PowerSlave Exhumed

Fun, nostalgic Egyptian-themed shooter proves timeless.
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PowerSlave Exhumed
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that PowerSlave Exhumed is a downloadable single-player first-person shooter available for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This game is a modern-day update to the original PowerSlave, which released in the mid-'90s in the era of the first PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Players will take on the role of the nameless protagonist, who must stop the invading Kilmaat, a race of alien insects, from wiping out humanity. The game takes place in 20th century Egypt, where players slice and shoot their way through vicious bugs, magical mummies, and Anubis soldiers. Guns, grenades, flamethrowers, and even a magical staff that shoots snake-shaped energy blasts will be acquired to fend off the alien horde, leading to many instances of violence. While the violence is nowhere near as bloody or gory as in modern games, there's plenty of blood that will be shed, as well as enemies being blown to pieces by using certain weapons. Difficulty-wise, the game can punish you if you play recklessly, but in the process, you learn how to beat certain enemies or navigate obstacles without taking any damage. Perseverance is key, and the game constantly rewards your ability to learn from your mistakes.
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What’s It About?
In POWERSLAVE EXHUMED, the Egyptian city of Karnak is overrun by an alien insect race known as the Kilmaat. The creatures take many innocent lives, and despite the leaders of the world sending their best operatives to stop the horde, the Kilmaat reign supreme. They even unearth the great King Ramses and his mummified remains, siphoning his power to add to their own. Finally, you, one of the Earth's last remaining options, go to Karnak with your weapons at the ready, determined to put an end to the Kilmaat once and for all. With the spirit of King Ramses as your guide, you will travel across Egypt in search of the artifacts needed to finally give Earth an opportunity to fight back and recover King Ramses from the Kilmaat before they resurrect him fully and use him to complete their domination of planet Earth. Only one question remains: Are you the savior the world has been waiting for?
Is It Any Good?
This is one of the most delightful blasts from the past you'll experience, as much of a nostalgia trip to a different era of gaming as it is an excellent first-person shooter. PowerSlave Exhumed takes inspiration from the original Doom, but it has an identity all its own. Its visuals are cleaner and sharper than ever before, with an addictive soundtrack that will have you nodding along as you take out foes in your way. Over time, you'll fill out your arsenal of weapons, each with a different function. Grenades, for example, can be thrown at cracked walls and floors to access new areas and uncover secrets. You'll also obtain abilities that will make navigating the world easier, such as a higher jump, the ability to breathe underwater for longer periods of time, or even levitation, all of which encourage exploration for hidden items and upgrades. The game encourages you to keep searching and fighting enemies in strategic ways, keeping you on your toes wile also keeping combat fresh. After all, outside of your trusty knife, every other weapon has a limited amount of "energy" to burn through. If you go in guns blazing, you risk depleting your energy reserves -- and there's rarely a time when your knife will save you from a real disaster.
But PowerSlave Exhumed isn't perfect. The maps are simple white lines taking over the in-game screen, which can be confusing. Also, when you get the choice to explore multiple areas, King Ramses can be vague when directing your next steps. Mainly, if you're not taking note of inaccessible areas to return to, you might find yourself lost for a small stretch of time. Additionally, if you aren't using your weapons wisely, you'll restart areas multiple times, hoping to get lucky when enemies drop random health or energy boosts. But those small hiccups don't take away from the phenomenal experience of a masterful upgrade to an older game. If you're looking for nonstop fun and a spirited challenge, you can't do much better than PowerSlave Exhumed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about nostalgia and the pros and cons of enhancing and updating a game (or other property) from the past. Can such efforts with games like PowerSlave Exhumed lessen the gap between a younger generation and an older one? Are remakes and remasters even necessary when it's possible to experience the original product? Why, or why not?
Is it good for games to take inspiration from each other, as PowerSlave Exhumed does from the original Doom? Where do you draw the line between "inspiration" and "rip-off"? What if an inspired product ends up being better than the original? If an idea or concept motivates you to do something similar -- with a different vision -- what are some ways you can create your own product while being respectful of whatever influenced it?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Nightdive Studios
- Release date: February 10, 2022
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Topics: Adventures, Bugs, History, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: T for Blood, Violence
- Last updated: February 22, 2022
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