Total Reload: Twisted Fourth-Wall Insanity – Weekly Indie Spotlight

Total Reload is an oddity in my indie spotlight column in that it’s a game I don’t own (yet). The game only just came out and I’ve only played the demo, but the demo was definitely enough to perk my interest in buying it someday. In the game, you play an artificial intelligence named HAWKING, who powers up in an unknown location with no memory of how he got there.

Twisting Reality with Total Reload

Developed by TORSHOCK, Total Reload is a first-person puzzle game that bears some resemblance to the classic Portal games in look and feel. Like in Portal, you are thrust into a sparse environment with little backstory. There, you must use your brain to get through various puzzles and uncover elements of the story. 

As soon as you boot the game, you’re aware that you’re not in for an ordinary gaming experience. There is no game menu – you’re simply shot straight into the game. Then, HAWKING starts talking to you, terrified that some outside entity is controlling his body. I’ve played games that break the fourth wall before, but I’ve never had a character express fear at their body being controlled. 

Apply That Brain Power!

While Portal’s main gimmick is the portal gun that you utilize in many different creative ways to get through situations, Total Reload’s puzzles center around connecting wires and directing power, while using teleporters to get you from one area to another. As you might expect, the game eases you into the puzzles, but as you progress, they get more and more complex.

Since I only played the demo, I didn’t get to the super complex puzzles, but the demo still included some puzzles that can stretch the brain. I spent about twenty minutes on one, rearranging wires and redirecting the power for what seemed like ages, but then when I finally got it, my brain lit up in one of those “aha!” moments. It’s a game that can make you feel good about yourself when you finally nail the solution.

Will I Buy This Game? 

While I have some other things on my financial plate right now, I’m definitely wishlisting Total Reload. From what I played, I can tell that it’s an immersive, challenging experience with a unique twist of the protagonist being aware that he is not in control of his actions (which is terrifying, even if you’re a robot). Fans of the Portal games should try this out. Total Reload can be purchased on Steam for $19.99.