Review - Deadlink

Roberto Nieves

1 day ago3 min read

Developer: Gruby Entertainment

Publisher: SuperGG.com

Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, Steamdeck

Reviewed on: Steamdeck

In the future, corporations control everything. Everything you do belongs to them and their insatiable will to conquer all for a big profit. Where there is control, there is resistance. Rogue corporations run amok, disturbing the profit-fueled ecosystem. As a member of the Corporate Security Agency, or CSA, there is only one mission: Eliminate any rogue companies. No ordinary agent can do it. That's why, as part of the Deadlink program, your mind is linked to a synthetic combat android.

Deadlink is one of the several dozen rogue likes out there. In a crowded genre, you have to stand out and be above the rest. With its punchy first-person shooting, transhuman atmosphere, and fast-paced gameplay, Deadlink certainly stands above the rest.

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Deadlink is a rogue-like first-person shooter. In the transhumanist future of Deadlink, cybernetic augmentations are everything. There is also the Deadlink program, which transfers a human consciousness into a combat shell. The combat shell is a fully synthetic combat android with no organic parts. With this program, a human can pilot the machine with their mind remotely. The combat shell is all steel and circuitry with cutting-edge weaponry. The abilities and weapons change depending on the shell chosen.

The starter shell has a shotgun as a primary weapon and a rocket launcher as a secondary weapon. Each shell has two abilities. The starter shell has a grappling hook to tether and bring enemies closer. The second ability is a blast wave that stuns enemies for a short time. Each shell will have unique attributes regarding strength and speed. Another shell I unlocked utilized a wonderful ability called switchback, which stuns an enemy and teleports behind them. Another ability utilized is stealth, rendering the player invisible and deploying a decoy to distract enemies.

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There are many roguelikes, but Deadlink stands among the very best as it takes its cyberpunk aesthetic and runs with it, as well as gives the players a strong degree of power. Most roguelikes scathingly punish the player from the very beginning, discouraging any continuation to complete a run. However, Deadlink makes the experience exciting, beginning from the very start.

The shooting gameplay is fast and fluid. Deadlink puts players in small arenas through several sectors. Enemies range from cyborg gangs to trained soldiers and armed combat robots. Each arena has pickups and ammo. How to play is up to the player. Swift, stealthy, or tank-like, there's plenty of wiggle room for how players prefer to engage.

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The excitement is further enhanced by both the shooting itself and the type of upgrades available. The shooting is swift, punchy, and exciting. The weapons and abilities are incredibly satisfying. One weapon, the arc cannon, sends pulsating waves against enemies that can slice through groups. The rail cannon fires shells that instantly eliminate the target.

At the end of each arena, players are presented with one of several paths to the next arena. Each door presents a different upgrade. Only one can be chosen. These range from weapon upgrades to Neural Boosts. The traditional enhancements are present such as better dash and XP, but the excitement is in the beefier choices. One choice allows for shotguns to electrify enemies while another can use the grapple to light an enemy on fire. The implants are exciting and effective during gameplay.

Ride the Waves

Fighting waves of enemies is a blast. The overall action feels pulled straight from a high-energy action enemy. Waves of enemies are felled quickly in this fast-paced Terminator of sorts. Each weapon has punch and going through each different implant creates an abundance of combat options. It's a remarkable sensation.

Visually and audio-wise, Deadline certainly takes more of its anime and cyberpunk inspirations. The enemy designs are unique and distinct. The entire game takes place in a simulation and features a distinctive graphic novel style, making the entire game feel like a late Saturday night show. Sound-wise, everything sounds crisp and explosive.

Click on the Deadlink

Perhaps the only drawback to Deadlink is repetition. The game runs well and plays great but it is designed to be played in short bursts as opposed to long periods. Each run begins with the same enemies and order of enemies as the run progresses. This repetition can become tiresome. However, Deadlink sets out to be a high-octane and remarkably fast action game that this is only a small setback of sorts.

Deadlink is a wild cyberpunk shooter. Its fascinating world is matched by incredibly satisfying gameplay. With the multitude of weapons, features, and levels, Deadlink pulses with neon-colored enthusiasm and excitement.