Mars, we've all been there. At least within the setting of a video game. Technomancer by Spiders is an action RPG set years into the future where the planet is now colonised and a war rages for control over the planets scare water.Many different factions fight for domination and the more water you control the more powerful you will become.
You are Zachariah, a Technomancer who was created with cybernetic implants that allow you to control electricity. Your faction, Abundance harbour a secret police force called the ASC who blindly serve their faction no matter the cost. As you progress you find yourself conflicting with the ASC ideals and this leads to an escalating conflict.
You start in Ophir but you will span the globe in your quest and it's travelling between areas that the game's faults quickly become apparent. Loading screens are a constant annoyance. Nearly every mission or task has to be loaded and any immersion just disappears. The areas you visit are bland and lifeless. There is little to no detail in the enthronement and the whole game looks dull. The NPCS don't get much love either. They look like character models from ten years ago. They could be from any game because they lack any presence and personality. Nothing makes them stand out from any other game which is a shame considering the scope of the game.
With minimal effort given to the character models you might expect the same level of interaction with the game's NPCS. Thankfully that's not the case. There is a tonne of interaction going on which is great for a while until the cracks start to appear. The voice acting is just terrible. We're talking 1980’s House of the Dead levels of acting here and Zachariah is Technomancer’s worst offender. 
I liked the idea of changing how you play the game in real time by switching between three distinct play types. You can choose to play as a Rogue, Guardian or Warrior and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Each type allows you to use your electricity in different ways to attack your enemies but I really didn't notice any difference in the damage it dealt. There are a load of weapons for you to use and upgrade and this gives you a wealth or options during combat.
Unfortunately combat is where the game really falls apart. The combat is so bloody slow it feels as if your playing in quicksand. I was constantly missing my opponent's for reasons I can't explain and even using the lock on function was no help. Counter attacking is very hit and miss as well and I'm the end I just gave up trying. The entire combat system feels bogged down and cumbersome. Sadly the whole control system seems to suffer as a whole. Picking up loot or opening chests should just be as easy as walking over and pressing a button. But not here it's not. Technomancer makes you line up precisely before the Open prompt appears. This might seem like a minor complaint but when you have to walk up to and then away from a chest or body several times just to pick up loot it quickly becomes a major pain in the arse. Zachariah will not stop when you want him to either. He just continues to move for a few paces which is just sloppy.
Technomancer is a game that has bold ambitions but it's let down by too many technical flaws. I initially enjoyed my time with the game but as the technical flaws began rearing their ugly heads they slowly stripped away any enjoyment.
7.44 GB
28/06/2016
Spiders
Focus Home Interactive
Role Playing
Technoamcer is available now for £44.99
Review code supplied by Bastion