Sequels are a common part of video game development andSerial Cleanersis no exception.Serial Cleanerswas announced as the sequel to the popular 90s set 2017 game,Serial Cleaner. This sequel varies from the original version in many ways but the 90s pop-culture basis remains a major influence on the art style and foundation of the game’s properties.
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LikeSerial Cleaner, this version casts players as part of a mob cleaner whose mission is toclear crime scenes stealthily, all the while taking care to not be caught by other people. Their job will include evidence collection, blood cleaning, and disposal of bodies. Players will need to do all of these efficiently while avoiding enemies. The art style implemented in this sequel is a lot more mature than the original game.Serial Cleanersalso has an overall grittier vibe in its new art. Perhaps the best thing about this sequel is that people can jump in without prior knowledge of the first.
The game contains four crew members with unique skill sets and gaming personality types. This does not change the fact thatSerial Cleanersis a single-player game where players need to switch between different characters to clean up messy murder scenes and discard incriminating evidence. The team consists of Bob C. Leaner, Lati, Psycho Haldor “Hal” Boen, and Vip3r. Let’s take a look at each individual character and what properties make them unique.
4Latisha Thomas: The Character With An Exciting Backstory
Lati was one of the first characters that got revealed in theSerial Cleanersgame. Lati has a fascinating backstory that involved her almost getting arrested for a murder she was innocent of. Bob’s special ability is hiding, while Lati is better at running when she’s in trouble. Lati can always be counted on to escape when situations get sticky. Thischaracter can move fasterthan her counterparts as she is very agile. Activities like running, jumping, sliding, and climbing come very naturally to her. Lati would very much prefer moving away from danger to hiding from danger. Like Bob, Lati can use her surroundings to escape and confuse patrolmen.
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Through Lati, players can see very clearly the game’s pop-culture influences. The inspiration for her character comes mostly from Black cinema in 90s Hollywood. Popular classics likeBoyz N The HoodandFreshheavily influenced the creation of Lati. The first crime scene where she features draws inspiration fromJuice, the 1992 crime movie by Ernest Dickerson. Generally, each mission inSerial Cleanersis loosely based on different movies from the 90s with a fresher edge. For a lot of players, Lati is the most exciting character because of her agility. It isn’t hard to see why.
3Vip3r Erin Reed: Tech-savvy Wonder Girl
When it comes to physical strength, Vip3r is not the most imposing character. However, she more than makes up for this through her glaring intelligence and tech-savvy skills. There’s hardly any computer or device that Vip3r is incapable of hacking into. Distance is hardly a barrier to her skills as she can efficiently disable electrical devices over much further distances than the people she works with. This skill of herslends a sophisticated edgeto an otherwise messy job.
Most experienced gamers understand thatphysical prowess alonewill not get them through tricky situations. Sometimes, the brain is needed more than brawn and Vip3r satisfied the need to bring a high-tech angle into the game. Her intelligence sets her at a higher level than the patrolmen, making it easier for her to remain undetected and get out of tricky situations. Combined with her lithe stature and quick thinking abilities, Vip3r is able to hide or get away from patrolmen. Her ability to access a situation and come up with the best course of action is what makes her a very valuable character indeed. Vip3r is invaluable to the team as she can be the difference between getting caught and completing a mission successfully.
2Bob C. Leaner Returns
FormerSerial Cleanerplayers may remember Bob from the firstSerial Cleanergame, and many fans were happy to see him return. In the new game, Bob is the well-rounded character of the game as he is versatile and able to fill different roles. He is a very valuable character capable of lending an analytical approach to missions without slowing things down. Bob’s uniqueness should not come as a surprise when players consider the fact that he’s been around for quite a while and was the only protagonist in the firstSerial Cleanergame. Now, Bob has other characters for company, making the playing experience more exciting. Players now have the chance to experience the game in different skins with different skill sets.
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Someone does not need to have experienced the previous game to be able to play Bob as his character here is easy to master and use. Bob’s play style is very analytical and methodical. He uses his environment to his advantage, making sure to befuddle the patrolmen. However, when need be, Bob can easily escape being caught by sliding over pools of blood to retreat andmake a quick getaway.
1Psycho Haldor “Hal” Boen Is Psycho
As the name implies, this character is completely devoid of tact or subtlety. Psycho is rash, dirty, and very rough. Unlike Bob, Psycho is incapable of hiding expertly, however, Bob can knock out unlucky patrolmen with his blackjack. Apart from the Hoover, Psycho is hardly ever without his chainsaw. With the chainsaw, Hal can cut dead bodies and toss limbs around gleefully. If someone is into a bit of chaos, then they will really enjoy playing Psycho’s character. The character offers a swell time spent chopping up limbs and bodies into bits that can be easily transported.
However, the only downside to constantly chopping up bodies is that there’s always more to transport. Psycho is a very amusing character,capable of holding a player’s attentionfor a long time. He can throw things at guards and patrolmen to knock them out. Sometimes, a guard could faint at the sight of Psycho chopping up bodies. This feature can work well to Psycho’s advantage in very amusing situations. Psycho makes for an interesting gaming experience and is not to be underestimated. It is hard to know when a chopped limb could come in handy.
Serial Cleanersis available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
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