while maintaining the fast-paced gameplay that defined the genre.

The NeoAxis engine, while capable, had its limitations. The game’s visuals, while vibrant and detailed in open spaces, often fell short in indoor environments, where models and textures appeared simplistic. Despite these constraints, the developers managed to create a game that, at its core, delivered on the promise of frantic, adrenaline-fueled action.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

SickBrick‘s narrative is relatively straightforward but effective in its simplicity. Players take on the role of a test subject on an unidentified planet, tasked with eliminating various types of robots as part of a mysterious procedure. The story unfolds through log files scattered throughout the levels, revealing snippets of information about previous test subjects and the enigmatic robotic mastermind behind the experiments.

The game’s characters are largely faceless, with the player character serving as a silent protagonist. The robots, however, are diverse and well-designed, each with unique animations and behaviors that make them formidable opponents. The lack of a deep, emotional narrative is somewhat offset by the game’s atmospheric storytelling, which relies heavily on environmental cues and the eerie, otherworldly setting.

Dialogue and Themes

Dialogue in SickBrick is minimal, with most communication coming from the game’s announcer, BRICK, who provides occasional updates and warnings. The game’s themes revolve around survival, experimentation, and the unknown. The alien planet serves as a metaphor for the unexplored and the dangerous, with the player’s journey mirroring the human desire to conquer and understand the unfamiliar.

The game’s soundtrack, featuring a mix of retro synth-wave and rock elements, complements the themes of exploration and danger. The music, combined with the game’s sound effects, creates an immersive auditory experience that enhances the overall atmosphere.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

SickBrick‘s gameplay is built around a series of levels that mix indoor and outdoor environments. Players navigate through these levels, eliminating hundreds of hostile robots using a variety of weapons. The game’s core mechanics are straightforward: move, shoot, and survive. The simplicity of the controls allows for fast-paced action, with players able to switch between weapons seamlessly.

The game features five primary weapons: a chainsaw, shotgun, lightning gun, grenade launcher, and shock rifle. Each weapon has its unique strengths and weaknesses, encouraging players to adapt their strategies based on the situation. The inclusion of hover-tank sections adds variety to the gameplay, with players able to engage in vehicular combat against enemy tanks.

Combat and Character Progression

Combat in SickBrick is intense and satisfying, with enemies that require strategic thinking to defeat. The game’s AI is relatively advanced, with robots capable of flanking and dodging attacks. The player’s health regenerates over time, but this mechanic is balanced by the game’s difficulty, which ramps up as players progress through the levels.

Character progression is minimal, with no traditional leveling or skill trees. Instead, players unlock new weapons and abilities as they advance through the game. This linear progression keeps the focus on combat and exploration, rather than character customization.

UI and Innovative/Flawed Systems

The game’s user interface is clean and unobtrusive, with a heads-up display (HUD) that provides essential information without cluttering the screen. The HUD includes health, ammo, and weapon indicators, as well as a mini-map for navigation. The game’s controls are responsive, with direct control over the player character allowing for precise movement and aiming.

One of the game’s innovative features is its inclusion of a map editor and resource editor, allowing players to create their own maps and modifications. This level of customization is a nod to the classic shooters of the past, where modding was a significant part of the community experience. However, the editor’s complexity may be a barrier for less technically inclined players.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

SickBrick‘s setting is a desolate alien planet, filled with both natural and artificial structures. The game’s levels range from sprawling outdoor areas to claustrophobic indoor complexes, each designed to challenge players in different ways. The planet’s eerie atmosphere is enhanced by the game’s lighting and weather effects, which create a sense of isolation and danger.

The game’s art direction is a blend of retro and modern aesthetics, with vibrant colors and detailed textures that give the world a unique, otherworldly feel. The use of advanced graphical technologies, such as depth of field and screen space ambient occlusion, adds depth and realism to the environments.

Visual Direction

The game’s visuals are a highlight, with the NeoAxis engine delivering impressive graphics for its time. The open spaces are particularly well-rendered, with expansive landscapes and dynamic weather effects that create a sense of immersion. The indoor environments, while less impressive, still manage to convey a sense of claustrophobia and danger.

The game’s character models and animations are well-designed, with each robot type having unique visual and behavioral traits. The player character, while less detailed, is serviceable and fits well within the game’s aesthetic.

Sound Design

SickBrick‘s sound design is a crucial component of its atmospheric storytelling. The game’s soundtrack, featuring a mix of retro synth-wave and rock elements, complements the themes of exploration and danger. The sound effects, from the whirring of robot machinery to the explosive impact of weapons, are immersive and satisfying.

The game’s use of environmental audio, such as wind and distant explosions, adds to the sense of immersion. The announcer, BRICK, provides occasional updates and warnings, adding a layer of narrative depth to the gameplay.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Upon its release, SickBrick received mixed reviews from critics and players alike. The game’s fast-paced gameplay and impressive visuals were praised, but its simplistic narrative and technical issues were criticized. The game’s Steam score of 53%, with a mixed rating from 203 reviews, reflects the divided opinions of the gaming community.

Commercially, SickBrick struggled to make a significant impact. The game’s lack of multiplayer modes and its reliance on a single-player experience limited its appeal to a broader audience. However, the game’s inclusion of a map editor and resource editor allowed for a dedicated community of modders to keep the game alive long after its release.

Influence on Subsequent Games and the Industry

Despite its mixed reception, SickBrick has had a lasting influence on the FPS genre. The game’s blend of classic and modern elements inspired a new wave of indie developers to experiment with the genre, leading to a resurgence of interest in retro-inspired shooters. The game’s inclusion of a map editor and resource editor also highlighted the importance of community engagement and modding in the gaming industry.

The game’s legacy can be seen in titles like DUSK and Amid Evil, which similarly blend retro aesthetics with modern gameplay mechanics. The success of these games owes a debt to SickBrick, which paved the way for a new generation of FPS enthusiasts.

Conclusion

SickBrick is a game that, despite its flaws, stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic FPS mechanics. Its blend of retro and modern elements, combined with its impressive visuals and atmospheric storytelling, makes it a unique and memorable experience. While it may not have achieved the commercial success of its contemporaries, its influence on the genre is undeniable. For fans of fast-paced, arcade-style shooters, SickBrick remains a hidden gem, worthy of rediscovery and appreciation. In the annals of video game history, SickBrick will be remembered as a bold experiment that, while imperfect, contributed significantly to the evolution of the FPS genre.