The new first-person assassination game from celebrated developers Arkane Studios, Deathloop has seemingly been in development forever since it was first shown at the 2019 Bethesda showcase. Arkane, perhaps best known for the Dishonored series, is also responsible for Prey and worked on some of the Wolfenstein games. It's safe to say that Arkane is experienced in the field of first-person action games, and the studio's new direction with Deathloop is looking very exciting.
Despite the hype, the game has suffered in the public eye. Multiple delays and controversy over where the title would end up following the Bethesda purchase by Microsoft have stained the game's legacy before it even releases. However, that could all be forgotten if the game that releases is as good as the trailers lead you to believe.
In this time-bending FPS game, players will be running and gunning as the assassin Colt. Stuck on the mysterious island of Blackreef, where time is reset every twenty-four hours, Colt has eight targets that he must assassinate in order to try and break the time loop. These targets range from devious scientists to decadent partyers, but all of them will put up a fight. Also standing in Colt's way is Julianna, another extraordinary assassin who will hunt Colt down as he tries to assassinate his eight targets so that she can keep the time-loop going.
For Colt, Blackreef is a prison, and assassinating these eight individuals is the only way out. Stuck unwillingly in an infinite time loop would likely be a nightmare for most people, but the other inhabitants of Blackreef have turned the island into a paradise of partying, decadence and delinquency. Death no longer has meaning on Blackreef, and people are certainly taking advantage of that. Exactly how the eight individuals are responsible or the cause of the time loop is a mystery yet to be revealed, but solving it will likely the at the heart of Deathloop's story.
Right off the bat, Deathloop looks immediately familiar to Arkane Studios fans. Much like Dishonored, Deathloop relies on a mixture of melee, ranged and ability attacks. The teleport blink mechanic, as well as the melee combat and overall movement revealed in the gameplay trailers, seem ripped straight out of Corvo's adventures. However, the brighter 60s styling behind the gameplay is certainly a step away from Dishonored, giving the game a tone that almost feels reminiscent of cult classic No One Lives Forever. The heavier focus on guns and ranged weaponry sets Deathloop apart, as well. It seems likely that Arkane will have many surprises in store for even the most experienced and dedicated players of its various titles.
One such surprise is that the other assassin, Julianna, can be taken over by other players in a multiplayer instance if that option is chosen. Julianna's gameplay almost seems to work like a souped-up version of Dark Souls' invasions. Julianna will always be present in your game, no matter what you do, but if multiplayer options are enabled, random players will join your world and take control of her. If multiplayer is disabled or a random player is not available, the AI will take over.
Besides the combat, the gameplay seems to have a heavy exploration element. Finding clues, setting up traps, influencing the target's behavior and learning the best angles of approach are necessary for managing to kill all eight targets in one cycle. As Arkane has been sure to point out, managing to kill all eight targets in one cycle is not an easy feat by any means, particularly with the added complication of another assassin hunting Colt down. But, through clever research and actions, players can influence daily events so that targets might start to group up together. In this way, players can kill multiple targets in a short amount of time, making their lives a whole lot easier.
Deathloop was hit hard by delays, and the COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse. Originally announced in 2019, Deathloop was delayed several times from its original 2020 release date. After announcing a planned May 2021 release date, the game was again delayed. Currently, Deathloop is scheduled to release September 14, 2021 on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, roughly one year after its original intended release. In addition to the Standard release, a Deluxe edition is available that includes pre-order bonuses such as character skins, weapon cosmetics and unique weapons.
Despite the acquisition of ZeniMax and its subsidiary Bethesda, Deathloop will maintain its original plans of console exclusivity, as confirmed by Xbox Game Studios head Phil Spencer. Versions of the game will release for other consoles when that exclusivity window ends in September 2022.
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