Deception IV: Blood Ties

How much fun one has with this title is directly connected to how much they’re willing to experiment, and if they already consider themselves a bit of sadist, they will learn as to what extent they are.

While some of its parts still feel like trappings of a less-advanced era of gaming, Deception IV is a more than worthy—not to mention unashamed—continuation of a franchise that mixes unique, original concepts with that deep, dark desire we all hold to be a little evil sometimes.

It knows how to evolve the series without losing it essence. Also, the new online features are really welcome, expanding the life of the title.

It’s admittedly one of the most depraved games I’ve ever come across. A strategy title with a point collection system based on pain and humiliation will probably turn away the majority of sensible folks.

It kind of feels like Koei Tecmo dragged this franchise out from the closet under the stairs, dusted if off, then threw it back out to the masses. It's more Deception, and it's pretty good. But beyond that, it's a game that's strictly for the fans.

Deception IV is a lot of fun but gets repetitive very fast with its redundant challenges and lack of a meaningful plot.

Deception IV: Blood Ties is a very divisive game for the general public. Its slower pace has limited appeal, and the constant act of leading victims to traps can quickly become tedious.

Deception IV: Blood Ties continues the legacy of Tecmo's cult series, and feels like a full realization of the original premise. If you have the patience for its late-game flaws, there's never been a better time to cast your lot with The Devil.

The long and the short of it is that it feels good to be bad. The thrill of abusing and degrading these virtual people and the little twinges of guilt you might feel for enjoying it serve as a wonderful complement to the mental exercise of building a better deathtrap.

Macabrely original murder ‘em-up that defies categorisation, and its numerous rough edges, to make being evil more fun than in almost any other game.

A welcomed addition to the PS3 library, but one that doesn't necessarily belong in your own collection. While Deception IV has some things going for it, the few cons are significant enough to keep this game out of the realm of greatness.

Deception IV: Blood Ties is a weird B-game that’s mostly going on its witty and sickening traps. It’s great when you manage to get one trap sprung, only to have the victim bounce to another, and another, and another. The bad AI is a detriment to its charm though.

Deception IV is a game that will give you back exactly what you put into it. If you show it some love, it will most likely show you some love back.

Deception IV is a strange game that bizarrely makes for a wonderfully unique title, but shortcomings with the gameplay affects the overall quality of the game.

The game has lost some of the wonderful trap creation of the earlier titles and replaced it with a dose of fanservice. The challenge swings between simply walking the dumb AI into your elaborate traps, or outright exploiting it so that the cheap bosses don't kill you easily. But it's still Deception, and you're not going to find another game quite like it. If that's your jam, you'll still find a fun time here.

For new players, Blood Ties may come across as both demanding and frustrating due to its reliance on trial and error gameplay.

An original idea, but that doesn't really shine, weighed down by the AI and a not-so-wide variety of traps, which start to be repetitive sooner than expected. Only to be recommended if you're a fan of the saga or looking for something different, a twist in strategy games.