Deadlight (X360)
Developer: Tequila Works
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Genre: Cinematic platformer / survival horror / sidescroller
Platforms: X360 (XBLA), PC
MRP: 1200 MSP (Xbox Live Arcade)

The zombie apocalypse has been done to death and then some. You'd think that over the space of a decade, developers and writers could come up with a premise that didn't revolve around undead creatures in a dystopian future. Sadly, that's where the survival-horror genre is languishing at the moment, so we don't have much choice but to make do. Deadlight takes the zombie apocalypse and strips it of a dimension to give it a new look and feel. While Tequila Works succeeds for the most part in creating an engaging arcade title, it isn't revolutionary. In a market saturated with post-apocalyptic nightmares, Deadlight manages to shine as an arcade platformer, but ends up telling the same tired story.

The world's most useless fire axe.

Wayne Enterprises
Deadlight puts you in the side-scrolling shoes of one Randall Wayne, a man searching for his family in the midst of a war-torn world where zombies seem to be the only winners. The title screen looks oddly similar to Alan Wake, but that's pretty much where the similarities end. Deadlight is a two-dimensional survival-horror title with a focus on platforming and skillful conflict avoidance rather than combat. Taking on large hordes of zombies in the intricately designed levels filled with buildings and sewers is suicide, and you really need to use your head to make progress, especially in the later levels. Deadly traps in the environments are equally adept at killing both Randall and the zombies, which levels the playing field. A lot of the platforming is timing based, and although there are a number of puzzles to solve, they don't hold a candle to the likes of Limbo and Machinarium. The game isn't difficult, although there are some sequences (one involving a helicopter) that are made stupidly difficult due to poor design choices and clunky controls. However, apart from these few instances, platforming controls function just as they should — and the puzzles do a reasonable job, although a lot of them boil down to simple trial and error. Thankfully, the checkpoint system is good, so you won't find yourself having to do set pieces over and over again.

A zombie apocalypse is no reason to stop drinking.

I Will Kill You With My... Errr, Slingshot?
Combat in Deadlight feels a bit clunky. It's pretty evident from the start that avoiding confrontation is the way to go. Weapons range from a woefully ineffective fire-axe to significantly more potent guns. A slingshot is introduced later in the game, and its only purpose is to launch projectiles to activate switches and occasionally help clear paths. The zombies themselves are quite powerful, and you'll find yourself especially helpless against large groups. There's a certain menace to the way the angry undead creatures gather sudden bursts of speed and attempt to strangle your character, which should give you the occasional start that keeps you alert.

Looks Unreal
I haven't seen the Unreal 3 engine used in a side-scroller before, but it looks fantastic. Although the general tone of the game is very dark and grey (why are there so many sewers?), there's a lot of detail to be found at the right brightness levels. However, it's occasionally frustrating when platforms blend in to the background. I found myself having to edge closer to the TV and squint far too often.

On the whole, the game looks great, even though the art design is a bit lackluster. Cutscenes, on the other hand, have a cardboard cut-out like style, not dissimilar to EA's Shank (which I can't say I'm a fan of). Voice acting for the most part is very mediocre and lacks depth. Randall's voice is monotone drawl all throughout, which eventually leads to a feeling of disconnection from the story. Ambient sounds, on the other hand, are fine — zombies sound suitably scary, and breaking doors and windows sound realistic enough.

When in doubt, fire.

Apocalypse Now and Then
If Deadlight's plot revolved around anything other than the painfully overdone zombie apocalypse, I would have rated it a notch higher. The way it is, though, Deadlight doesn't particularly stand out in any meaningful way. It's a good game with decent visuals and gameplay, but not too much more than that. The game lasts just over 3 hours, but anything beyond that would be overstaying its welcome. If you're a fan of Zombie Apocalypse, you'll probably like Deadlight. If you're just looking for challenging platforming and puzzles though, stick to Braid, Limbo, or The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom instead.

Gameplay And Design: 3/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 3/5
Mojo: 3.5/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

TAGS: Gaming, Zombies, Xbox, TheBanat