Video gaming has always played a formative role in shaping players’ minds. Titles like Age of Empires and its numerous editions have helped foster an interest in medieval history long after the battles have been won, while intellectual properties like X:COM and Fallout have created lifelong science fiction fans all across the world.

In recent years, however, video gaming as an institution has increasingly become influenced by leftist politics. It’s not uncommon now to see themes of homosexuality, revolutionary communism, and even abortion woven into the narrative of hundreds of titles, leaving players to clamor for a pivot right, or at the very least, a taste of something apolitical.

The Great Rebellion, a new game developed by one-man indie studio KVLTGAMES and published by AIP, seeks to provide a brief respite from the leftist incursion into this traditionally straight, White male hobby. It even offers gamers a way to digitally combat the very same forces orchestrating their disenfranchisement in real life.

Rebellion kicks off by introducing players to the main character, Citizen 10.28, a man living inside a near-future cyberpunk dystopia completely controlled by a progressive anarcho-tyrannical corporate empire. It’s a place where Cal-Art-styled advertisements and wrongthink scanners are installed on city streets, and where jackboots police the city in search of politically “problematic” elements.

After a brief incident puts you at odds with the regime, you’re soon whisked away into the Waldgang, a spiritual refuge for European freedom fighters that serves as a hub between any of the game’s six distinct levels. From here, Players can use their currency to buy upgrades, items, and weapons before venturing forth into the world, where enemies like transitioning drag queens and obese Black twerkers stand in your path to ultimate victory.

In short, Rebellion is a bullet-hell rogue-lite twin-stick shooter that borrows inspiration from titles like Broforce, Rogue Legacy, and Dead Cells. For experienced gamers, those words perfectly describe everything Rebellion has to offer. For normal people who may not understand the intricies of game-speak, however, that means the game is a 2D platformer a la Mega Man that requires avoiding sometimes overwhelming enemy attacks across a slew of randomly generated levels.

With a good amount of weapons, upgrades, powerups, and items to unlock, Rebellion feels unique during each playthrough. For an indie game, its progression system is surprisingly robust, allowing players to cash in their “negative social credit score” for things like health boosts, stronger attacks, or quicker dashes. The more troublesome you are to the regime, the more currency you’ll gain

While the process of purchasing upgrades has become a formulaic and uninspired experience in video games these days, Rebellion injects comedy and memetic references to right-wing pop culture to add light-hearted fun in the process. Need a hand? Unlocking a Sam Hyde-inspired NPC will give you access to infinite ammo during the next stage. Need a new weapon? Head on over to the Guy Fawkes store and peruse what’s for sale under the eye of classical statues slathered in vaporwave aesthetics. You might even be able to buy a “white pill” or two.

Experimenting with these unlocks and abilities can result in some very unique combinations, meaning everyone’s Rebellion playthrough should be completely different. During the Justice Report’s time behind the sticks, we primarily focused on weapons, health, and dash upgrades while completely ignoring other equally valid mechanics. This didn’t stop us from completing the game in normal mode, but subsequent playthroughs on harder difficulties could force players to leave their comfort zone and fine-tune their strategies.

Rebellion itself consists of six levels, each with its own unique set of frenetic enemies, natural learning curves, and hidden treasures to claim. Because each of these levels is randomly generated, players will have a lot of fun trying to find hidden chests, unlockable allies, and other useful items as they slowly reveal parts of an unexplored map. The gameplay is smooth and visually inspiring, squeezing every ounce of its stylized 16-bit visuals to wow the player up until the end.

At the end of each of these levels is a boss, which exist as over-the-top comical depiction of many real-life and controversial antagonists. Players can expect to duke it out with a mechanical spider with the head of Dr. Fauci, a freakish transsexual whose fake breasts can be shot off one by one, or a robotic fact-checker that takes cues from anti-White journalists and other repressive institutions. The boss fights are easily one of the best parts of the game and will motivate the player to keep going just to blow them up.

Being a rogue-lite means death is painful, forcing players to restart their game from the beginning after being killed. While there are two difficulties available—one more forgiving and one absolutely brutal—players can only see the true ending if they complete the game on the harder, permadeath mode. Be warned, it can get very tedious, and only the most dedicated players can expect to complete it without a coronary.

While Rebellion has a lot to offer in terms of its fast-paced gameplay, its soundtrack and audio work also deserve a nod. Each level has its own unique synth-wave-inspired track, which morphs into a peaceful ambient version and a more aggressive combat-oriented version in between fights. For fans of the genre, the music will be like candy to the ear and does a great job of immersing players in the cyberpunk world it aspires to create.

Conclusion

The Great Rebellion is a visually brilliant indie title that offers players a unique romp through a politically incorrect world. For many gamers, the experience will be a much-needed breath of fresh air, providing a 16-bit refuge from creeping leftist dogmas all too eagerly inserted into mainstream games of the modern day.

The mere fact that a bulk of the game's content was developed by a single man is a testament to the love and dedication put into its creation. While some very minor development decisions briefly expose Rebellion as a small-studio indie game, a distinct lack of game-breaking bugs or rough visuals is a feat that many larger developers fail to achieve.

To some, Rebellion could very easily come off as a "meme game" due to its constant barrage of unserious references to dissident right culture. However, players can take a deep breath, knowing there is much more to it. Underneath the surface, the game is far deeper than it appears, offering hours' worth of content at a reasonable price of just $19.99 at the time of press.

For those who enjoy 2D platformers, shooters, or the gaming nostalgia of yesteryear, Rebellion has something to offer just about everybody and very little to complain about. However, it may not be suitable for those who are intimidated by skill-oriented games or those who shy away from intense platforming. It's brutal, especially for those playing it on its intended difficulty.

Still, for those willing to take the plunge, The Great Rebellion is currently available on PC, Linux, and Mac and can be purchased through Steam today.

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