Name: Re-playable shooter
Item: Deadzone: Rogue
Rating: 9
Author: Skillet

Other reviews of Deadzone: Rogue

Bombjack7/10

A rock-solid, if slightly repetitive, retro-feeling blast.

Back in the day, we used to get our stories from the back of a box or a manual that smelled like fresh ink. We didn’t need a twenty-minute cinematic to tell us why we were shooting robots; the flashing red lights and the "danger" siren did the heavy lifting. Deadzone Rogue feels like it was born from that same DNA, but it’s trying to wear a modern suit that doesn't always fit perfectly. You know the story already. You wake up on a derelict ship-the ISS-X, because apparently, space naming conventions haven't evolved since 1998—and you start blasting. The first thing that hits you isn't the story, but the sheer weight of the gunplay. It’s meaty. It’s responsive. It reminds me of those late-night Quake sessions where the movement was so buttery you forgot you were holding a plastic mouse. Prophecy Games nailed the "feel" of being a walking tank, especially once you start stacking elemental augments. Turning a standard shotgun into a void-spewing harbinger of death is the kind of power trip that keeps you clicking "one more run." But then, the cracks start to show. While the art direction is sharp—leaning into that gritty, industrial sci-fi look that would make Ridley Scott nod in approval-it’s like a beautiful stage with only three sets. After ten hours, you’ve seen every metallic corridor and reinforced blast door the ship has to offer. The enemies suffer from the same "clone-wars" syndrome. You’ll be fighting the same robotic spiders and biomechanical drones in Zone 3 that you were swatting in Zone 1, just with more health bars. It’s a bit like eating a great steak every night; eventually, you’re just chewing for the sake of it. The biggest missed opportunity here is the storytelling. I’m all for mystery, but relying on "Data Pads" scattered in random rooms feels like a chore from a 2004 RPG. I want to feel the ship’s history through the environment, not by pausing the frantic action to read a digital diary. That said, I’ve put 27 hours into this thing. Why? Because the difficulty curve is a more than good enough. It respects your time. Whether you’re chilling on "Adventure" mode or sweating through "Nightmare," the game scales the tension without ever feeling like it’s cheating. Plus, the devs are actually listening-dropping new content and tightening the screws faster than I can clear a sector. It’s a solid, reliable shooter that just needs a bit more soul in its machine. THE VERDICT Visual Design 8/10 Gritty, cohesive industrial aesthetic. Great lighting and feedback. Sound Design 6/10 Clean gun sounds and a decent OST, but overall unremarkable soundscape. Gameplay 8/10 Buttery movement and addictive, elemental-based gunplay. Longevity 10/10 27 hours in. Average "Main + Extras" is ~21h. I'm clearly hooked. Fun Factor 7/10 High-octane fun, slightly dampened by repetitive enemy types. OVERALL 7/10

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I first discovered Deadzone Rogue when looking for free demo’s of games coming out soon. I installed it and played it with a couple of friends. Bearing it mind it was a demo, I spent thirty hours playing it so, when it launched fully, I felt they deserved my money.

I now have 345 hours in the full game! So, let me tell you something about it and less about how sad I am.

Deadzone Rogue is a Co-Op PvE shooter with four zones that you unlock as you progress. Each zone has a couple of ‘Story’ missions and then a series of themed missions like Uniform Enemies or special missions to unlock new weapons. As you progress you unlock more items and weapons, as well as recovering ‘tech’ to upgrade your character stats, so you are a little stronger every round until you have maxed everything out. But don’t worry, when you open the next zone, you get a new attribute to upgrade and make yourself stronger.

I think I am making this sound terribly complicated; its not when you actually play it. When you have selected a mission, and ideally got your two mates to join you, you proceed through the levels and at the end of each get an upgrade, whether that be a new gun, an elemental power or something else. There are six different elements to get randomly so every round is a different experience, throwing you in to create a build that suits the weapons you have picked up and the element you have chosen. Ice is popular for new players as it freezes enemies and stops them advancing on you but all the elements have their place and fit various styles.

You can, of course, play solo but it is harder. With friends, if one of you makes it to the end of the round, you all respawn to collect the loot. Solo, it’s game over, man!

With so many combinations to try out, no run is the same, add to that there are five difficulties on most missions, which you unlock as you complete the previous difficulty, there is plenty of room for replaying the game, as my 345 hours can attest.

There is a Deadzone Rogue 2 on the horizon too. Some have complained that the original should have been developed further, but I am of the opinion that the original game is spot on as it is. A second game allows them the finance all the work they have put in to create this masterpiece and continue the story. I am looking forward to it.

Other reviews of Deadzone: Rogue

A rock-solid, if slightly repetitive, retro-feeling blast.

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