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Time Recoil

Time Recoil

10tons Ltd · released Aug 10, 2017

ActionAdventureIndieSports

Time Recoil is a top-down shooter with a slow motion twist! Punch through walls guns blazing while time slows down! See your enemies drop down like flies - and save the world from a mad scientist dictator!

72
VGC Score
·No trend datalow confidence
n/a
At launch
77%
Steam all-time
70%
Press
n/a
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)709
All-time Steam reviews77%7259
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)0
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (28)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 50
    trust 78Dec 28, 2017

    "Time is money."

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 76Oct 31, 2017

    Time Recoil feels like the most refined of 10tons' three top-down shooter titles on Switch, and while initial frustration and slightly unspectacular visuals are drawbacks, it is the crux of the game that makes it both more enjoyable and immediately more satisfying. Having a more fleshed out story - as well as quick missions, the time manipulation mechanic and twin stick arcade thrills - sets this game up to be a more layered take on the now familiar genre. While there are some technical drawbacks still present, progressing through Time Recoil and achieving high combos of slow motion kills makes for an enjoyable experience.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 70Oct 26, 2017

    The folks at 10 Tons have really done a phenomenal job with releasing 3 games that would, at a high level, be considered to be in the same genre but that are so incredibly different in how they play. Time Recoil is what I’d consider the biggest gamble of the bunch, tapping into a very different skill set, opening up a very different kind of challenge, and yet still delivering some thrilling gameplay. If you enjoy the almost puzzle-like nature the game evolves into once the main story missions have been completed, and trying to play through the same levels to eke out efficiency, there’s a lot to be challenged by and enjoy here. If, however, that sort of action is fun for a little while but not appealing to you for the longer haul it is a tougher call.

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  • 60
    trust 70Sep 18, 2017

    Time Recoil's time travel gimmick is handled with much effort, as it is creative and does a lot to keep the action exciting and hectic, which is further enhanced by the catchy 80s-inspired music. Though the story is basic and the game isn't terribly long, clocking in at around three to four hours, its unique gameplay does a lot to carry it, and new ideas are introduced that help keep things fresh.

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  • 80
    trust 69Feb 17, 2018

    Time Recoil is a solid twin-stick shooter and is definitely the best of 10tons' previous titles in the genre. Its simplicity in both gameplay and controls mean it's easy to pick up and play at your own leisure, making it a perfect fit for the PS Vita. If you're a fan of Hotline Miami, Neon Chrome, Jydge, or any other twin-stick shooter for that matter, then Time Recoil is well worth your time.

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  • 80
    trust 69Nov 7, 2017

    Time Recoil is the perfect follow up for anyone that enjoyed Neon Chrome. It takes the structure that made Neon so great, but replaces the RPG and roguelike elements with the time mechanics, creating a whole new experience. Time Recoil is my third experience with this line of games from 10Tons and although I do still enjoy Neon Chrome more, this one comes in at a close second.

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  • 60
    trust 68Sep 26, 2017

    Many aspects of Time Recoil show potential, but the only part that is actualized is its gameplay. The typically confusing time-travel plot impedes enjoyment as does the randomness in levels, which nearly diminishes that stellar gameplay.

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  • 75
    trust 67Jan 5, 2018

    It really is the gunplay and time powers that make Time Recoil worth checking out. A lot of enjoyment can be had in discovering the best combo that leaves behind a slow-motion trail of destruction. At the same time, the lack of level variety and objective variance makes this a better candidate for gaming in short bursts, and the lack of multiplayer hurts as well. Even with these flaws, Time Recoil is a solid twin-stick shooter that is worth checking out.

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  • 35
    trust 65Dec 9, 2017

    If you want play the time trials and can stomach, or at least ignore, the half-hearted attempt at a story then you might derive some enjoyment from Time Recoil. Still, things like the randomized ammo drops, muddy visuals, and poorly designed puzzles are needlessly frustrating, and your time and money would be better spent elsewhere.

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  • 70
    trust 65Dec 4, 2017

    Time Recoil reveals it in its title - the game introduces a time mechanic that makes this an interesting and successful piece of work. With fun action and short, quick missions that make this a game well suited for portable, fast gaming moments, with only its too simplistic graphics and less interesting plot standing in the way of a more fulfilling experience.

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  • 70
    trust 63Dec 2, 2017

    Time Recoil is a fun game that feels rewarding in triumph and moreish in failure. Sure, the graphics are rubbish and the plot seems written by an eight-year-old after a newfound discovery of 80s action films, but there is a fun and rather stylish shooter contained underneath its overall cheap presentation.

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  • 73
    trust 62Nov 13, 2017

    This game is meant for people looking for top-down arcade shooting and people who don't mind having their reflexes tested.

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…and 16 more tracked reviews.

Patch history