Deadlight Review for Xbox 360 - Cheat Code Central

System: Xbox 360
Dev: Tequila Works
Pub: Microsoft
Release: August 1, 2012
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes

It feels like the game is intentionally simplified in some areas so it can focus on others, a balance it actually maintains pretty well. I guess Deadlight is more about just soaking in this wasteland that Tequila Works has created for us. It's gritty and even disturbing at times, but it's beautiful.

Deadlight Screenshot

It's a pretty short experience, one that took me maybe five hours (if you don't die at all, you could easily finish in under two hours), but there are hidden knicknacks that make exploration worth your while. These come in the form of pages that have been torn out of Randall's diary (once collected, these pages will be crudely taped back into the book) as well as various other collectible "memories" that Randall keeps in a scrapbook. You can even loot I.D.s off dead bodies, giving names to many of the corpses you'll find lying about. And some of these names are kind of disturbing; I particularly remember finding a Gacy and a Bundy in the mix. (In case those names don't ring a bell, they were famous serial killers.) Lastly, each of the game's three acts has a handheld video game hidden in it, and you can actually play these games once you discover them. (You'll earn achievements for beating the high scores even though those scores are extremely low.)

To make re-exploration easier, the game is split into three acts, which are then split into bite-sized chapters. Once you've finished a chapter, you can go back and replay it, and the menu makes it very easy to see which chapters have secrets you've missed and which ones you've managed to get 100% completion in.

All in all, Deadlight is a blast that reminds me of a game I loved in my youth (Flashback) without soiling that nostalgia or feeling like a blatant ripoff. It's a bit short, but it's perfectly suited for spending a lazy summer evening with. Seriously, Deadlight is well worth the asking price.

By
Josh Wirtanen
Editor / News Director
Date: August 2, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.8

Graphics
Deadlight's visuals are fantastic. The art style is fresh, the backgrounds are stuffed with interesting details, and everything comes together in this almost otherworldy manner.

3.7

Control
Despite some awkwardness, the controls feel great as long as you don't need to make super precise jumps or split-second decisions. When you do, though, there are some frustrations.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The minimalistic soundtrack fits the mood perfectly and the sound effects are great. Some of the voice acting could have been better, though Randall does a pretty good job.

3.8

Play Value
A fairly short campaign with some collectibles and Easter eggs to send you back.

4.3

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

The world has ended. There is no hope. No new beginning. Only the survivors. Deadlight follows the journey of Randall Wayne, a man searching for his family across Seattle during the aftermath of a 1980s event that has decimated life on earth.

This visually stunning Cinematic Survival Platformer will challenge you to run, jump, climb, and struggle for your life as you look for answers and the ones you love.