Relooted review: returning stolen artifacts becomes a thrilling heist

Colonialism is not just about occupying nations. This is a project of mass violence, part of which involves the total erasure and widespread theft of some of the world’s most culturally significant artifacts. Even today, colonizing nations proudly display stolen objects, acting like peacock thieves under the guise of tourism. See, for example, the British Museum’s continued conservation of the Egyptian Rosetta Stone, the so-called Benin Bronzes, and the Ethiopian Maqdala Collection. Colonized nations sought to reclaim their stolen culture.

But what happens when kind requests and diplomatic maneuvers are not only insufficient, but unworthy of the crime at hand? This is where the moral heist fantasy comes in – and no game has done it better than Restarted.

Developed by the South African studio Nyamakop, Restarted focuses on a group of lovable, albeit unprofessional, Johannesburg-based thieves from different African countries. They have a single objective: to recover from the colonizing nations what was stolen from Africa. As singer Nomali, a world-class parkour athlete, you help create this diverse group inspired by her grandmother, a history teacher. The game is an Afrofuturistic (as opposed to Afrofuturistic) 2.5D heist platformer, sending Nomali and his team into the Global North, infiltrating museums, private collections, and banks to recapture legendary but stolen artifacts.

Once acquired, the team anonymously seeks to deposit them at the Museum of Black Civilizations of Senegal. What surprised me was that the museum, like any artifact, is actually entirely real.

During mission briefings in your Batcave-like base, you get a real brief history lesson on the artifact and, through it, Africa’s colonized past. For example, did you know that the modern Republic of Benin, a West African nation, and the powerful historical Kingdom of Benin (which reached its peak in the 15th century), located in what is now Nigeria, are different? The legendary masks of this kingdom were looted by the colonizers and not returned, held among others by the British Museum.

In the fictional world of RestartedThis is precisely where Nomali and his crew come in. If the nations that profited from the theft and stolen labor don’t return the artifacts, then Nomali and co. will simply take them back. They are benevolent thieves; the team makes no profit and will only steal what was previously stolen. As a lawyer, I have qualms, because in most legal systems, stealing your own property is still theft: you can’t break into your thief’s house to get your phone, for example. But for someone whose ancestors were colonized by the British in India before settling in British-occupied South Africa, it was deeply enriching and morally wholesome.

Each mission sees you search the level for robot guards, exits and additional artifacts. You discuss this with your team, each bringing a different skill that is itself a mechanic of the game: your brother is a locksmith who can force open doors or safes, while another team member is a professional acrobat who can use Batman-like skills to reach impossible areas. After scouting, Nomali is then tasked with recovering the artifact(s).

However, you also need to ensure your exit. This is the most exciting part for me, because it requires you to plan your escape route before setting off the alarm. Once Nomali grabs the item, you then need to follow a perfect route without getting caught in the chasing drones. You may also plan to steal a few artifacts, which means you need to know which item to steal first; it could be that the object closest to the entrance is actually not the best first option, because it is poorly placed. Careful planning and a comprehensive route, placing your teammates in the right areas, all leads to a quick heist that would make Arsène Lupin proud.

The game is a cerebral platformer, a satisfying mix of brains and twitch responses. You feel the exhilaration of a fast chase, as well as the satisfaction of a well-thought-out escape plan with the coordinated efforts of your teammates, when executed correctly and all artifacts are in tow.

The stages are varied, sometimes not using the names as we currently know them. For example, the United States is known as “the Shiny Place”, described as a mix of Las Vegas and New York, with a more cyberpunk aesthetic. Another is a European mansion, home of a “collector,” depicted in dark, rain-drenched cobblestone streets and with frightening paintings haunting the cold brick walls. The steps usually last between five and ten minutes, unless you repeat them due to poor planning or execution.

Repetition sets in, even as a larger story eventually unfolds. There’s only so much variety when it comes to 2D stages and limited mechanics, but the game never tires of its welcome. The graphics are quite dated; although it attempts to resemble a Pixar film or other modern animated productions, the characters’ faces are flat and the dialogue animations appear stiff and basic.

However, the parkour animations are smooth and the colors and world are vibrant. Nomali felt good to control, especially when you get into a “flow” of parkour movement. This is enhanced by an incredible soundtrack from composers Nick Horsten and Dustin van Wyk, capable of both calming the mood and energizing the action set pieces. Using a mix of electronic and traditional instruments, the soundscapes capture the futuristic African theme as well as the 80s James Bond spy aesthetic for our devious thieves.

Restarted is very special to me as a South African. Not only is it made by South Africans, but it focuses on a stove-African group, working together for a common goal: to recover what was stolen by the colonial occupiers. Ugandan academic Yusuf Serunkuma cites a calculation that puts the loss Africa suffered from colonization between 1960 and 2010 at around $152 trillion. Thinking about what my country and my continent would be like today without the huge thefts and exploitations continually makes me angry. Even today, African citizens still need to visit former colonizing countries to learn about their own history.

Restarted serves as an excellent and just outlet for moral rage at the injustice, unjust occupation and horror experienced by this continent, and serves a dual role as a history lesson and a fun heist platformer. We hope that more people will discover how bloody and unjust African history has been – and how wonderful, beautiful and inspiring our continent and its people remain.

_{Restarted is available now on Xbox and PC.}