Root is a stealth based first-person shooter that is set within the confines of a virtual computer world. Think classic 90s FPS crossed with Tron, with a touch of Splinter Cell thrown in and a tech based story that is still better than anything CSI Cyber gives us. While ROOT doesn’t break the mold in any of those areas, it does offer up a good deal of fun that mixes up the bog standard FPS genre. Deep Fried Enterprises has created a slick indie game that while short, offers up a fair bit of replayability thanks to how the game is built.
Root bills itself as a cyber espionage themed stealth FPS (that’s a mouthful) that lets you play how you want. This is pretty accurate as the game is very open in nature. The game presents a number of levels in the vain of DOOM or Wolf 3D, which means the entire level is open to you right from the get go. This is a style of level design that FPS games of the modern age have eschewed in favor of linear paths and large set pieces. It’s pretty great to be able to do what I want, how I want, in an FPS game again. This design means that you are going to die, and die a lot. But instead of tired frustration because you are doing something wrong (as in modern shooters) with ROOT you just tell yourself to try it a different way.
Maybe this time I’ll tackle a different room first, or maybe I’ll use the air vents around the area, or maybe I’ll just get pissed off and go in guns blazing just for the hell of it. Each stage has an objective (to get to the end) but it’s how you get there where the fun comes in. ROOT let’s you play as you see fit, but it really wants you to take the stealth based approach in getting things done.
The stealth is what ultimately hurts the game, although not enough to not make it fun. The stealth mechanics are extremely basic and at times clunky in nature. You can either run and make all sorts of noise, or you can walk around quietly and stalk your foes. There really isn’t a middle ground and as this is an FPS, you are pretty limited in how you deal with things. You can peak around corners and make some noise to get the attention of guards, and that’s about it. It really does feel like a 90s based shooter, only without the epic gun fights.
You have a number of weapons at your disposal in the game, but your trusty blackjack will usually be your go to weapon. Sneaking up on an enemy allows you to knock them out, but they will get up again in time, much in the way they did in Thief (the classic game, not the crappy remake). You also can tap their shoulder to surprise them, but other than for an achievement, it’s just really there for fun. You get a pistol, and later snag a shotgun, but using these is going to make the game really difficult.
Guards are either razor sharp, or dumb as bricks, with little in between. Shooting one will alert those in nearby areas, and if one catches you in their line of sight, something that happens a lot, their friends will also usually drop in. The problem with this is that guards are pretty powerful and when one sees you and a shootout ensues, you can expect to lose upwards of half of your non-regenerating life. ROOT gives you these shooting options, but they are really a last resort, and the game may have been better without them swapping them out for more tech/stealth based weaponry. Still, one thing that does work pretty well is the sound design within the game. It’s not going to blow you away, as it’s pretty subtle for the most part, but there are certain times when techno tracks really kick in to liven things up.
ROOT runs the risk of becoming stale as every guard you are going to face will be taken out in the same way. Line yourself up behind them and whop them on the back of the neck. It isn’t a deep mechanic, but then again the game isn’t all that long. This length helps keep the game from getting monotonous, and having the chance to replay stages in different ways can be a lot of fun for many. If I could change/add one thing it would be a level editor so I can create and share small stages with others on Steam, or maybe having the game randomly generate stages.
ROOT is going to cost you less that $10, and for that price what you get is a great deal of fun. You have to remember that this is an small indie game being sold for a small price, and for that.,mixed with an intriguing concept and style I can recommend ROOT for those looking for something a little different.
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