{"id":4548,"date":"2021-09-17T13:50:40","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T11:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1354709"},"modified":"2021-09-17T14:26:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T12:26:22","slug":"deathloop-review-is-it-really-the-best-ps5-game-yet","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/deathloop-review-is-it-really-the-best-ps5-game-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"Deathloop review: Is it really the best PS5 game yet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let’s do the time warp again, and again, and again. <\/p>

By Rob Leane\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 17 September 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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<\/p>

<\/div> 5.0 out of 5 star rating<\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div>

Arkane\u2019s Deathloop<\/a>\u00a0has been taking the gaming world by storm this week \u2013 the developers behind Dishonored and Prey have done it again, delivering a deeply satisfying experience that many are pegging as a potential game of the year winner for 2021. Some are even saying that it\u2019s the best PS5 game<\/a> yet. But does it live up to the hype?<\/p>\n

Short answer: yes. Yes, it does. Deathloop is very, very good. Those early review scores weren\u2019t being overzealous in the slightest, at least in this writer\u2019s opinion, and you\u2019ve really got to admire what Arkane has managed to pull off here. It\u2019s a game that keeps you coming back for more, with a gripping single-player campaign as well as a highly enjoyable multiplayer experience.<\/p>\n

Deathloop takes place on a mysterious island called Blackreef, where an amnesiac assassin called Colt wakes up hungover on the beach. Soon he learns that he\u2019s trapped in a time loop, a scientific phenomenon that is maintained by eight Visionaries \u2013 these somewhat barmy people are lording it over the island, and Colt is determined to take them all out in one perfect day that will break the loop.<\/p>\n

Here at RadioTimes.com<\/a>, we\u2019ve been playing Deathloop all week, and it\u2019s been nothing short of a delight to gradually work our way through it. This is a game that plays with time in creative ways and allows you to live out a proper power fantasy \u2013 by the end, you have supernatural abilities and powerful guns in abundance, and you\u2019ve also got a deep knowledge of Blackreef (which is almost like a weapon in of itself). It\u2019s a treat, basically, and you can keep on reading for our full thoughts.<\/p>\n

\""There\"<\/div>
There are heaps of weapons to find in Deathloop.<\/span><\/figcaption> Arkane<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

When you first start Deathloop, you\u2019re likely to be just as confused as Colt, because the game doesn\u2019t hold back \u2013 after a brief introduction to the basic mechanics, you\u2019ll have free rein to explore four distinct open-world areas, each of which can be visited at different times of the day. Morning, noon, afternoon and evening are the time periods on offer, and each time period comes with different challenges. Characters will be in different places, for instance, and other obstacles will get in your way depending on the time of day.<\/p>\n

Before you even know what\u2019s going on, you\u2019re likely to be struck by the excellent guitar-driven score and the eye-popping visuals \u2013 these are big, beautiful areas that Colt is exploring, and the whole island is infused with a sort of science-fiction-meets-art-deco aesthetic, rich in colourful details and funky furniture.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, though, things do start to make sense, with help from the incredibly handy \u2018leads\u2019 system that keeps track of your discoveries and guides you to the next clue. The overall structure of the game is like a giant puzzle \u2013 it\u2019s very satisfying to see it all slotting into place, as you piece together a plan that will allow you to take out all eight Visionaries in a single loop.<\/p>

Speaking of the time loop, it\u2019s also worth stressing again that Deathloop is not a roguelike<\/a> \u2013 you don\u2019t lose every ounce of your progress every time you die, which makes Deathloop a lot more forgiving than Returnal<\/a>. Although the day resets after each evening session, sending you back to the morning, there are systems in place that allow you to handle that wrinkle in time.<\/p>\n

Plus, you essentially have three \u2018lives\u2019 in each time period \u2013 you can bounce back after your first two deaths, but the loop will reset if you die a third time. Plus, you\u2019ll learn a skill that allows you to keep weapons and other items permanently. (Hint: follow the links relating to a scientist called Wenjie as soon as you can.)<\/p>\n

Although you start off with a fairly basic gun, there are some really enjoyable weapons to be found on Blackreef \u2013 we particularly enjoyed using a shiny multipurpose shooter that could function as two side arms or one big assault rifle. (Another hint: if you\u2019re looking for the best weapons possible, you\u2019ll want to follow the \u2018arsenal leads\u2019.)<\/p>\n

The supernatural powers that you acquire are very fun, as well \u2013 fans of Dishonored will recognise some of these abilities, but newcomers will also enjoy experiencing them for the first time. Going invisible is a particularly handy one, we found. Part of the joy here, though, is working out your own specific combination of skills and weapons that works for you. You can be stealthy if you want, or you can try your luck with brazen firepower instead. Either approach can work, which is part of what makes Deathloop so great.<\/p>\n

Where to buy Deathloop:<\/strong><\/p>\n