DEADBOOT Demo Impressions

DEADBOOT is an interesting beast. Described by its developers as “a fast-paced retro roguelike FPS,” it has the chunky visuals of Quake II set in a cyberpunk dystopia reminiscent of Night City.

The core hook, tied directly into the roguelike structure, is that you play an AI or a digital consciousness beamed into the body of random gang members found in abandoned alleys and scrap heaps. You download into a fitting vessel, shake off the cobwebs, and start clawing your way up a corporate tower, floor by floor.

Melee weapons and guns are scattered across each stage, and power-ups offered at the start and midpoint of every level let you scale up in power as you clear out goons on the way to the top.

Environmental hazards are everywhere — pistons, hanging cargo containers, industrial mulchers, exposed wires — and you rack up multipliers based on carnage, hazard use, and (I’m guessing) speed.

You can kick, melee, and shoot all at once, dual-wielding throughout, though it looks like you’re limited to one melee item and one gun at a time. The combat is the game’s strongest asset — sliding and juggling your abilities and arsenal feels great. Level layouts are fairly basic and repetitive so far, but this is just a demo (I only reached the fourth floor), so I’m hopeful for more varied layouts and set dressing as it develops.

What really stands out, though, is the soundtrack. It’s a banger, full stop — it sets the tone and pace of the action from the moment you load in, building into escalating crescendos that match the carnage on screen. Like the recent DOOM trilogy, the music doesn’t just accompany the game, it elevates it, pulling you into a trance-like flow state even as the challenge ramps up. 

Genuinely lovely stuff.

I’ll be picking this one up at launch. It’s fun, competent, and already has a lot of character. I look forward to going deeper.

Until then, stay frosty.