"Its loot-and-shoot loop clicks. The controls do not."
About
Welcome to the Reincarnation Insurance Program, a top-down shooter that mixes the screen-filling hordes of a 'survivor-like' with the gear-centric progression of a Diablo-style RPG. You control a mech-suited agent, turning waves of zombies into ash and experience. The core loop involves completing runs to find better loot, which in turn lets you tackle higher difficulties and chase ever-more powerful builds.
Verdict
R.I.P. has a great idea, blending the frantic action of a bullet-heaven shooter with the satisfying gear chase of a loot RPG. For a while, that combination works. The problem is everything built around it. Abysmal controller support makes it a non-starter for anyone not using a mouse, and even then, the clumsy UI and technical hitches constantly get in the way. It is a game with a compelling loop that feels hamstrung by its own poor execution and lack of polish.
You'll like it if …
- +You enjoy theory-crafting builds in a Diablo-lite loot system.
- +You are looking for a budget blend of 'bullet heaven' and looter-shooter for mouse and keyboard.
- +The thought of turning screen-filling hordes into a shower of colorful loot is your main draw.
You'll dislike it if …
- −You expect functional controller support in a top-down shooter.
- −Polish and a smooth user experience are must-haves for you.
- −You find games that use generic or AI-style assets to be lacking in soul.
Breakdown
- +The core loop of shooting, looting, and upgrading is fast-paced and engaging.
- +Hits a good balance where the mechanics are easy to grasp but offer room for experimentation.
- −Controller support is fundamentally broken, emulating a mouse cursor instead of offering standard twin-stick controls.
- −Runs quickly become repetitive, with the same boss encounters and limited strategic variety.
- −To some, the feel and presentation resemble a simple mobile game.
- +A Diablo-inspired loot system provides a solid foundation for build-crafting and chasing gear upgrades.
- +Meta-progression systems and multiple character classes encourage replay.
- −Build diversity feels limited, with only a few strategies remaining viable in the late game.
- −The content can feel thin, leading to a sense of grind without meaningful new challenges.
- −The use of what appears to be AI-generated art creates a generic and inconsistent world with no real atmosphere.
- +Character and enemy models are well-realized, with clean visual effects during combat.
- −Widespread performance issues include stuttering and crashes, particularly on certain hardware configurations.
- −Sound design is inconsistent, with some effects missing and audio bugs reported frequently.
- −Key cinematics, like boss introductions, lack sound entirely.
- −The user interface for selecting upgrades during a run is clumsy and slows the pace.
- −Lacks expected quality-of-life features for its genre, like a comprehensive loot filter.
- −The game feels unpolished and closer to an Early Access title than a full 1.0 release.
- −The experience is riddled with bugs and a general lack of polish.
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