Deadlight
| Deadlight | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Tequila Works | ||
| Publisher | Microsoft Studios | ||
| Senior Developer | David García Díaz | ||
| composer | Raúl Rubio Munárriz | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
Xbox 360: August 1, 2012 Windows: October 25, 2012 Windows (Director's Cut) / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One: June 21, 2016 |
||
| Game engine | Unreal 3 | ||
| genre | Survival horror , side-scroller , platformer | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| control | Mouse , keyboard | ||
| medium | Digital distribution | ||
| language | English | ||
| Age rating |
|
||
Deadlight is a side-scroller - survival horror game that on August 1, 2012 for Xbox 360 was released on 25 October 2012 for PC. Deadlight was initially only available for download from Steam and Xbox Live Arcade . On June 21, 2016, a revised version for PlayStation 4 , Windows and Xbox One was released under the title Deadlight - Director's Cut . This is also available on a disc.
action
In 1986 the world population was decimated by a virus outbreak, infected people became zombies (so-called shadows ). In Seattle, the game's protagonist, Randall Wayne, lost his wife Shannon and daughter Lydia and joined a group of survivors in the turmoil of the outbreak. Together with his friend Ben, a policeman named Sam and his two sisters Stella and Karla, he tries to find his family. At the beginning of the game, Ben, Sam and Stella return to a warehouse and meet Randall, who shot Karla because she was infected with the virus. The ensuing argument is interrupted by hordes of invading zombies, Randall is separated from the group. While trying to get back to his group and get to a safe zone called a "Safe Point", Randall encounters a paramilitary unit called "New Law" that picks up survivors and enslaves or kills them. Among the victims is Sam, who was shot and fatally injured in a gun battle. The rest of the group were captured.
Randall manages to free Ben and escape with a helicopter, but the helicopter crashes and Ben is killed. Shortly thereafter, Randall himself is taken prisoner, he manages to escape and free Stella. While trying to escape, the "New Law" base is overrun by zombies, and Randall and Stella manage to escape to a landing stage. When Stella asks Randall to shoot her, Randall realizes that he did not lose his wife and daughter, but shot them to save them from a fate as a zombie.
Randall helps Stella to escape with a sailboat and faces the approaching zombies.
Gameplay
Deadlight is a classic platformer and uses the possibilities of the Unreal 3 engine for different puzzles. An essential element of the game is the escape from the outnumbered zombies. The player himself is relatively defenseless, especially since the stamina is very limited and necessary for certain actions such as jumping, running and climbing, but also for close-range attacks with the ax. Although three different weapons (ax, pistol and shotgun) are available to him in the course of the game, the ammunition is rare and fights end quickly when the character dies. In addition, it is not possible to freely save the progress of the game, so that in some places larger distances and difficult passages have to be covered several times in the event of failure.
After the player has completed the game once, the so-called Nightmare mode is activated, which has a significantly higher level of difficulty due to the reduction to just two checkpoints.
The background of the game, especially the outbreak of the infection and the separation from Randall's family, are told in playable flashbacks. Cutscenes in the form of still images set to music continue the story between individual sections.
reception
At Metacritic, Deadlight achieved a Metascore of 78 (out of 100, based on 7 reviews (as of April 2013)). The German trade press came to a split opinion. PC Games described the PC version on the one hand as “basically very successful” and praised the “oppressively beautiful, high-contrast images” and “the melancholy theme music”, but on the other hand criticized the story and the strong frustration factor. In contrast, the GamePro praised the story and atmosphere:
“When I tested Deadlight, I was divided. How annoyed I was about the imprecise controls that kept sending me to my death. Anyway, Deadlight just doesn't do it as well as Limbo at justifying constant deaths. Nevertheless, thanks to the great story and the dense atmosphere, I had a lot of fun with the zombie jump & run. The constant fear of the shadows, the background music, the pretty and, above all, varied surroundings - these are the arguments with which Deadlight captivates me. Anyone who can no longer see zombies, thinks end-time scenarios are stupid anyway or is looking for a classic jump & run, is wrong here. Somewhat frustration-resistant story lovers should give Deadlight a chance. "
Trivia
- The player can find identity cards from strangers. These are all US or Canadian serial killers ( Karla Homolka , Ted Bundy , Ed Gein, and others).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Deadlight Director's Cut released for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. 4Players.de, June 21, 2016, accessed on August 8, 2016 .
- ↑ Metacritics.com: Review: Deadlight (PC)
- ↑ PC Games: Deadlight in the test for PC: Coherent level design, but a lot of trial & error
- ↑ GamePro.de: Test: Deadlight - Xbox Live Arcade