The PlayStation 5 Showcase had new footage to show for Bethesda game Deathloop, an FPS that traps players on an island where the same day will repeat forever unless they can find a way to break the cycle. The new demo showed off just how players will begin to solve the puzzle of Blackreef and find a way to take out eight targets in a single run.
Deathloop comes from Bethesda and Arkane Lyon, the developers of such hits as Dishonored and Prey. Deathloop was first announced at E3 2019 and was supposed to release Holiday 2020 for the PlayStation 5. Unfortunately, like many games currently in development, Deathloop was hit by delays caused by COVID, and won't release until Quarter 2, 2021. Deathloop will be a timed console exclusive for PlayStation.
As Colt, a highly trained assassin, players of Deathloop will navigate the island of Blackreef in search of a way to kill eight targets in a single day. In a post on the resets every day, so players can try two (or more) approaches and see the different effects their actions have on the island. A recent demo video shows off just how familiar players will become with certain areas, as Colt teleports, shoots, and stabs with efficiency, seemingly knowing where every minion will be standing as he makes his way to his final target. But in order to kill all eight targets in one day, players will have to find ways to manipulate them into being at the same place at the same time, or there won't be enough time to kill them all before the loop resets.
Deathloop Will Let Players Invade Other Games as Julianna
Colt will have both conventional and magical weapons at his disposal as he pursues his goal, with powers that very much seem Dishonored. It's been mentioned in past updates that there are ways for Colt to get stronger, indicating there is some sort of leveling progress that carries over between runs. Colt will need all the help he can get because one of his targets, an woman named Julianna, is another assassin who might actually be controlled by another player. An optional feature of Deathloop will allow players to invade another player's game by controlling Julianna, whose one goal is to hunt and kill Colt. Players who turn off the player invasion mode will instead be hunted by an AI version of Julianna, who will pop up in the game at random intervals.
Deathloop appears to be a cross between The Outer Wilds and Dishonored, a game where players will need to carefully poke at the game and watch the chain reactions they cause. Cobbling together the perfect run sounds like a satisfying payoff, though there is the risk the game could become too repetitive over time. Hopefully there are certain benchmarks to help players feel a sense of progress even as they fail, fail, and fail some more at taking out all eight targets. Playing as Juliana sounds like a deviously fun way to take a break, sneaking into another player's game with the only goal of tracking down Colt and ruining his day, starting their Deathloop all over again.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Deathloop will release in 2021 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC.
