Deadlock Station is a rogue-lite tactical auto-battler, by developer Luxorix Games and publisher CRITICAL REFLEX, that will be released on Steam, but currently has a demo available. I enjoy sallying out into hostile territory, bringing home loot, and leveling my team. Deadlock Station covers each of those things.
As far as stories go, Deadlock Station does fairly well. I thought that an alien invasion on top of an AI revolution leading to humanity’s catastrophe was interesting. I really did not expect this. Our protagonists are a rag-tag group of synths led by the AI-powered Professor. I feel in my titanium bones that we are not meant to trust him, but the base setup and early tutorials are narrated to us by our mentor/leader, the Professor.
Like other rogue-lite titles, we have a variety of classes to compile our squad. The legionary serves as our tank, the gunner acts as our ranged damage dealer, the executioner takes to the stage as a pseudo-tank/damage dealer with skills targeting larger areas of effect, and the raider is glass cannon, skulking around like a nimble assassin. The full version of the game will include 10 different characters.
As we fight through some stages, we collect items that are compatible with each of the classes; this includes weapons and armor. We also collect consumables like implants for enhancements and healing items like bandages or food. My advice is to utilize them as best as possible, because the campaign only gets more difficult toward the end.
I enjoy the gameplay. We enter a stage and deploy our squad accordingly to confront the enemy forces. It is important to consider where the characters will move and what tiles they will step over. There are obstacles that can easily thwart initially perceived advantages. You can also deploy your own obstacles. As an autobattler, the characters move and attack on their own. You can adjust their tactics if needed, thankfully. Special abilities also charge over time and can be reserved for special use, sometimes as crucial moments. The executioner, for example, can barrage enemies all over the stage. The gunner, likewise, can also snipe an enemy with a concentrated shot.
The two main currencies are sulfur and aether. We utilize these resources either at home base or out in the middle of a campaign. We can even drill for sulfur during skirmishes. Unlike items that you pick up after a battle, you get to keep the equipment you purchase. We can also purchase enslaved synths to join our cause, hopefully freeing them in the process.
I would recommend giving this title a chance. Put characters down on the board and watch them take action. Find out the motivations of the characters and how lost technology can prove to be deadly to reclaim. Play around with strategies and take more and more ground.
You can wishlist Deadlock Station right now as well as play the demo for free for PC via Steam.
Related: Reviews by John Pruitt
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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