The Deathloop review embargo has lifted, meaning critic reviews of the game are being released. Based on those already in the wild, Deathloop is looking like one of the year's best games, as it receiving glowing reviews from numerous critics.
Deathloop is the newest action adventure title from Arkane Studios, the brilliant developers of the critically acclaimed Dishonored series and Prey reboot. Deathloop takes the first-person stealth-action gameplay of Dishonored and increases its urgency, introducing a new time loop mechanic and the threat of a constant pursuer. Players assume the role of Colt, an assassin who is trapped in a timeloop on Blackreef Island, must kill the island's leaders, known as Visionaries, to break free of the loop, all the while being stalked by Julianna, another assassin who is out for Colt's head.
There are many threads going into this game that the reviews are examining. For instance, how does the game stand on its own from Arkane's previous titles, while also being the direct product of them? Furthermore, in a game squarely built around the mechanics of playing the same day over and over again, how the gameplay continue evolving and prevent the game from becoming stale. While Deathloop does not require "perfect execution," reviewers should pay attention to the way addresses the variety of players who will end up purchasing the game.
Game Rant (Dalton Cooper)
"Deathloop is one of the best games of 2021 and one of the best PS5 console exclusives so far. Arkane has hit it out of the park yet again, with the PS5 getting yet another must-have title for its growing library of exclusive games. Deathloop may be too easy and there's definitely some tedium tied to the time loop, but most of the time players will be having so much fun that they'll easily be able to overlook its few shortcomings."
Score: 4.5/5
Digital Trends (Giovanni Colantonio)
"Deathloop isn’t afraid to take experimental swings, and many of them pay off. It’s a stylish action game that’s entertaining in every gear. Players never have to choose between stealthily exploration and hectic shootouts; they’re encouraged to tackle a situation in as many ways as they can think of to concoct a perfect crime. It’s less successful when it comes to its forced multiplayer component, though it’s hard to blame Arkane Studios for trying something new. You don’t get innovation without iteration."
Score: 3.5/5
IGN (Matt Purslow)
"Despite its seemingly endless complexities, Deathloop is one of the most confidently designed games I’ve ever played. Arkane Studios has crafted a world made of ideas linked by meaningful connections; time influences space, space influences tactics, and tactics influence loadouts. Its unique, high-concept ideas around time loops and non-linear investigation work are implemented with elegance, making its systems feel effortless to navigate, learn from, and ultimately master. A new high watermark for Arkane and developers of similar games to aspire to, Deathloop is a game like no other."
Score: 10/10
Game Informer (Blake Hester)
"Deathloop is a bloody, chaotic mess. A mess you will fail at over and over until finally, you succeed. And that success – the result of hours of experimentation, iteration, and knowledge – makes for one of the best games of the year."
Score: 9/10
VG24/7 (Alex Donaldson)
"Taken as a single-player experience, Deathloop feels complete and incredibly well-rounded. The extra injection of optional multiplayer action is a fabulous cherry on top. Basically, Deathloop is everything I wanted it to be. It’s confident both as a successor to many of the ideas of Dishonored while also expressly its own thing, with a tone and sense of style I absolutely adore. It’s one of my favourite games of the year - and one we’ll surely be talking about for months to come."
Score: 10/10
Based on what critics are saying, Deathloop is a game not to be missed. From a gameplay level, the way the game pushes the player through the game, encouraging them to experiment and try out their abilities, creates for constantly fun (and bloody) experience. By tying the gameplay together with the time loop, players are constantly learning about the Visionaries and the island, making the game easier as it goes on, but still satisfying nonetheless. Deathloop's moment-to-moment action gameplay are some of the best in games right now, making it a game definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre.
As with all games, there are still some negatives to be had with Deathloop. Some reviewers mention the implementation of Deathloop's PvP mode, where players can assume the role of Julianna and hunt Colt, which is a fun idea on paper but can grow tiresome quickly when forced. Others point out the game's weak story, that is really being carried on the backs of Colt and Julianna's banter. Lastly, it seems like the definitive way to play the game is on the PS5, with its DualSense integration.
At $59.99, Deathloop is a package well worth the admission price. The constantly evolving gameplay that opens as the player progresses is routinely engaging and satisfying, making Colt's journey from uncapable to powerful all the more worthwhile. Although there are a few setbacks in the PvP mode and story, these do not overall intrude on a game that executes so well on every level. With many more amazing games coming this fall, the one to beat may very well be Deathloop, one of the season's first games.
Deathloop launches on september 14 for PC and PlayStation 5.