“Deadlock” is the new Player vs. Player 6v6 shooter game that is in the works by Value. Although this game is technically not out, only open as a closed alpha, with invite-only being the only means to play the game, it is proving to be the most addicting and fun game that I have played for a long time.  

“Deadlock” combines the typical team hero-shooter with that of a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, MOBA. Hero-shooters are games like “Overwatch,” that have a series of characters to choose from with special powers and play styles unique to each character while a MOBA is a game like “League of Legends,” that requires players to shoot and take down key enemies in order to progress the map and win the game. This combination of hero-shooter and MOBA creates a unique experience unlike any other, as it revitalizes this genre of games we have become so accustomed to while being inviting to newcomers.  

The game’s art style is ripped right out of the 1920’s and the occult. Although only one map is currently playable, the design for it feels like you’ve been smacked down in a 1920s landscape of New York City with billboards advertising products for communicating with the dead and elixirs of paranormal power, and cable lines being the main transportation between key areas across the map. This occult and roaring 20s style also extends to enemies being humanized candles, burning knights, and steampunk robots echoing that jazz age style and in-game storekeeper with that new-yorker accent selling their illegal and supernatural wares.

This style also continues to character design, with characters dressed up in that 1920’s style combining with the demonic and supernatural features being part of their character. The character’s powers also relate to their design, with characters like Infernus, a bartender that is able to shoot fire from his finger tips, having their specials be able to shoot napalm and form an explosion radius around them, or Viscous, who is a slime creature/man that is able to bash into enemies as a goo ball and encase teammates, or themselves, into a cube to heal. There is a large selection of 21 characters to pick from, allowing you to choose from a range of characters that fit your play style, and special powers associated with each one that the in-game store can upgrade anytime.

Now, I wish to state that if you are not a big fan of hero-shooters and MOBAs, this game might not be for you. A lot of this game involves devoting hours to characters and avoiding stronger players’ attempts to rush you. Often leading to spending your time less in fights and more time waiting to respawn. However, I still suggest playing “Deadlock” if you enjoy third-person shooters and want to get your foot in the door of other MOBAs and hero-shooters, especially with how dominated other popular games of the same genre are with try-hards and dummy accounts, making it difficult to get in, especially with “Deadlock’s simple and easy learning curve compared to others.  

Value new games in the works promise to dominate the market of the popular genres of online gaming. “Deadlock has the potential to be an excellent MOBA, one that will definitely bring in both causal and competitive players alike,” said WarriorDan, an online game reviewer. While the release date for the public is still up in the air, you can still join the private alpha playtest that is out by means of a friend invite or using discord communities to send the “Deadlock” link through a simple discord search. In the end, if you have the chance, please join the playtest and play “Deadlock” when it releases out to the public.