Play it back again…
It feels like an eternity, but Arkane’s latest title is finally on Xbox. The latest from the house that brought you Dishonored and Prey is just as unique and quirky as the aforementioned games. It takes a game play design and turns it on its head. The characters and world are super interesting and the style is definitely one of its defining features. A year after dropping on PlayStation 5 it has also received a plethora of updates and tweaks making this version feel like the definitive outing. Xbox players should definitely not sleep on this unique mesh of game design.
Deathloop is a game where players will live the same day over and over again. Each day the main character Colt will learn new pieces of information that will help him take down main antagonists all at once. It is sort of like a roguelike game with a more linear progression. This is what worked for me as I am not a fan of these types of games normally. Instead it feels like deja vu more than repeating the same stuff over and over. Arkane has done an outstanding job of making the game feel like an adventure rather than a run-based exercise and I appreciate that.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
What makes it all come together though are the characters. Colt and Juliana are stellar. Their banter back and forth is wonderful and I love how they act appropriately to the idea that they can die and repeat over and over. It feels natural. The world is its own character with a slick late 60’s vibe. It is worth noting that the game runs tremendously thanks to it being exclusive to next-gen hardware. The level of polish and optimization is very much appreciated.
From a technical standpoint the game runs beautifully. Arkane offers up several modes for players to choose from. One that focuses performance and resolution hanging right around 60fps with dips in certain areas. Another performance mode that drops the resolution and stays locked at 60fps. There is also a 120fps mode for those wanting the tightest experience. Finally we have the ray tracing mode which drops the frame rate down to 30fps. I recommend the locked 60fps mode. It gives the best of all the above and it feels sublime to play.
What we said about the PS5 version.
Deathloop does a great job of easing the player into the thick of things. The first few loops are all meant to be training and give Cole some of the basic tools that will become his arsenal in taking out the Visionaries and breaking the loop. He’s introduced to “Slabs” which give Cole his abilities similar to the mechanic seen in Arkane’s Dishonored. The first one he receives is Reprise, awarded the first time Cole successfully takes out Julianna. Reprise thankfully gives Cole three strikes during each loop, if killed he will instead be rewound back in time and receive a do over but if he should die three times, the loop will end and Cole will lose all his items and progress. Well Cole quickly decides he is not for this nonsense of losing stuff and in what will become common but always hilarious has a talk with Julianna about how he can keep stuff between loops, which leads to the last tutorial; Infusion.
The entire game just oozes that coolness that can only be achieved from the décor and colors from the 60’s and 70’s, with the music inspired by scores found in James Bond films. But making Julianna such a strong, fierce woman of color is HUGE and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention just how wonderful she is in this game. My 10-year-old daughter joined me for most of my playthrough because she loved Julianna so much; she was angry every time I had to take her out (but laughed at me when Julianna would win). Ozioma Akagha who voices Julianna and Jason E. Kelly who is the voice of Colt both did an absolutely astonishing job bringing these characters to life. Much more than just grunts or laughs, they both show real emotion throughout the story and really helped to drive this game. Deathloop is a fantastic game and worth the price of admission, my hope is that it is not left by the wayside due to its exclusivity and the sub sequential buyout of publisher Bethesda by Microsoft. I know a lot of fans feel they need to be on one side of this or the other, but I am here to tell you that Deathloop is a great game and worthy of a playthrough wherever you choose to experience it. Deathloop is probably one of the best examples of really blending those rogue-lite elements into an otherworldly and excellent story, freedom of choice, tight controls and a delightful cast of characters all wrapped in a beautiful package.
I am not going into detail on all the mechanics as we have already covered the game prior on PS5. You can check out the full details of that here. Instead let’s talk about what has changed since the game launched on Sony’s console last year. For starters there is a new set of additions called the Goldenloop update. This brings new slabs, weapons, and even a new enemy type to the game. It also adds an extended ending sequence for players to check out. PS5 owners get this update as well so no one is missing out. The game has also seen quite a bit of enhancements since the original launch cleaning up performance issues and tweaking game play balance. The host of accessibility options added to the game are immense. Adding in several toggles to make the game less frustrating on all fronts including a one-shot mode for those struggling with the combat. There is also the option to toggle infinite revives so players can remove the penalties of death.
Deathloop is an interesting game that is worth checking out. Coupled with the fact that the game is now available on Game Pass as well as PlayStation’s equivalent make it a no-brainer to try out. Arkane continues to deliver some truly unique experiences and now the game is finally available for owners of either new console to try. Don’t sleep on this game, even if like me you are not the biggest fan of this genre, Deathloop breaks the mold and is a ton of fun to play.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
