Deathloop review - a closed loop that never gets bored

ShowGamer edition played the game on PlayStation 5 (free version courtesy of game publisher)

• Author : Anton Latoshkin
• Where to buy : Steam , PS Store
• Release date : 09/14/2021
• Platform : PS5

Right off the bat, Deathloop is reminiscent of a bloodier version of Groundhog Day, with brutal games of hide-and-seek. After starting the game, you will soon find out that the main character's name is Colt. He wakes up on the beach, various messages appear in the air - fragments from memories, clues left by the hero himself, which should help him restore his memory. However, they are more confusing, and you will have to look for a clue on your own.

From the very beginning of the game, it becomes obvious that Colt's main enemy is Julianne. Like any traditional villain, she likes to talk a lot, trying to prove her case and convince Colt of his aspirations ... to break the loop. After a few minutes and 2-3 deaths, you realize that you are stuck in a time loop that plays the same day over and over again. Each death returns Colt to the beach, the day starts anew (there is a special skill that adds 2 extra lives). And even if you don't die, when the day ends, you still wake up on the beach. We need to figure out what's going on and how to stop it all.

It's clear that Bethesda and Arkane Lyon have decided to make the most of the PlayStation 5's hardware, so you can customize the visuals yourself by choosing one of three options. Please note that at the maximum, the game will slow down slightly, although, to be honest, I did not find any particularly serious friezes.

Next, I want to admit that I am much more comfortable holding a gaming mouse and keyboard in my hands instead of a gamepad. Especially when it comes to a first-person shooter. The gameplay is structured in such a way that you can complete the assigned tasks by stealth or by brute force (in the end, I settled on a combination of both). Any action is accompanied by tactile functions of the PS5 controller, and problems with aiming on the controller are leveled by help in aiming. If you look at an enemy and the crosshair is next to him, then when you press the aim mode button, the game will automatically correct the crosshair by aiming it at the enemy. Sometimes it can be the torso or head of the enemy, allowing you to make easy headshots, but in other situations, when the enemy is hiding behind cover, the crosshair can be aimed at his lower part, which is hidden behind an obstacle. That is, it will not work to relax in this regard.

The multiplayer component fits perfectly into the story of the relationship between Colt and Julianne. The protagonist of the game is Colt, who is trying to break the loop... And after the training, Julianna appears, who tries to protect her. With that, you can also play as Julian and invade the game of other gamers. If you don't want Julianna to be controlled by other players against your Colt, you can disable this feature in the protagonist's hideout by clicking on the icon in the upper left corner of the screen.

The portioned presentation of information, the disclosure of the plot, also works great. As you progress and complete tasks, you will receive new clues that can lead you to previously closed locations or explain at what point certain events occur (levels can be explored in the morning, noon, afternoon or evening). To find the best way to complete this or that task, to figure out how to eliminate each target, you will have to die several times. No matter how trite it may sound, death in Deathloop is an integral part of life.

To achieve his Colt will be using a variety of weapons and abilities. The choice of equipment depends on your playstyle. Some skills are reminiscent of what we are used to seeing in Dishonored, although there are new and even unexpected mechanics. However, you must admit, it is difficult to come up with something new for players who prefer stealth: here, as in Dishonored, there is teleportation over short distances, stealth mode, and so on.

In addition to firearms, you can use throwing weapons. True, in this regard, the game does not abound, since only grenades are available to you. A device called "cracker" will allow you to hack antennas on doors, turrets and other devices. You can tag enemies to track their movements, or hold down the same button to find out more information about the enemy - equipment type, traits, and potential loot.

The game is not devoid of humor. Colt and Julianna play pranks on each other every now and then... And then the denouement comes, and you understand how they are connected. Not that it shocks, but it leaves a really pleasant aftertaste, especially since there are several endings to choose from. When you complete the story, do not rush to turn off the game. Yes, you yourself will understand everything: in each of the four locations there are many secrets and mysteries that are waiting for you to solve them. And you can also spoil the nerves of other players by playing as Julianne.

Verdict : WE RECOMMEND