Moros Protocol Review – Have I Died Here Before in Another Life?

Here’s an unedited monologue of my first attempt at Moros Protocol: “Oh, this is cool! It’s like Beyond Sunset with a katana or Mullet MadJack! Wait, I can’t heal? Where’s the keycard? Why am I unable to heal!? I hate this. I’m dead. Wait? Look at this skill tree – I’m gonna try again. Aaahh… It’s taking too long!”.

That’s the inner monologue of my brain when tackling a new game (cue my inevitable failure as a streamer). Usually, I kick things off with, ‘This is amazing!’ But today? Hot and cold, baby. That’s how my engine ran for the first 30 minutes until I finally surrendered: I played the tutorial.

I didn’t realise there was one as I’d so hastily jumped in, though in fairness, I wouldn’t have looked. The lack of a ‘how to heal’ option irked me, but fair play, the tutorial sorted it. Lesson learned: Read the manual, or you might burn down the house. Or worse, realise you can’t heal and die repeatedly.

Alex, Aliens and Amnesia

Moros Protocol isn’t new to the world, but Pixel Reign and Super Rare Originals (Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip and Teeto) it is fresh to the Switch 2 – and fresh to me. If you’re in the same boat, let’s set the scene. You play Alex, a modern spin on Sam Beckett who hops into random bodies not to fix time, but to kill alien scum. When the body gives up, you jump to the next one.

Your mission? Uncover what happened to your ship and crew. You could ask around, but there’s blood and guts everywhere and zero Information Kiosks. So, you storm through interconnected rooms until you find a boss and bother them until they stop moving.

The runs in Moros Protocol are abrupt. Despite being an old-school FPS fan, I’ve always preferred slow burns, but running like a lunatic with a sword is a lot of fun. It does cost you, however.

Melee attacks drain stamina, so burnout is swift and frustrating when rushed from all sides. Guns counter this, though they’re a teeny bit less fun. The catch is to grind for upgrades. There are a lot on offer, but the differences barely register. Is it worth the grind? Maybe. Annoying? Yes.

Skill Tree And Minor Upgrades Make Jack A Dull Boy

The skill tree was overwhelming in volume and linear. You can get a head start by starting a run with a gun as well as a sword, and though you can only carry three weapons at a time, it’s a workable loadout as there’s always better loot.

Mastering movement is key, making you harder to hit, saving ammo, and lasting long enough for the rewards. There is a dodge button, too, though this also depends on stamina, so use it when you need it. Cleaver to the face moments, for example.

I had hoped for a bit more of a story. We all have our preferences, but the narrative does fall flat. Not a huge deal for an FPS. Still, it would have been nice to know what really makes Alex tick. What’s his favourite colour? His star sign? Has he even seen an episode of Quantum Leap?

Time To Heal

Now you must be screaming: Can you actually heal!? Yes, you can. My brain failed to compute this without a tutorial, but a quick tap of the D-pad when you have filled the health gauge will make you right as rain.

So yes, I healed. It’s fast-paced, bloomin’ hard to see through the chunky pixels, but undeniably fun. The grind is a bit of an ask early on, and while levels are procedurally generated, you’ll start wondering: Have I done this before in another (someone else’s) life?