Introduction: Awakening in the Void
There’s a certain thrill that comes from waking up alone aboard a derelict warship in deep space. The hum of dying machinery, the flicker of emergency lights, and the soft, synthetic whisper urging you forward—all classic hallmarks of a good sci-fi horror setup. Moros Protocol, from developer Pixel Reign and publisher Super Rare Originals, captures this atmosphere with gusto. Blending boomer shooter gunplay, roguelite structure, and a soulslike streak of brutality, the game invites players to unravel the mystery of The Orpheus, a ship now overrun by grotesque alien horrors.
But does its procedural chaos and grim setting coalesce into a standout experience—or does it get lost in its own black hole of repetition?
Story and Setting: A Protocol Gone Wrong
You play as Alex, a crew member—or what’s left of one—on The Orpheus. Thanks to the titular Moros Protocol, your consciousness is re-uploaded into a new body after every death. It’s a clever in-universe justification for roguelite respawns: every failure means a new life, a new body, and a ship that has rearranged itself once again.
On paper, this premise carries a lot of potential. The mix of sci-fi horror and metaphysical resurrection calls to mind System Shock and Dead Space in equal measure. Yet while the early moments establish a darkly intriguing tone, the writing often shifts toward campy humor and pulpy dialogue that undermine its heavier themes. The game can’t quite decide whether it wants to be a grim space tragedy or a tongue-in-cheek retro romp—and in trying to balance both, it ends up dulling the impact of each.
Still, the core mystery of what happened aboard The Orpheus provides enough intrigue to keep players pushing forward through the pixelated corridors.
Gameplay: FPS Precision Meets Roguelite Tension
If Moros Protocol succeeds in any single area, it’s in its moment-to-moment combat. The gunplay feels hefty and deliberate, emphasizing positioning and timing over sheer speed. Movement carries a sense of weight uncommon in most retro-inspired shooters, and the dodge mechanic, tied to stamina, forces you to think carefully before charging into the next corridor full of claws and teeth.
You begin each run with a nano-sword, but soon scavenge firearms from fallen enemies or loot caches. With only three weapon slots available—including your melee weapon—every loadout decision matters. While the arsenal is not vast, each weapon has a satisfying impact, and hitting weak points for bonus damage rewards accuracy and composure.
The boss encounters are where the combat shines brightest. Each one tests your reflexes with clearly telegraphed yet punishing attacks. Learning their patterns and weaving through their assault feels rewarding—when the camera and environment cooperate.
Unfortunately, the roguelite systems don’t live up to the combat. Progression feels incremental at best; you start out fairly strong, and most upgrades offer only minor bonuses to health, stamina, or resource gain. It’s functional, but rarely exciting. When roguelites thrive on the thrill of transformation between runs, Moros Protocol’s upgrade tree feels a bit too grounded in repetition.
Design and Atmosphere: Retro Grit Done Right
Visually, Moros Protocol nails the grungy sci-fi aesthetic it’s going for. Its pixelated textures and low-poly environments evoke the feel of late-’90s PC shooters, while modern lighting adds an eerie edge. The ship’s architecture is equal parts claustrophobic and fascinating—metallic corridors dripping with alien residue, cramped quarters filled with flickering monitors, and occasional vistas of star-studded emptiness.
Each section of The Orpheus has a distinct atmosphere, and enemy designs are suitably grotesque—from crystalline beasts to fleshy horrors that crawl across the floors and ceilings. While some areas can feel overly dark or visually cluttered, the overall aesthetic succeeds in maintaining a sense of unease and tension.
The audio direction is equally strong. The hum of distant engines, the sharp crack of gunfire, and the squelch of alien limbs make for a deeply immersive soundscape. The soundtrack shifts between brooding ambient tones and pulsing industrial beats, keeping the adrenaline alive without overwhelming the player.
Structure and Flow: A Slow-Burning Cycle
Moros Protocol is structured around repeatable runs through the ship’s procedurally generated decks. Each area offers random layouts, challenge rooms, and occasional merchants who trade powerful upgrades for the yellow credits you’ve scavenged. Blue energy orbs serve as meta-progression currency, allowing you to purchase long-term stat boosts between runs.
It’s a solid foundation, but run length becomes an issue. Reaching deeper bosses can take up to 90 minutes per run, which undermines the genre’s “just one more try” loop. When a single death sends you back to square one after a long session, frustration starts to outweigh the thrill of discovery.
That said, exploration remains enjoyable. Rooms often hide secret compartments or destructible walls that tempt you with risk-reward decisions. The mixture of melee and ranged combat, along with a well-balanced ammo economy, keeps encounters tense but manageable.
Co-Op and Replayability
While the core experience is primarily single-player, Moros Protocol also features online co-op, allowing two players to tackle The Orpheus together. The feature wasn’t fully functional during the review period, but early impressions suggest it could add valuable longevity to the experience. Given the game’s inherent difficulty and procedural nature, having a second player along for the ride could turn the grind into camaraderie.
Verdict: A Promising Voyage That Falls Just Short of Greatness
Moros Protocol is a fascinating experiment—a grimy blend of roguelite progression, deliberate first-person combat, and moody sci-fi storytelling. Its gunplay, visual design, and audio atmosphere are all commendable, but its uneven tone, underwhelming progression, and long, punishing run structure keep it from fully realizing its potential.
There’s a lot to love here for fans of System Shock, DOOM, and Returnal, especially those who crave a bit of existential dread with their gunfire. Yet for every moment of thrilling discovery, there’s another of fatigue, repetition, or tonal whiplash.
Even so, Moros Protocol is worth keeping on your radar—especially if future updates refine the balance and expand the co-op experience. For now, it’s an ambitious, occasionally brilliant, but ultimately inconsistent voyage into the void.
Score: 7.5 / 10 — A moody, atmospheric roguelite with sharp FPS combat that’s held back by uneven pacing and limited progression depth.
Moros Protocol: Moros Protocol is a fascinating experiment—a grimy blend of roguelite progression, deliberate first-person combat, and moody sci-fi storytelling. Its gunplay, visual design, and audio atmosphere are all commendable, but its uneven tone, underwhelming progression, and long, punishing run structure keep it from fully realizing its potential. – Mario Vasquez