Deathloop on PS5: Our Favorite Things and Our Least Favorite Things
A few words on the game’s strengths and weaknesses before we dive into Deathloop. This game isn’t for people who like a more traditional first-person shooter. While playing on the PS4 for the first time, Dishonored’s excellent environment, unique skills, and blend of stealth and action reminded me a lot of early Thief titles.
My expectations were not only exceeded, but the Clockwork Tower level solidified Arkane’s reputation as one of the finest game production companies. Although Arkane also worked on Prey in 2017, I never got around to playing it, so it’s been sitting on my wishlist ever since.
Initially, I was fascinated by Deathloop because of the marketing efforts, but I also had my doubts. I had my doubts about the game’s rogue-lite nature of repeatedly repeating the same day. Unlike Returnal (review), Deathloop’s use of the ‘live, die, repeat’ concept seems more like something from the movie Edge of Tomorrow than a rogue-lite game. The same way Tom Cruise learns the patterns of the ‘Mimics,’ you know the adversary patterns and moves to take out the Visionaries by repeating the same day. We’ll explain the catch to this formula in the next section.
Before discussing the positive and negative aspects of Deathloop, let’s address the fundamental question: Is Deathloop for you? You may be disappointed with Deathloop if you like fast-paced first-person shooters like Doom Eternal (review), Call of Duty, etc., or titles like Far Cry (review). Deathloop, in contrast to Doom, emphasizes planning, scheming, and then executing well-executed actions. This is a real treat for anyone who likes games like Dishonored, Thief, or even Bioshock.
Here are some of our favorite aspects of Deathloop
Mysterious and well-woven story
Beginning with Colt’s first moments on the beach, you’re in for a wild ride packed with some of the best-written video game languages and top-notch voice acting. How many times do you have to listen to a guy describe his experience reading writing on a wall before you start laughing? This has occurred many times during the game, and I eagerly awaited each time Colt opened his lips so that I could hear another one of his witty one-liners.
Colt’s connection with the other Visionaries (the primary bad guys you must defeat), particularly Juliana, only serves to enhance and complement this narrative style. The two characters’ friendship is heavily developed throughout the game without giving too much away, and their banter is particularly amusing.
Details on Colt’s relationship with the other Visionaries are sprinkled throughout the game in text exchanges and papers. Colt and the Visionaries need to have some method of communication. I’m worried that I’ve missed anything important by skipping through so many pieces. Do you recall when, in Doom Eternal’s reports, Samuel Hayden was revealed? Despite this, Deathloop’s narrative is one of the game’s most compelling features.
Slick Combat
Deathloop’s fighting is simple to pick up, but it takes some practice to become proficient at. Until you acquire Residuum, the game’s money, you will be unable to bring any weapons or abilities back to your starting position. Dishonored’s fighting system has been refined for this game. Other Dishonored abilities like Shift (the ability to move/jump rapidly) and Nexus (the ability to connect several enemies and kill them all with a single shot) make an appearance, as well. Many more powers may be found as well, such as Aether (which temporarily makes you invisible), Havoc (which boosts damage and defense), Karnesis (which allows you to throw opponents into the air), and many other things. Reprise is a Colt-exclusive ability that grants you three more lives before the day is reset.
If you want to improve your skills, buy them from the Visionary until you have enough Residuum to “infuse” the improvement. Otherwise, you will lose it the next time you spend Residuum. Other game trinkets, such as quicker health regeneration, more significant damage, and so on, are unlocked as you gather them. It’s easy to become lost in the game’s myriad of features, but the creators have done a great job of guiding you through the maze of options available to you. It’s important to remember that the first three hours of the game are a tutorial, and after that, the game will no longer guide you by the hand.
Fighting is a lot of fun since it’s so open-ended. You have the option of going in guns blazing or sneaking up on your opponents. On a few occasions, I was able to complete the mission without having to use any ammunition. It’s incredible, and the most significant thing is that, unlike in Dishonored, your actions have no ramifications.
Deathloop’s combat may be as basic or as complicated as you want, which adds to the game’s appeal and prevents it from becoming monotonous after a while.
Fantastic Music and Voice Acting
Honorable mentions go to Julianna and Colt’s voice performers. The voice acting has you hooked from the minute Colt wakes up on the beach for the first time. This is one of the few games where the protagonist’s voice is so spot on that it pulls you in without you even realizing it.
When it comes to the music, the vintage vibe of the 1960s style blends well with the game’s aesthetic. You feel your blood pounding either to clear the chamber of enemies or flee for your life as you enter the battle and start listening to high octave part music (based on the situation). As soon as you complete a goal, a distinctive sound appears.
Using the DualSense speaker is the most incredible part. You pick up audio recordings as well as all of your chats with Juliana through the controller speaker. It’s a minor detail, yet it has a significant effect.
Unique Multiplayer
You’re undoubtedly aware that you can take control of Julianna and enter someone else’s game online, and vice versa. There have been many occasions when Julianna, controlled by the player, has joined my run, posing a new obstacle and distracting me. If this bothers you, you may always play just while connected to the internet. Julianna will still be able to invade your game, but so will other “talented” players. Unlike in Dark Souls, this is a whole new experience. It has distinct features that I believe will appeal to lovers of multiplayer shooters.
Stunning Visuals and Unique Environments
You may visit various sections of Blackreef island at different times of the day – morning, noon, afternoon, and night – so you can make the most of your time there. When the game is played at various times of the day, each region has a unique visual style and opponent positioning and shortcuts. So naturally, the game’s graphics are beautiful, and playing at 60 frames per second on the PS5 is an absolute pleasure.
Here are some of our Least favorite aspects of Deathloop
Here are some minor complaints we have, and one of them is very bothersome if you live somewhere where there are frequent power outages.
No Mid-Game Saves
If you’re going to save the game, make sure you get back to your bunker safely (the tunnels that connect the four areas). Even though this is an advantage, nothing is more aggravating than being in the midst of a great run and having all of your hard-earned riches disappear. I’m not going to elaborate more. It will always be a source of discomfort.
Some of The Puzzles Can Get Annoying
There will be times when you need to gather papers or hear voice recordings to get the next piece of the puzzle together in the game. When all that’s left is a single paper on a table in the corner that you’ve passed a hundred times and missed, even if the game does a decent job of pointing you in the right direction, it may be frustrating.
Only 2 Powers at A Time
Instead of utilizing your arsenal of abilities whenever you want in Dishonored, Deathloop limits you to just two each play session. Shift and Nexus were my go-to controls for the bulk of my gameplay. Some moments in the game made me want to switch abilities, like being invisible or flight. Still, I had to remind myself that finishing the current part first meant going back to my bunker and changing powers there. When you want to change things around mid-run, it may be aggravating to have to wait.
Final Words:
Death loop is an excellent game in every way. The visuals are stunning, and the script and voice acting is top-notch. Even though it is not a typical rogue-lite game, it takes inspiration from the genre and adds its distinctive spin. Based on my observations,
I can imagine many people disliking the game for what it has to offer. Alternatively, I can imagine gamers such as myself wanting to restart the day one more time to perform the flawless cycle. On the other hand, game enthusiasts of stealth or those who like puzzles should undoubtedly check it out.
