The circumstances surrounding Bethesda‘s release of Deathloop on PC and PS5, notably excluding Xbox Series despite their recent acquisition by Microsoft, are noteworthy. While an eventual release on Xbox platforms is anticipated, Sony’s pre-existing exclusivity agreement (dating back to E3 2019, prior to the Microsoft acquisition) necessitates a waiting period for Xbox users. This wait promises to be worthwhile, as Arkane Lyon has delivered a compelling and forward-thinking FPS experience.
Deathloop exhibits design elements reminiscent of Arkane’s previous titles, including Dishonored and Prey. Furthermore, it incorporates the increasingly prevalent “loop” mechanic, allowing players to revisit levels, sometimes with variations (as seen in Hades and Returnal), or with accumulated knowledge, reminiscent of a gaming rendition of Groundhog Day or Edge of Tomorrow. The core objective is to break the temporal loop, placing players in the role of Colt Vahn, a protagonist grappling with amnesia. The game opens with Colt’s apparent assassination at the hands of Julianna, setting the stage for a narrative gradually unveiled through in-game interactions, radio communications, and environmental cues.
Deathloop blends stealth and action FPS gameplay with hacking and supernatural abilities. Similar to Dishonored, strategic decision-making is paramount. While a stealthy approach is often optimal, engaging in direct combat with weapons such as machetes, machine pistols, or nail guns offers an alternative. The game’s humor and strong voice acting enhance the overall experience, encouraging players to delve deeper into its intricacies. While weapon progress is reset upon death, acquired knowledge persists, allowing players to gradually piece together the narrative by revisiting familiar locations.
From a technical standpoint, Deathloop is impressive. The PS5 version leverages the console’s capabilities, offering multiple graphics modes to prioritize either framerate or visual fidelity. One mode targets 60fps without ray tracing, while another attempts to maintain 60fps with ray tracing, similar to Spider-man. A 4K mode with ray tracing locks the framerate at 30fps. As is often the case, we found the mode balancing visual enhancements and performance to be the most compelling, delivering both appealing lighting effects and a fluid 60fps experience for the majority of gameplay. While levels aren’t expansive, their design is intricate, echoing the design philosophy of Halo. Textures and lighting effects are particularly noteworthy, contributing to a high level of visual fidelity.
The sound design complements the visuals, featuring strong performances from the voice actors. While the narrative may exhibit familiar tropes (drawing parallels to Bioshock), its engaging delivery motivates players to unravel the mysteries surrounding the time loop. Sound effects are appropriately impactful, and the DualSense controller’s internal speaker is utilized effectively for radio transmissions and other contextual audio cues. The game world is richly detailed, featuring media broadcasts, in-world music, and NPC conversations that provide additional insights.
As players progress through Deathloop, the game reveals its depth and complexity. Mirroring Dishonored, the narrative incorporates layered storytelling, magical abilities, upgrade systems, and compelling diversions, such as Julianna’s ability to assume the appearance of any NPC. Time of day also impacts gameplay, creating advantages and disadvantages for the player. Fans of Dishonored 2 will likely appreciate this title, which expands upon similar themes with refined game mechanics.
We found Deathloop to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Its challenges encourage experimentation and strategic thinking. The combination of compelling narrative and technical excellence solidifies its status as a next-gen title, likely benefiting from development focused on current-generation hardware.
Deathloop is a recommended title for players with access to a PlayStation 5 or modern PC. Fans of Dishonored or FPS games that emphasize both stealth and action, coupled with strategic problem-solving, will find this game particularly appealing.
