Retro FPS games, which were once just called FPS games, are essential for every gamer. Retro or arcade FPS games provide us fast, smooth and focused gunplay. You don’t have to think in thoseFPS games, just use your gun and go forward.

Then, what if a retro FPS game combines its gameplay with roguelike mechanics? Crux is the answer, at least it tries to be the answer. Let’s talk about how can Crux be enjoyable with its roguelike arcade FPS gameplay for a live stream.

Retro FPS games are back, but is every single one of them fun?

As I mentioned before, Retro FPS games are special and loved by almost every gamer or game streamer. For those who love retro FPS games, they are lucky as retro FPS’s are back with indie developers in the last few years and Crux is one of them.

Crux is a retro FPS game combined with rogue-like mechanics and arena levels. You’re basically fighting with enemies wave by wave while upgrading yourself. As a rogue-like game, you have the chance to get some os these upgrades for yourself during both in-game and after you lose a round.

Crux builds up a fun game structure for gamers. You can try to stay alive as long as you can and also you can even make a challenge for your stream. Trying to get some upgrades for yourself can also make this game enjoyable for a stream.

But there is a big problem: Crux doesn’t feel like it’s finished. Enemies, arenas and game system works but the gunplay, which is what actually makes a retro FPS fun, is not that enjoyable and this could be a problem for both streamers and gamers.

If you’re not trying to make a challenge for yourself, such as staying alive or your own made up challenges for your live stream, Crux is not a game that I would recommend for you to play in your stream as its gunplay is not enjoyable. And if a FPS game’s gunplay is not fun, you can’t count a lot of things to make the game fun.

Is it really working?

There are 13 arenas and a game to get master on it. As a rogue-like arena shooter, Crux can provide you lost of gameplay time. You can play Crux and spread your bullets into your enemies whenever you want. If you love Crux gunplay unlike me, Crux will be also a good challenge for you as its difficulty is a little bit high and the game requires you to focus.

Before talking about the performance of the game, I need to state that Crux will be released on March 5 2024, so there is still time for to fix some of its problems. Maybe they can make the game even more enjoyable, but as for today, it’s hard to recommend.

I’ve tested Crux’s PC version on STEAM and I can’t say Crux is working perfectly. Aside from bugs, there are still things to improve, such as video settings. There are not enough video options and recommended system requirements are a bit high for this game. I’m not even talking about animation qualities et cetera. The game does work yes, but I can’t guarantee you how Crux would work on your system.

CRUX

PC (2024)

Performance

Streamability

Audience Engagement

Replayability

Summary

Crux combines rogue-like and retro FPS game types and tries to offer a hard, challenging and fast gameplay. While it can offer you challenging gameplay, its gunplay and some of the elements of the game feel unfinished and that makes Crux not that enjoyable for play and stream.

2.3