1000xRESIST: now here is a game that completely flew under my radar in 2024. I value and work hard at acknowledging indie games that get overlooked, but I completely missed 1000xRESIST until 2024’s end-of-year buzz caught my ear. I thought, “Hmm, I should play this.” And so I did.
Bold colors and varied textures define 1000xRESIST’s visuals. The graphics are not the most technically complex, but their stylish use of color and texture reminded me of how Solace State utilizes colors in its visual design to elicit certain moods and emotions. I loved how unsettling places in 1000xRESIST caused that visceral response through their evocative use of color, texture, shadow, light, perspective, and all that good stuff. Every aspect of the visual design feels thought out and many small details encourage investigating every nook and crevice in 1000xRESIST’s world.
I’m not sure where to even begin with 1000xRESIST’s incredible story. Even describing the impactful opening scene feels like dropping a massive spoiler. During the chapter following that scene, I felt like I was thrown into the deep end. I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it, but I still felt compelled to keep exploring this twisted rabbit hole the game dropped me into.
I also liked the game’s use of a literary device similar to that in James Dashner’s first Maze Runner novel where characters used slang and jargon unique to their world without immediately explaining the meaning; only as I kept reading did I have those, “Ohh, NOW I know what they’re saying” moments. 1000xRESIST has one of those stories where the less you know going into it, the more engrossing your experience will be.
I appreciate subversive plots and, like Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!, nothing is as it first appears in 1000xRESIST. I enjoyed seeing the various ways the game turned classic tropes on their ears. For example, a character named Bang Bang Fire is a calm and reflective type who exemplifies proverbial “water” traits rather than explosive “fire” ones. 1000xRESIST’s subversion goes far deeper than that, though, and saying more would enter spoiler territory. Even the means to achieve one of the game’s many endings subvert typical visual novel expectations. 1000xRESIST’s excellent story is why fans consider it a must-play.
The conceptual gameplay has good ideas to enhance player immersion. 1000xRESIST primarily uses a third-person perspective but often throws you into first-person or 2D side-scrolling perspectives without warning. 1000xRESIST also engages players in various tasks such as exploration, graphic adventure-style puzzle solving, and some mild action sequences. The jarring transitions between varied perspectives and gameplay styles feel appropriately disorienting and truly put me in the bewildered protagonist’s shoes.
Good concepts do not always translate into good execution, however, and therein lies 1000xRESIST’s biggest downfall. Using the left analog stick to highlight decision tree choices felt slippery. First-person sequences had annoyingly spotty hotspot detection. Some of the puzzles or actions needed to progress certain scenarios were unintuitive or obtuse.
My least favorite gameplay segments, which I can only describe as “floating/falling ragdoll physics hookshot mazes,” highlight every gameplay flaw: awkward button mapping, a poor tutorial explanation, slippery play controls, spotty hotspot detection, and obtuse navigation. One late-game hookshot maze even adds a time limit, mushy platforming, and moments when the camera gets hung up on walls to this already distasteful mix. These hookshot mazes occur often and soured my overall experience with 1000xRESIST. I groaned about wanting a “skip this sequence” option every time I encountered one. I appreciate these hookshot mazes’ attempt to simulate feeling lost and untethered in a memory or thought pattern, but I found playing through them clunky and messy.
Exploration is a key component in 1000xRESIST, but even that has hiccups. For example, a circuitous location called The Orchard is a fun and expansive place to run around, explore, and get lost in during your first visit. Unfortunately, because you spend so much time in The Orchard, constantly running around in large sweeping circles just to do a few basic tasks gets irritating. Some places (e.g., the protagonist’s apartment) are tricky to find and the crudely drawn in-menu map is unhelpful. A fast-travel option within The Orchard would have been most welcome.
The minimalist soundtrack consists of fitting but forgettable music for every circumstance. Sound effects and sonic textures play a larger part in creating atmospherics. 1000xRESIST features full voice acting that runs the gamut from decent to dismal. Primary characters are convincing enough, but some side characters have amateurish acting that sounds like they’re out to lunch or reading lines for the first time. I understand that this is an indie/art-house game, but I’ve played many indie/art-house games with superior voice acting.
2024 was a stacked year for video games, making 1000xRESIST easy to miss (even for indie game fans like me). If your 2025 resolution is to check out any cool 2024 games you missed, 1000xRESIST is worth a shot if you desire a compelling narrative and can endure clumsy gameplay. The game is also not very long (I finished this ten-chapter game in about twelve hours), so you’ll still have plenty of time to play 2025’s offerings. 1000xRESIST is a diamond in the rough that, despite its flaws, I’m glad I experienced.
