Proceedings play out like Bloodborne's Chalice Dungeons, randomised and punishing, just with firearms the focus instead of melee weapons.

Fortunately, Remnant gets away with copying its homework because the fundamentals are all impressive. Gunplay is excellent.

Every element, from the speed of movement to the weight and kick of firing, feels fantastic. Even when playing solo, the firefights are rarely less than enthralling.

They also demand a lot of you. You'll find yourself reloading mid-roll, unleashing, swigging health, switching to a long-range rifle, killing a pesky snipper and then switching back to your shotgun to deal with a swarm, all in a matter of seconds.

This is a game for the dexterous among us.

Surrounding the action, the loot loop is engaging, the UI is commendably clear and the aesthetic has enough flavour and variety to keep everything interesting.

Aside from a few low-res textures, the boss fights are the only real disappointment. While the creatures themselves are unique, from spooky spectres to gnarled, gory monstrosities, the actual encounter design grows repetitive.

Most fall into the same category: chipping away at a big thing while lots of little things harass you.

I ended up craving a fight where the boss itself was the sole focus; where difficulty came through mastering patterns rather than crowd control while overwhelmed.

Nevertheless, this doesn't undo the craftsmanship and care on display elsewhere. If a difficult spin on Gears of War (just less bound to chest-high cover) sounds appealing, Remnant: From The Ashes is an apocalypse well worth preventing.

Remnant: From The Ashes is out now for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.