Remnant: From the Ashes

I’d put Remnant: From the Ashes on an easy treadmill walk before I tried to jog through it, because shooting a boss while your aim bounces around sounds like a good way to lose both the fight and your rhythm. The fights look busy enough to keep your mind off the belt, though.

Gameplay

Remnant has the kind of combat I want when I’m exercising, because you’re moving, shooting and looking for an opening instead of standing around waiting for the next big scene. You can aim at weak points, dodge attacks and use weapon mods, so there’s always something to pay attention to. I think that’s exciting, and also a lot to ask of my thumbs while the rest of me is doing something else.

The enemies from the Root make a good case for keeping your attention on the screen. Some rush you, some attack from a distance, and a group can make a quiet stretch turn into a small problem pretty quickly. I’d probably enjoy that on a walk, where my hands can do most of the work and my legs aren’t asking for much. On a harder run, I can see myself dodging at the wrong time and getting introduced to the floor.

Boss fights are where the game’s action feels most focused, and where I’d expect to pause my workout if I got tired or distracted. You have to watch what the boss is doing, keep moving, and choose when to shoot instead of just holding the trigger and hoping for the best. I don’t know that I’d want to learn a new boss while jogging, but I do like having a fight that gives me something concrete to figure out.

There’s a little bit of a stop and start between those fights. You return to Ward 13 to upgrade gear and sort out your equipment, and I’d rather do that when I’m not trying to keep a steady pace, because a few menus can turn into a full break without much effort. Still, the slower bits don’t seem like they’d take over the whole game. You can get back to exploring and shooting soon enough.

Playing with up to two other survivors sounds like a nice option if you want company, especially because fights can get crowded. I’d want to be clear with myself about whether I’m exercising or trying to keep up with someone else, though. It’s easy for a cooperative game to turn into a little meeting about what to do next.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The big adjustment is going to be your aim. Full controller support is great, but Remnant asks you to track enemies, line up shots and dodge attacks, and those are all harder when your hands are moving with your body. I’d start on a treadmill at a comfortable walking pace, or use a stationary bike where the pedals don’t change how much your hands bounce around.

I’d also keep the first run on Normal, rather than turning the difficulty up to prove something to a game. You can learn what enemies do, get used to aiming, and see whether the screen movement works for you without every mistake becoming a full restart. I’m not saying I’d be calm about getting surrounded, but I’d at least be less likely to blame the treadmill.

When a boss fight starts, I’d lower the pace or stop pedaling for a bit if I needed to focus. The game’s dodge timing and the need to keep track of incoming attacks make those encounters a poor place to insist on holding the same workout intensity. And after the fight, Ward 13 is a natural time to get moving again while you handle the upgrade menus. That seems reasonable.

I wouldn’t choose this for a fast run where you want to forget the controller is in your hands. There’s enough aiming and quick decision making that you’ll notice every wobble, and I don’t know how much of that would be fun for you. But for a walk or a steady bike ride, you can set a manageable pace and still enjoy the action. You can give it a try without making the workout a competition.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

You’ll want a dedicated graphics card in the general midrange, rather than expecting an older office computer to handle it comfortably. I’d look at the graphics card first, since the minimum calls for a Radeon RX 470, which is more than integrated graphics. It doesn’t ask for a top end gaming machine.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

Remnant: From the Ashes sounds like a good fit for a walking workout or a steady ride, especially if you like action that keeps you paying attention. I’d skip it for a hard treadmill run, but you can make the pace work for the game.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3