Fast Facts
Game: Deadlight: Directors Cut (Xbox One/PS4/PC)
Cost: $19.99 USD
Genre: 2D Puzzle Platformer With Action And Survival Elements
Why You Should Get It
Deadlight: Directors Cut edition is not a new game by any means. The game was initially released in 2012 on the Xbox 360 and was a pretty decent success. Now, as so many games before it, it's been revamped and being sold again to a new generation of console gaming consumers. Having missed the boat on this one in 2012, I can totally say it's worth the $20 price tag it's running for currently.
The game takes place in Seattle 1986 in the midst of a Shadow (zombie) apocalypse. Randall Wayne makes his way through the city searching for his family while also helping others and searching for the party he starts the story with. Typically I ignore stories in gaming, but the graphic novel quality of the cinematics kept me watching for the artistic quality, and now I'm pulled into the events despite the sometimes cheesy delivery of dialogue.
I think what I like the most about the story is Wayne is not at all that likable of a guy. Our first experience with him he guns down the sister of one of his group members because she was bitten. The group seems very distraught that he did it without question, but Randall could give a s*** less what they think. It's a refreshing change of pace from the games/shows that villainize the guy who does the rational thing in a zombie apocalypse.
As far as gameplay (which you can see about 15 minutes of in the video above) is concerned, I'm a puzzle platformer lover in general. I loved games like Teslagrad and Max and the Curse of Brotherhood and this game falls in line with that with one major difference that I really appreciate.
One of my problems with puzzle platformers is you often feel a helpless bystander to the enemies that may be spiked into the game. At first, this is the case with Deadlight, but as the game progresses you get to even the odds. Guns and fire axes make the zombies that unmercifully attack as you try to complete puzzles help add some variety to the "run or you die" gameplay a lot of these games rely on. You'll definitely still have to run to prevent being overpowered, but getting caught doesn't immediately mean "game over" when you have the weapons.
As with most puzzle platformers, you'll die a lot in this game trying to figure things out. This isn't a huge deal, however, as the game is constantly saving and loading checkpoints for you which is something I wish more puzzle platformers did as frequently. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I died for the first time and was sent back to my check point which was literally five feet from where I first moved.
This really helps you from the rage quit syndrome that accompany so many games of this genre as well. While it may not be as punishing for hard core gamers, it helps propel the game and allow you to enjoy the story which only gets better as you continue through.
Finally, the art style of this game, while dark, is pretty well done. Occasionally you'll see some really picturesque scenes that'll make you say "Wow" until you realize it's literally a back alley in Seattle.
TL;DR
Deadlight: Directors Cut is $20, a fast paced puzzle platformer that lets you actually fight back against the zombies trying to kill you. Buy it if you haven't already played it back in the day for a great story, fast paced action, and an impressive art style.
