Dead Effect

 PC
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 44
  3. Negative: 11 out of 44

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  1. ave
    Feb 23, 2015
    3
    So, what makes a game a great game?

    Unless you're the first to create something never-seen-before with an earth-chattering-gameplay, you're living with a legacy. Your best option then is to live up with player's expectations of the genre, plus surprise them with one truly good and well executed idea to deliver a great experience. In Dead Effect, you are shooting zombies in a    So, what makes a game a great game?

    Unless you're the first to create something never-seen-before with an earth-chattering-gameplay, you're living with a legacy. Your best option then is to live up with player's expectations of the genre, plus surprise them with one truly good and well executed idea to deliver a great experience.

    In Dead Effect, you are shooting zombies in a spacecraft. That's it. Many titles comes to mind like Doom, Dead Space and such. And for a reason. It seems that most of these games tropes has been collaged in this game, but with no to little inspiration. The level design is repetitive, the zombies aren't that exciting, and the storyline has a smell of deja-vu.

    But let's say Dead Effect uses these fairly known genre elements to lay a great core mechanic on top of it? If only.

    First, your character moves a little too slowly (it glides actually since there is no footstep sounds), and can run just a few meters since he's apparently an heavy smoker. He also cannot jump so I suspect he or she's overweight too.

    Your character can carry two weapons, that are predefined for most of the story campaign : pistol + rifle or revolver + shotgun. But since all the weapons are suboptimal at first, and have a atrociously long reload time, you die often - or walk back all the corridors just to be safe.

    To make things worse, Dead Effect does not feature a save game or checkpoint system, forcing you to restart the whole mission even if you die a couple of seconds before the end. You're in to grind your way to the next level, and it really feels like a chore.

    If you want a better weapon, don't try to pick one, you'll have to upgrade yours or buy one during the intermission - explaining why you are collecting money while trying to escape.

    And here is the fatal flaw of the game. In my opinion, either :
    - you design and balance each weapon to provide player with variety, uniqueness and consistency (like Doom, Half Life, Fear, etc);
    - you can buy upgrades or upgraded version of your weapons in a marketplace (like Borderlands, Bioshock) to add the thrill of finding a badass one - at least for a couple of hours;
    - you can upgrade your weapons & gear using "spare parts" found in the world (like Dead Space, Shadowgrounds Survivor) to add the thrill of making tough choices.
    But I personnaly find using a "pay as you go to upgrade your gear" too artificial and really non-immersive, especially when you're supposed to be alone, cut from civilization.

    I know that Dead Effect is a port from a iOS game, and uses micro-payements. But that's not an excuse for bad or inadequate game design. For the PC version you pay upfront, so, in way, you're supposed to see none of the monetization elements.

    So, if you really like to shoot zombies, endless corridors and flat storyline, you can give this game a shot. A piece of advice : upgrade only your best weapon and be cautious of the grenadier zombies.    … Expand
  2. PrincessRose
    Feb 25, 2019
    4
    Sort of ok, kind of janky as the accuracy seems rather off even for head shots. Simplistic game, that is lacking in quality, there's not even any sound effect for when you toss a grenade, no clang as it hits.
    Nothing amazing or special, barely fun or passable. Can't recommend.
  3. Rem
    Jul 10, 2015
    4
    Dead Effect sees the transition between mobile game to PC, and while there are some truly noteworthy things, it is muddled by what it gets wrong. To begin on a positive note, this game is absolutely stunning. at least for a phone to PC port. Details are numerous and the resolution is really crisp. However it does not excuse the almost satirical awful voice acting, OP enemies, f2p on aDead Effect sees the transition between mobile game to PC, and while there are some truly noteworthy things, it is muddled by what it gets wrong. To begin on a positive note, this game is absolutely stunning. at least for a phone to PC port. Details are numerous and the resolution is really crisp. However it does not excuse the almost satirical awful voice acting, OP enemies, f2p on a paid game, and numerous bugs and glitches. Gunplay is basically inspired but for the price they're offering, it's one of the better alternatives to having mindless stupid fun without much consideration into the quality of the game.… Expand
  4. Anarchy_Man
    Mar 30, 2023
    3
    Its better than you think, love the gore, the slow motion, the shooting, story is total crap with voiceover
  5. Voyou
    Aug 1, 2020
    2
    Absolute garbage.
    The makers are so useless at games that you can't even save.
    That's only one sign of their incompetence: The gamepad cannot do all; you'll need the keyboard at times, and other times the mouse to achieve what you wanted. BadFly cannot produce the easiest type of game, FPS, in the cheapest genre of all times, horror. Despite hundreds of successful models obviously    Absolute garbage.
    The makers are so useless at games that you can't even save.
    That's only one sign of their incompetence: The gamepad cannot do all; you'll need the keyboard at times, and other times the mouse to achieve what you wanted.

    BadFly cannot produce the easiest type of game, FPS, in the cheapest genre of all times, horror. Despite hundreds of successful models obviously copied. I suggest that they switch their jobs and become doormats.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. CD-Action
    Mar 4, 2015
    50
    Wherever you turn you see evidence that it’s a mobile game ported to PC – it’s sluggish, not very exciting, the visuals are dated and the interface should have been completely redone to fit mouse instead of touchscreen. [02/2015, p.61]
  2. Games.cz
    Feb 24, 2015
    60
    You will enjoy Dead Effect as a mediocre and stupid action snack - but it basically is the real charm of this game. We can neither recommend nor reject the game to your attention. The question whether it’s mixed for you or not you have to answer yourself.
    Read full review
  3. IGN Italia
    Feb 13, 2015
    69
    A fun FPS coming from the mobile scene that gets a bit too repetitive a bit too early.
    Read full review
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