SlavicPunk: Oldtimer is a game that reaches for the neon-lit stars but ultimately remains grounded in mediocrity.
SlavicPunk: Oldtimer attempts to carve its own niche in the cyberpunk genre by blending Eastern European sensibilities with familiar dystopian tropes. You play as Yanus, a gruff private investigator with a drinking problem and an arsenal of customizable weapons, investigating corporate corruption in a snow-covered cyberpunk city.
The narrative follows Yanus as he chases leads about stolen data, working with a dubious informant called Rodent. While the premise sounds promising, the writing often falls into try-hard territory, with dialogue that feels like it's attempting to channel hardboiled noir but instead comes across as forced and occasionally cringe-worthy. Yanus spouts one-liners that would make even B-movie action heroes roll their eyes, and the plot never really develops beyond its initial setup into anything particularly memorable.
From a gameplay perspective, SlavicPunk: Oldtimer is a twin-stick shooter with some interesting ideas that don't quite reach their full potential. The core shooting mechanics are functional, with the right stick controlling aim while the left handles movement. Combat involves taking cover, rolling to dodge, and managing your arsenal of weapons. The game shines brightest in its weapon customization system, allowing you to modify guns with various upgrades like incendiary rounds, larger magazines, and armor-piercing ammunition. These modifications make a tangible difference in combat and provide a satisfying sense of progression.
A "battlehacking" system lets you slow down time and disrupt enemies, but it feels underdeveloped and poorly explained. What could have been an interesting tactical layer ends up being mostly useful against turrets and feels more like an afterthought than a core mechanic.
The game's structure revolves around a small hub area with various shops and vendors, from which you take on missions in more linear zones. While this setup works in theory, the lack of a proper map makes navigation needlessly frustrating. The hub area, despite being marketed as an open world, feels more like a glorified menu with extra steps.
The game's length is relatively modest, clocking in at around 6-7 hours for the main story. While this might seem short, it feels appropriate given the repetitive nature of many missions. Combat scenarios often play out similarly, with waves of enemies attacking while you duck behind cover and return fire. The AI is serviceable but predictable, and once you've upgraded your weapons sufficiently, the challenge level drops considerably.
One of the game's more frustrating aspects is its inconsistent difficulty spikes. Some encounters feel perfectly balanced, while others throw overwhelming odds at you with little warning. The checkpoint system can exacerbate this issue, occasionally forcing you to replay lengthy sections after a death.
Visually, SlavicPunk: Oldtimer presents a mixed bag. The snow-covered dystopian city has its moments, with neon signs cutting through the grime and creating an appropriately moody atmosphere. However, the technical performance on PS5 is disappointing, with noticeable frame rate drops, particularly in the hub area. These issues become more pronounced during intense firefights, which is exactly when you need smooth performance the most.
The sound design and voice acting don't fare much better. While Yanus's voice actor seems to be giving it his all, the delivery often matches the writing in its over-the-top nature. The supporting cast ranges from passable to amateur, breaking immersion in key story moments. The soundtrack fares better, with appropriate synth-wave tracks that fit the setting, though they're not particularly memorable.
It's hard to shake the feeling that this could have been much more. The foundations are there for an interesting twist on the cyberpunk genre, but the execution falls short in too many areas. From the technical issues to the trying-too-hard writing, SlavicPunk: Oldtimer is a game that reaches for the neon-lit stars but ultimately remains grounded in mediocrity. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 via a promo copy provided by PR. SlavicPunk: Oldtimer is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
