DeadCore

Yet DeadCore is such a grand journey that it’s easy to forgive the game its narrative shortcomings. The puzzles it delivers are just challenging enough to ensure the game never outstays its welcome and success is indeed its own reward. The game’s speed running potential helps it stand up to repeated plays and I’ll definitely be dipping back in not only to beat my times but to re-experience its curious landscape.  DeadCore doesn’t quite knock Portal off its podium but it offers a wild, well-paced, otherworldly ride that is well worth taking.

First-person platforming games have always been a bit maligned and understandably so. Compared to side-scrolling platformers, it can be much harder to fully take in your surroundings and you can't always judge where you're going to land.

There’s a good concept to DeadCore, and for the most part, it’s one that feels pretty well executed. It’s no looker, and the PS4’s controller lacks the dexterity needed to truly master the platform puzzlin’, runnin’ and gunnin’ DeadCore offers, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something enjoyable and challenging to glean from this console version.

Deadcore - a fitting title for a game that is ultimately dead at its core. An often dull, uninspired mess that, whilst offers a steep challenge, has no soul. Why exactly? Well, let's find out.

All in all, DeadCore is not a very good game. While it's $7.99 price point may be appealing at first glance, it pains me to say that it quickly descends into a incredibly boring, and clunky jump-fest, with its only saving grace being its theme and atmosphere.

Challenge fiends may still have a good time with DeadCore, although in its current state I would be reluctant to recommend the console port over the PC version – if you have one. Originally a project by a fledgling group of five young French developers, DeadCore shows some promise as a platforming first title: the basic mechanics are generally good and fun to use. It’s a shame the game is entirely let down by poor controls and sometimes cheap challenge design, both of which are at odds with the game’s speedrunning ethos.