So, there I was, stumbling around Summer Games Fest, when I bumped into this game called Spine. Honestly, it screams late ’90s arcade vibes in the best way. Picture those chunky controllers you just had to grab to see what chaos you could cause. It’s still pretty early in development, but trust me, there’s something about it that just hooked me. It’s like watching a rough diamond shine, you know?
Visually, it’s like someone dumped Blade Runner into a blender. Neon lights, dark alleys, the whole cyberpunk shebang. You play as Redline, this street artist who’s in a world of trouble. Accused of something she didn’t do, next thing she knows, she’s knee-deep in thugs at this dingy bar. She’s punching, shooting, and honestly, just wrecking house. Maybe it’s because she’s got a lot on her plate or maybe she just likes a good brawl. Who knows?
Now, if you’ve played Sifu—and if you haven’t, why not?—you’ll see some similar moves: quick jabs, parries, and all those cool finishers. But the devs? They want you to think more Batman, like from Rocksteady’s games. Reading tells and that whole jazz. I guess they’re going for a vibe, you know?
And man, those finishers… they’re wild. Watching Redline shove a gun right between someone’s teeth or doing this wild spin that’d make John Wick jealous? The camera work is all dramatic, twisting around to get you the best view. Not something for your squeamish cousin, that’s for sure.
Even dodging stuff is satisfying, like when some goon decides to throw something or shoot, and Redline just leans or turns like she’s done it a million times. Effortless cool right there.
Once in a while, she picks up something like a shotgun, and it’s like stepping into Hotline Miami. One shot, one takedown. And sometimes, the game even zooms out like it’s trying to pull a fast one on you. Intentional? Maybe. Or maybe someone’s just having fun behind the scenes.
There’s this unmistakable Sega Genesis aura around Spine that’s hard to pin down. It’s like a glimpse into an alternate ’90s where beat-’em-ups ruled the world. Not sure where exactly in the gaming hall of fame it’s gonna land, but count me in—I’ll be watching as it finds its place.
