Dread Templar

Dread Templar is a fun first-person shooter that will appeal to anyone who enjoyed the classic titles in the genre or the recent 2016 Doom reboot. It delivers over-the-top violence and classic combat sequences but also introduces more modern ideas, like the ability to slow down time when swamped by a ton of opponents. The old-school look and the thumping soundtrack create the perfect atmosphere for demonic culling. The levels are also pretty good, giving players space for a variety of approaches to combat without creating a maze. The developers understand the universe they are working in and make Dread Templar one of the best examples of the recent boomer shooter wave.

Dread Templar is a good example of a solid boomer shooter. It's fast, the enemies are dumb yet formidable, and the level design begs for exploration. The upgrade system is quite nice but doesn't show off its capabilities until you get further into the game. Weapon types are fine until you get them really powered up. While some things are a bit unfair, with explosions reaching far beyond their intended range and enemies refusing to drop ammo, Dread Templar remains an adrenaline-pumping experience that you'll return to — as long as you aren't expecting anything revolutionary.

Dread Templar pays a rocking homage to the classics of the FPS genre, delivering an experience made of pure adrenaline and nostalgia.

Whatever flaws you can find with Dread Templar, one thing counters them all: it’s hellishly fun to play. The speed of the action, your impressive arsenal, the pounding soundtrack – it all combines to create a thrilling first-person experience that you can’t help but lose yourself in. As far as retro-inspired shooters go, Dread Templar is up there with the best of them.

Dread Templar is a fairly shallow experience, but this isn’t a criticism. Dread Templar is at its best when there’s nothing but you, an arena, and some monsters for you to lazily circle strafe. Sadly, the additional systems just add fat to a game that doesn’t need the padding. Still, it’s absolutely worth playing, whether you’re a fan of shooters or just looking for something simple.

While not having the quality and personality shown by the greatest boomer shooters, Dread Templar is a fast-paced, fun and deep enough retro FPS that knows its stuff.

Dread Templar does a solid job of providing a game that feels like it belongs in the 90's. The shooting is great and there are plenty of guns and enemies. There are a lot of levels filled to the brim with secrets to hunt down. There are plenty of upgrades to find and augment your playstyle with. The aesthetic is dark and grim. Everything gels together nicely. But by trying too hard to replicate a 90's shooter, Dread Templar misses out on a few modern mechanics that would've really helped the gameplay.

Dread Templar offers over twenty-five levels, but somewhat monotonous level design. However, hordes of enemies, adrenaline-pumping action, a systematic way of upgrading and a high-quality soundtrack will make you fight through hell to the successful end.

There’s a plethora of proficient first-person shooters on Steam. Dread Templar offers an engrossing ten to fifteen-hour campaign with few blemishes. Sure, the experience might lack distinction, but it’s an efficient performer on most mid-to-low-end systems, making it ideal for Steam Deck owners seeking a fast and fluid firefight on the go.

There have been quite a few boomer shooters in these last few years and to be honest, Dread Templar is not the best of them, falling just a tiny bit short of the likes of Dusk, Amid Evil or Prodeus, but it's still funny and entertaining, especially if you're looking for a classic FPS experience.