Rough Justice: ’84 is a rose-tinted look at a much-loved decade. The 80s is fondly remembered for its eclectic music, strange fashion, and high-energy vibe. In reality, anyone living through the 80s understands that it was a challenging decade where fear, poverty, and political landscapes evolved. Thankfully, this game explores both of these ideas and delivers a unique twist to the genre.
This strategy card/board game was developed by Gamma Minus UG and published by Daedalic Entertainment. Furthermore, it is a single-player experience that combines multiple viewpoints. First, a large gritty map exists to explore and plan your strategy. Second, plenty of mini-games and a dice element must be mastered if you wish to succeed. This weird blend of mechanics takes some getting used to, but once you nail things down, you’ll love the exciting but luck-laced gameplay.
Rough Justice: ’84 is a story of planning and redemption.
Becoming a leading light can be too much for some people. Yet, some can accept the burden and thrive under the pressure. One such individual is Jim Baylor. This ace police officer had the world at his feet. Sadly, when you are high on life, you know that you’ll eventually come crashing down. This is exactly what happened to Officer Baylor! Wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, this police officer must wait until his conviction is quashed.
Luckily for Jim and the city of Seneca, this is exactly what happened. Unfortunately, though, the city is now riddled with crime and private agencies have taken over from the police. Accordingly, Jim and an ex-colleague work together to rid the city of the criminal scum. This daunting tale forms the backbone of every aspect of the gameplay. Moreover, the agency and its staff are essential if you wish to put every criminal in their place.
Challenging action.
Rough Justice: ’84 is not an easy game to pick up. There are plenty of mechanics that take time and trial and error to master. Yet, once you get to grips with things, and spend some time exploring the core elements, then you will adore the dramatic and testing layers. The action revolves around your agents and their ability to solve every crime. As you explore the overworld map, there is a list of crimes to solve. Accordingly, you must select an agent who has specific skills such as perception and strength to complete each task.
As the agent moves to the job, the timer is ticking down. This real-time element adds a layer of suspense and worry to an already challenging base layer. Once you arrive at your mission, you may be asked to roll dice to score a 4, 5, or 6. Depending on your skill level, you will have more attempts at completing this objective. Consequently, it is best to send the most capable agent to each relevant job.
Alongside this, there are a handful of mini-games to complete. Whether you are picking locks, searching through documents, hot-wiring, or running through photo-fits, it never gets old. Yes, you will need to tackle each element multiple times, but this simply adds to the gritty nature of the gameplay and the risk vs reward experience.
Rough Justice: ’84 captures that 80s vibe.
Visually, Rough Justice: ’84 has a dated but vibrant appeal. The overworld is relatively straightforward to explore, and I loved the character models and the simple-to-navigate UI. Additionally, the mini-games were fun and the landscapes and varied backdrops were undeniably 80s in nature.
The audio enhances this feeling with its brilliantly dated soundtrack. Furthermore, the acting was great and there was a hearty blend of wonderful sound effects. What’s more, I loved the often unnecessarily OTT moments that added to the drama.
Excellent controls.
A bizarre blend of genres doesn’t always work. However, this experiment delivers on multiple layers. Thanks to the incredible UI and the tight controls, you will feel comfortable playing this. Unfortunately, the core mechanics are challenging to master, and I can see many gamers giving up way too early. Subsequently, some patience is required if you wish to push through that learning curve.
RNG isn’t my favourite mechanic. Yet, it works incredibly well with many aspects of this game. This luck vs risk/reward idea will drive people crazy. However, it also adds a brilliant element of longevity that cannot be beaten. As such, there is plenty of replay value for gamers who can work through the tricky opening hours.
Rough Justice: ’84 is a phenomenal game.
I admit that I almost gave up on this game. The complex ideas and the data dump blew my mind. Thankfully, though, I powered through, and I was rewarded as a result. The fantastic story punctuates every moment. Furthermore, the wonderful acting and the sense of luck deliver the plot and keep you coming back for more. Accordingly, I love it and I recommend buying it here! Can you rid your city of the criminal scum? Join the agency, hire the right crew, and hope that fortune favours the brave.
