DEADBOLT
- March 13, 2016
- Hopoo Games
- 5h median play time
Deadbolt isn't the fairest game on the market, but it always keeps you coming back for more.
Get on Steam"DEADBOLT" is an intense stealth-action game with a gripping story, featuring stunning visuals and music. As the reaper, you must complete 25+ challenging missions, fighting over 35 enemy types with an arsenal of 30+ weapons. With high replayability, you can choose your playstyle and multiple ways to complete missions, resulting in a satisfying and dynamic gore system.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Linux
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- Engaging and satisfying gameplay that rewards strategic planning and quick reflexes.
- Incredible soundtrack by Chris Christodoulou that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Unique art style and interesting story that adds depth to the gameplay experience.
- Frustrating difficulty spikes and lack of checkpoints can lead to repetitive gameplay.
- Inconsistent enemy AI behavior can result in unfair deaths and confusion during gameplay.
- Controls can feel clunky at times, especially with overlapping actions for the same button.
- music1,688 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Deadbolt," composed by Chris Christodoulou, is widely praised as one of the game's standout features, with many reviewers calling it phenomenal and a perfect fit for the game's atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as diverse, ranging from jazzy and upbeat to moody and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience and immersion. Players often highlight the music's ability to elevate gameplay, making it a key reason for their enjoyment and replayability of the game.
“The soundtrack is one of the greatest ever composed, and the art is quite good.”
“Insanely good music made by the legend Chris Christodoulou, my personal favorite song being 'Undead Man Walkin'.”
“The soundtrack, the atmosphere, the gameplay, the challenging level design and the lore, with everything it has this game was such a thrilling and fun experience for me.”
“If I had one complaint, I felt like the songs were too short, and the apartment theme got stale after a bit.”
“The soundtrack is much worse than Hotline Miami.”
“Music is either too low, or just unremarkable, with game sound at half, and music at full.”
- story1,332 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Deadbolt" is intriguing yet cryptic, revolving around a reaper tasked with eliminating undead forces while uncovering a deeper narrative through collectible cassette tapes. While the plot is not the main focus and can feel vague at times, it offers enough depth and world-building to engage players, complemented by a compelling atmosphere and a standout soundtrack. Overall, the storytelling is appreciated for its unique style, though some players desire a more explicit narrative and greater character development.
“Intriguing story with lots to think or speculate about.”
“The tight shooting, compelling story, and presence of a cat really make it a joy to play.”
“The story is cool, the background's cool, everything has this 'vibe' to it, like you are a badass storming some shady underworld, then you are out of bullets, and you're in too deep.”
“If you are looking for a game with a clear and concise story, Deadbolt is not the game you want to buy.”
“The story is pretty vague and not clear.”
“The 'story' was not compelling and was 'serviceable at best.' The mission briefings really only act as a shallow way to introduce the 'main boss' of the upcoming level and the overarching narrative is largely bland and forgettable.”
- gameplay1,286 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Deadbolt is widely praised for its satisfying mechanics, challenging level design, and engaging stealth-action elements, drawing comparisons to titles like Hotline Miami and Gunpoint. Players appreciate the strategic depth and variety in gameplay approaches, although some express frustration with inconsistent mechanics and the punishing one-hit death system. Overall, the game is noted for its addictive nature, crisp controls, and a compelling soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
“Crisp gameplay, challenging level design and tons of personality.”
“The gameplay is challenging but rewarding.”
“The gameplay and world design are both brilliant and captivating, making you want to keep coming back for more.”
“Unreliable/unclear mechanics: sometimes you shoot a guy with a big gun and the guys one floor above don't hear a thing, another time you kill the same guy by swinging a hammer at him and half the map hears it, also most guns have too much spread to consistently land headshots even at half a screen's width.”
“With its 1 hp mechanic it becomes extremely tedious and repetitive.”
“But the gameplay is quite repetitive, boring or frustratingly hard.”
- graphics516 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of Deadbolt are characterized by a striking pixel art style that many players find visually appealing and fitting for the game's dark, atmospheric themes. While some reviews note that the graphics are simple, they effectively convey the game's unique identity and enhance the overall experience, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack. Overall, the aesthetic is praised for its charm and ability to create a memorable ambiance, making it a highlight of the game.
“Came for the pixel art graphics, stayed for its incredible story and the masterpiece soundtrack.”
“A genuine gem of a game with some of the most striking pixel visuals I've ever seen.”
“The art style is simple but quite nice to look at, the sounds are great, and the gameplay is very fun!”
“My biggest gripe with it are its visuals, because they are often too small or can be missed.”
“Its only real negatives are its underbaked visuals, a bit of RNG, and not being quite as long as I'd like.”
“Although I don't really mind, the action component is its weakest link due to the small graphics for the enemies.”
- atmosphere230 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, noir-inspired design, enhanced by an exceptional soundtrack that complements the gameplay and storytelling. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a gripping and immersive experience through its art style, sound design, and thematic elements, often describing it as dark, gritty, and filled with emotional depth. Overall, the combination of music, visuals, and narrative contributes to a uniquely engaging atmosphere that elevates the gameplay experience.
“I love the atmosphere the game has, the small poems, the desolate locations, the hopeless characters.”
“The wonderful atmosphere, the sense of a much larger world existing outside of your actions, and Chris Christodoulou's excellent soundtrack really elevate this game.”
“The atmosphere is flawless, setting its own universe into stone using snippets and pieces of imagery, and the art design is just grim enough to set the mood without taking itself overly seriously.”
