PowerSlave Exhumed

We all have a game from the past that we’d like to see brought to the Switch, but here’s a return that we wouldn’t perhaps have expected. The 90s saw an explosion of FPS shooters such as Doom, Quake, and Duke Nukem 3D. Amongst the noise of these heavy-armed releases, PowerSlave (known as Exhumed in Europe) arrived on the Saturn and PlayStation, and while it put up a good fight, it was battling against the odds. Lacking the fame of Doom and its counterparts, PowerSlave’s arrival on the Switch could be seen as something of an unexpected resurrection.

The original release was ahead of its time in many ways. The core fundamentals found in Doom were present, yet the game included an additional layer to its structure with a sprinkling of Metroid-lite backtracking required; a new skill or item acquired in one level would provide more possibilities for exploration in another. This, combined with a supernatural plot and a satisfying arsenal of weapons, unite to serve up a first-person shooter that is as enjoyable to play today as it was in the 90s.

King Ramses is an Egyptian mummy who has found himself exhumed for nefarious purposes: alien beings are intent on using his powers to take over the world. Ramses is keen to help the Special Forces agent under player control, and imparts information throughout the game to indicate where to head next, which is usually the location for an ability upgrade. These power-ups include the ability to breathe underwater, jump higher, and pass through previously impenetrable barriers, but the backtracking doesn’t feel like a drag, especially when the gun-play is so satisfying, and the controls are so fluid.

The drip-feed of new weaponry occurs at a steady pace, meaning that each one—from the initial close-combat machete to subsequent armaments that dish out more of a bang—has its moment to shine. They all have their uses; the machete, for example, can be used underwater to defend yourself from deadly piranha fish, while bombs are able to clear weakened walls. Each one draws ammunition from a universal pick-up, an orb that adapts to create ammo for whichever weapon you’re holding at the time. This can seem a little fiddly at first; if, for instance, you need more ammo for your pistol, you’ll need to equip it before collecting the orbs. It soon becomes second nature, however, and it’s quite a neat system for ensuring that you can juggle your weaponry according to preference.

Checkpoints are distributed evenly throughout each level, and losing a life never feels unfair. Aiming for a successful hit is generous, but that scope for a wide targeting angle works both ways; a bullet coming towards you may look like it will skim past safely, and yet—if in doubt—it will more than likely hit. Getting lost is unlikely, thanks to an excellent in-game map.

Nightdive Studios has created a fantastic remake of PowerSlave Exhumed for the Switch, supremely playable and brimming with menu options to tweak gameplay, controls (including gyro aiming), and display settings (who can resist a CRT filter?). It’s an adventure worth revisiting.