Pros
* Visual style stands out as one of the coolest looking games on Xbox Live Arcade
* Detailed backgrounds add a great sense of depth and atmosphere
* Love shooting “Shadows” (Zombies)
Cons
* Cut-scenes could be more engaging
* Voice acting on par with a low-budget feature
* Platforming elements are done well, but would have liked less linear stage design
Console: Xbox 360
Release Date: August 1st, 2012
Review Date: August 4th, 2012
Reviewer: Jon
Let me start off by saying, This game is not Shadow Complex. Not that this is a bad thing, but with so many comparisons I felt the need to put that out there. Deadlight is an interesting 2.5D Platformer that takes place in a post-apocalyptic 1986. Following an outbreak of a virus, the dead are re-animated into a zombie like state. These infected are referred to as “Shadows” in the game, and for those who are curious they are more of the slow-moving type as opposed to the running zombies of 28 days later.
2.5D Platformer, Zombies, 1986….. Sounds like a recipe for success! For the most part this title delivers, but after playing through it feels more like a great starting point for something that could be amazing with future installments.
Presentation: A
Graphics /Animation / Sound
The presentation of Deadlight is my favorite part. The Limbo-esque lighting style hits every character hard and helps to create a striking contrast to the detailed environments. Watching the silhouette of Randall Wayne leap through the air across skyscraper rooftops can be a really cool experience. The “Shadows” of course get the same lighting treatment which at times can provide even more of challenge in the darker levels.
The backgrounds range from interesting to breathtaking, but the one consistency between them is the amount of detail. Taking full advantage of the Unreal Engine 3, Deadlight brings us a variety of locales that screams post-apocalyptic paradise. One thing that really surprised me was the animated aspects to each background. You will see a ton of movement during your travels that include “Shadows” in the distance, trees that sway in the wind, and smoke rising into the sky. It’s all here and these elements go a long way to provide a great sense of depth and realism. This feels like a living environment and not very many arcade titles pull off the wow factor that Deadlight is able to create. I believe this is the aspect that gets everyone comparing this title to Shadow Complex, but that for me is where the similarity stops. Deadlight is its own animal that really focuses on platforming and environmental puzzle solving.
The last thing I want to touch on is the cinematics. Aside from the occasional in-game dialog segments, the major cutscenes are in motion comic format. First glance I thought this idea was great, but after seeing them in action I became slightly disappointed. It’s not that they are terrible by any means, but the voice acting is sub-par and I felt little to no connection with the characters through this method.
Single Player: B
Game Mechanics / Length / Difficulty
The main draw for this title is the stellar visuals, but the gameplay deserves an equal amount of credit. There are a lot of great moments in Deadlight and most of them involve “Shadows”. The heavy emphasis on platforming and atmospheric puzzles can provide a lot of entertainment, but I found myself wishing for more variety after a few extended sessions.
In an effort to reunite with your family, you will make your way through buildings, warehouses, rooftops and a few other locals. At first you will be expected to perform a few simple jumps across rooftops, or climb across pipes to get past a few “Shadows”. This will quickly change however once you find an axe that can be used for limited combat. The limiting factor to this weapon comes in the form of a stamina meter. After a few swings you will start to lose wind which can really be the difference maker in some of the close encounters you will no doubt have. Your stamina does regenerate, but with this meter also coming into play with hanging from objects and running you must choose your actions wisely.
The game does a pretty good job at stair stepping your progression and introducing new elements. The level design gets more complex over time as the levels start to include switches, destructible obstacles and traps that can not only hurt you, but “Shadows” as well. You will also come across weapons like the pistol or slingshot. These are implemented well and use the right analog stick for aiming. With the limited ammo available, the shots that you manage to pull off seem to be even more satisfying.
There are times when Deadlight forces you to revert to “Fight or Flight” mode and can require quick action. These are the moments that I felt the most excited with and always managed to breathe a sigh of relief once I made it through a tough situation alive. Rushing my way through a group of “Shadows” making a mad dash for a switch only to be forced to return for a second pass can create quite the intense situation.
I did however tend to get slightly bored with the level design towards the end of the experience. It’s not like it ever took a turn for the worse, but I found myself really hoping for more “formula breaking” moments. I feel that this franchise has a ton of potential and this entry is a great game, I would have liked a more epic experience that I can only hope future installments can provide.
Multiplayer: F
Game Mechanics / Features / Online Features
No multiplayer features
Replay Value: C
Lasting appeal / Bonus Content / DLC
The platforming in this game is top-notch and I could see myself going through a lot of the same moments multiple times. Just setting personal goals like avoiding all “Shadows” or killing as many as possible can provide its own entertainment. Journal Entries, Items/Locations that shed additional bits of the story and a few other small Easter Eggs can provide incentive to search the levels from top to bottom. These small additions are actually a lifesaver since the overall campaign isn’t terribly long.
This is a title that really deserves your attention. Some may find it to be repetitive after a while, but hey….What game isn’t? At a price point of 1200 Microsoft points ($15), I would recommend playing the trial and taking the formula for a test drive.
Overall: B