“The atmosphere is unsettling, gritty, and dark.”
“I saw what style they tried to do and I just can't grasp what it was that stopped the game from achieving the atmosphere it should have had.”
“I understand that being cryptic helps the atmosphere, but I would have liked to know a bit more of the lore behind the world.”
- replayability190 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a high level of replayability, bolstered by features such as multiple difficulty settings, community-created levels, and varied gameplay mechanics that encourage experimentation. While some players note that the main story may feel short, the inclusion of a level editor and achievement hunting provides ample opportunities for replay. Many reviews highlight the fun and engaging nature of the gameplay, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy replaying levels with different strategies and weapons.
“The game has great replayability, since creating or playing user-made levels is easy and fun.”
“So much replayability not to mention that the steam workshop is tirelessly pumping out levels for this game so there is always something new!”
“Tons of replayability value since no level has to be done one way, so you can experiment with different approaches.”
“Just twenty-seven levels and sadly not a ton of replay value, that said...”
“Considering that replayability is limited to playing the unlocked 'hard mode' and/or chasing in-game achievements, I'd recommend waiting to pick this one up on sale as the full price seems a bit steep relative to the amount of game you get.”
“Replayability: 5/10 (once you know the way to beat a level, there's not much else you can try.”
- humor44 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark, absurd, and often crude comedic elements, featuring a quirky reaper character and hilarious scenarios that arise from the gameplay mechanics, such as dying in one hit leading to comical "oh s**t" moments. Players appreciate the blend of humor with challenging gameplay, as well as the amusing animations and interactions, which contribute to a consistently entertaining experience. Overall, the game's unique style and witty references create a memorable and funny atmosphere that resonates well with players.
“That being said, I did enjoy this game and the idea of a silly little reaper in a trench coat killing funny creatures.”
“A persistent source of amusement came from the reaper's sprite; his stick legs and awkward little arm off to the side were so funny to me.”
“The fact that you die in one hit makes for some hilarious 'oh s**t' moments, without making the game too hard.”
- grinding40 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, primarily due to a one-hit death mechanic and a lack of checkpoints that forces players to restart levels repeatedly. Many reviewers noted that the slow drop rate of currency further exacerbates the grind, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging challenge. While some players appreciated the action-packed nature and replayability of the game, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a significant detractor from the experience.
“I can imagine one would blitz through the entire thing if the later levels weren't tedious grinds.”
“I'm shocked to see this have such a high score because the game just seems tediously difficult for the sake of being difficult.”
“With its 1 HP mechanic, it becomes extremely tedious and repetitive.”
“Coupled with a 'no checkpoints' system that means you play each level from scratch every time, this means that a level that starts out as a challenge moves from challenging to tedious - because you'll have worked out how to get through half of it, get killed in the second half and have to start over again.”
- stability18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting significant bugs and glitches, while others experience a smooth, bug-free experience. Minor issues, such as animation triggers and action selection, are noted but do not detract from overall enjoyment. Overall, many reviewers find the game to be less buggy and more polished than similar titles, contributing to a generally solid gameplay experience.
“Gameplay was solid, fast-paced, and bug-free.”
“Sound design is fantastic, no glitches (other than occasionally the animation doesn't trigger to sit in the chair, but that doesn't actually affect anything).”
“A very buggy game that you have to hope works!”
“Fun and fast paced (if you want to get a high score), doors are buggy and it gets annoying trying to pick an action/weapon when they're right next to each other.”
“And while there are a few minor glitches (ex: e button used too much leading to weapon pick up instead of vent entrance... ugh...), there aren't any egregious, game-ruining problems, or even enough small problems to lessen the overall enjoyment.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotionally impactful storytelling, with players noting a heartbreaking narrative that evokes strong feelings, particularly during the final boss encounter. The soundtrack enhances the emotional experience, contributing to a sense of nostalgia and connection. Overall, players report a range of emotions, from heartwarming moments to profound sadness, making it a memorable experience.
“The story emotionally destroyed me 10/10.”
“Final boss is borderline heartbreaking.”
“The soundtrack, composed by Chris Christodoulou, is amazing, especially the song for your home base and the final level's music which could incite an emotional reaction you may not have expected.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with many players reporting smooth performance even on lower-end systems. However, some users experienced crashes and noted that random enemy behavior can lead to repetitive gameplay. The ranking system for mission performance lacks clarity on how various factors contribute to the final score, which may frustrate some players.
“Tldr; the Switch version has, in my opinion, much more fluid aiming, along with exclusive content while not sacrificing performance at all.”
“Everything has a good aesthetic and this game should run smoothly on almost any computer.”
“The game ranks you on every mission's performance but doesn't tell you how each of the factors (time taken, kills, headshots, accuracy, etc.) contribute to the final rank.”
“[*] Performance issue: the game crashed twice in my playthrough.”
“The problems with the optimization may be true, but I personally haven't encountered any problems... and I play literally on a potato, not even joking.”
- character development14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted primarily through its impressive character design, which many reviewers consider the standout feature. While the story may not be as strong, the overall atmosphere, gameplay, and music complement the character design, creating a memorable experience. Overall, the character design is praised for its creativity and impact, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The character design is the most impressive part about this game - and that is really saying something.”
“An interesting story paired with great character design, awesome graphics, and amazing music.”
“Amazing gameplay, amazing atmosphere and writing, amazing replayability, some great character design work.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific feedback on the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on technical issues related to Linux compatibility. There is a clear call for improvements from the developer, indicating dissatisfaction with the current state of the games rather than concerns about monetization practices.
