Just like sharks, when they stop moving they die.
These are the first words of Deadlight‘s protagonist Randall Wayne.
Wayne is a nobody. He doesn’t have a chiseled physique or a rocket launcher, all he has is his determination to find his family.
There’s something inherently human about a main character who’s just an average guy looking for his family that we as people can relate to. In his own words “Today is just another day.” The world is dying, and the streets are littered with Shadows (Deadlight‘s term for zombies). Normality and safety have left and all the remains is a post-apocalyptic world full of death, suffering and misery.
Setting and story is a a huge part of Deadlight. Rather than going for a overly camp Resident Evil way of storytelling, Tequila Works have opted for more realistic setting that focuses on the remnants of a small group of hapless survivors attempting to make it from one day to the next without losing anyone.
The obvious comparison is with The Walking Dead. The comic book cutscenes would look right at home with Charlie Adlard’s signature across them. This may sound like a negative to some, but it’s not. The Walking Dead, both comic and TV, is the pinnacle of zombie storytelling. It’s compelling, it’s heart-wrenching, and it’s the best at what it does, which is exactly how I feel about Deadlight. It too is gripping – to the point of not being able to put it down – it’s soul destroying, and it’s one of the best zombie stories I’ve played.
While we’re discussing comparisons, I know a lot of sites are going to compare Deadlight with Shadow Complex. This would be lazy journalism at its best. It’s not Shadow Complex. Yes, it’s a 2D side-scroller, but that’s where the comparison ends. Deadlight is a unique blend of the original Prince of Persia, Amiga classic Another World, mixed with the intense atmosphere of Limbo.
The macabre feel is a constant presence in Deadlight. Death surrounds everything and you’re continuously on your guard. One of my favorite moments comes from a simple ‘run across an open area.’ This should have been child’s play, but I blinked, and I swear I saw a zombie run across the forefront of the screen, causing me to sequel like a swine that’s just been stepped on.
Everything is harsh and high pressure. Whatever it is you’re doing in Deadlight, you’ll be on edge. So much so, that you will be jumping at your own shadow.
One of the main factors as to why you feel so useless and under-prepared is the lack of ammo. Deadlight is not a ‘kill one hundred zombies and you win’ kind of game. Your goal is to navigate Randall Wayne across streets, rooftops and underground refuges without incident. Again, Wayne is a nobody, he can’t magically jump ten feet into the air to avoid zombies, ammo is sparse, and running and swinging weapons takes its toll. If you see a zombie, you could try and kill it, but that would be a last resort. Zombies react to sound, so even though shooting one is the easy thing to do, it is oft the most dangerous. Attacking them head on could result in you being surrounded and before you know it, you’re on the ground getting assaulted by a herd of zombies.
If you see a zombie, a headshot will put them down, but in Deadlight, your brain is the greatest weapon you can have. There are numerous ways of getting past herds. The most satisfying are ones that use your surroundings. At one point I found that the floor in front of me had been covered by a makeshift wooden walkway. With enough weight, it’d crack and collapse in on itself. So with a quick whistle, and a few shouts, I lure the zombies over and rejoice as they plummet into a self-confined pit.
Pro Tip: Braun can kill a single zombie, brains kill the herd.
Despite everything it does right, there are a few things it does wrong, that is certain to frustrate. There’s glitches present and design choices that make aspects of the game tedious and futile. Zombies that come from the background can be a nightmare to shoot. More often than not, you’ll line up a shot to the head, pull the trigger, and they’ll ignore the bullet and start mauling you. The same can be said for the fireman’s axe. You swing, but occasionally the zombie ignores the hit and bites you anyway. This coupled with the repetitive reloading sequence whenever you die, becomes vapid and soon has you wanting to pull the plug.
That being said, this doesn’t detract from the overall experience. Sure, it’s annoying as hell, and you’ll moan about it to your friends, but the good that’s present in Deadlight far outweighs the bad.
Deadlight is an atmospheric game that will have you on the edge of your seat for the duration. The gorgeous backgrounds play a pivotal role in your survival, which for a 2D side scroller, is unheard of. The story is gripping in all the right places. Gameplay is fluid and constantly filled with excitement and an equal amount of hesitation. Graphically, it’s stunning. It’s everything you want from a game and embarrasses its AAA, high-budget counterparts.
Deadlight is a unique game that has to be played to be believed.
It’s spine-chilling fun at its best.
