An enhanced return of a stylish zombie apocalypse, third-person shooter debuts on the latest entertainment consoles to drag gamers into Deadlight: Director’s Cut (Deep Silver and Tequila Works, reviewed on PlayStation 4, rated Mature, $19.99).
This remastered version of the 2012 Xbox Live Arcade masterpiece looks even more ominous in high-definition on the PlayStation 4 as a player controls Canadian Randall Wayne searching for his family and escaping from an infected horde of Shadows (the nickname for the glowing-eyed, flesh-eaters).
Set in 1986 (145 days after an initial outbreak that reanimated the dead) and within the ruins of buildings and streets of an overrun Seattle, the clever side-scrolling action actually keeps much of the horror in the shadows, using a beautiful backlit visual design.
However, the violent encounters are as intense as frenetic and mix with a linear selection of environmental obstacle courses for Randall to get through while battling the zombies.
For example, he may need to push a crate over the edge of a boarded precipice to smash the floor below and jump down to an exit. Or, he must trigger a series of electrical switches in an auto body shop, while avoiding the infected, to fully open and climb under a door.
Weapons are at a premium throughout, with focus more on parkour movement and puzzle-solving skills than combat. Firearms are most coveted, while a welcomed fireman’s ax will usually get the job done when cutting through the relentless ghouls.
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However, stamina is the primary issue, and it depletes quickly when swinging the ax, which can lead to a swarming death for our gassed hero. Randall even quickly loses energy when simply hanging from fences. Luckily, stamina also quickly returns after any strenuous task.
The backgrounds and sonic atmosphere dazzle and especially impressed during an outdoor storm bringing the horror and desperation of the situation to life through wind-swept rain, lightening strikes and Shadows feasting on bodies as the undead moan, gasp and shriek.
I also appreciated the cut-scene artwork that reminded me of the early days of “The Walking Dead” comic-book series, although, the voice-over work applied to Randall really hurts the aural experience. His monotone mumblings felt very scripted and reminded me of a hero emoting in a dinner-theater setting rather than a grown man in constant distress.
The “Director’s Cut” also includes 11 videos featuring trailers and a developers’ diary video series, a digital art book, a “Nightmare” difficulty setting and a survival mode.
As the latter mode suggests, keep Randall alive in a hospital infested with the undead as long as possible with new access to Molotov cocktails, shotguns, machine guns and sniper rifles, while putting the Shadows out of their misery.
It’s a harrowing, experience and at points actually better than the main campaign from a pure adrenaline rush.
Although not worth revisiting if a player has already enjoyed the game, “Deadlight: Director’s Cut” does give PS4 owners an economical survival horror puzzler with a great visual twist.
It will keep gamers enthralled for roughly five hours during the story while the extras can keep the massacre going deep into the night.
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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