Although Deathloop has been well received by critics and fans, the game is far from perfect. It has been criticized for a handful of issues, from its lack of accessibility options to the problems plaguing the PC version. Many fans have been pointing out just how "dumb" the game's AI is, especially for the bullet-fodder enemies that are the Eternalists. This isn't Arkane Studios' first time working on an immersive sim, so some fans are disappointed at how simple the AI is. However, there's one key to the game's AI that it seems like a lot of criticism is missing: despite how dumb they are, the Eternalists are nothing if not consistent.
Consistency is key for a lot of video game design, and that fact is hammered home with Deathloop's Eternalists. Despite not showcasing how complex AI can be like with other recently released stealth-heavy titles like Hitman 3 or The Last of Us 2, Deathloop is able to create a compelling gameplay loop, and the "dumb" AI Eternalists are part of what makes the game feel so good to play.
Letting Players Make Plans in Deathloop
While it's certainly a viable option in Deathloop to barge into a building guns blazing, it isn't the most advisable as the Eternalists make quick work of Colt when in large numbers during an open firefight. The game urges players to instead plan out their routes and take a more stealthy approach. Planning is essential to the earlier parts of the game before the player is entirely comfortable with each level's layout, but sometimes it's not enough as Eternalists are always on the lookout for Colt. The criticism for their AI is focused on the fact that they forget seeing Colt almost as soon as he's out of their line of sight, and don't do a ton of searching once alerted.
The Eternalists' lack of intelligence certainly feels like it might be making the game a little bit too easy. However, the fact that they behave so consistently allows players to create backup plans if things break bad. This consistency is an integral part of what makes Deathloop work, as players are able to make and carry out plans and their backups based on how well they understand the AI That could be seen as too simplistic for some fans of immersive sims, but one major thing stands in the way of the player and a perfectly executed plan: Julianna.
Ruining Players' Plans with Julianna
As soon as the notification that Julianna is "on the hunt" appears, most players' stomachs drop. While she isn't always the most formidable foe, fighting Julianna usually ruins whatever plan the player has set in place, as she frequently requires them to switch from stealthily traversing Blackreef to taking her on. She frequently shows up precisely when she isn't expected, which means the player needs to improvise in order to survive a fight and stay on course for their plan.
Things get even more tense if players don't have AI invaders coming in, but have other players taking control of Julianna to wreck their day. Julianna's AI, like the Eternalists, isn't particularly stand-out, so when another human player enters the map with the sole objective of killing Colt, things are bound to get a little more crazy. That's when Deathloop is working its best as players are constantly making plans to bank on the consistent nature of the Eternalists, but having to improvise and make new ones based on Julianna's appearance.
Deathloop is available now on PC and PS5.