REVIEW : Deflector (PC)
Deflector looks like two swords were pasted on a slingshot in the Mad Max manner. With twin swords scaling back and forth through either end, how can the ricochet still work? I’m not sure. After sprinting around a field full with adversaries, how does it constantly loop back to where you’re standing? I have no idea. Deflector’s concept is simple: slice your way across halls of beasts with extended limbs, snarling jaws, and lethal spheres juke in your direction. This is a rather frenetic action game that combines the uncontrolled devastation of a shrapnel rifle with the ever-changing levels and chambers that are famous with roguelikes.
You only get one boomerang to hit adversaries with this from distance, but once it’s back in your hands, it functions as a temporary dismissive screen for receiving distant attacks, thus the development’s name. Because a single errant missile can take a fifth of your vitality, your eyes must be alert to every approaching attack as you scan your surroundings quickly. Deflector is an elevated bullet inferno roguelike created by Arrowfirst and distributed by Super. Deflector is the first game developed by Arrowfirst, a Spanish studio located in Barcelona. On January 27th, 2022, the game will be released in Early Access on Steam, and I was fortunate to get a sneak glimpse at what’s in store.
Deflector is a game in which players must remove viruses while also growing their protagonist’s DNA in a small cosmos. The game is described as non-linear, allowing the player to wander freely between levels. From what I’ve seen thus far in terms of plot, there doesn’t appear to be much to boast about, but given how early in the Early Access period it is, we’re likely to see more over time. The locations and premise, though, are engaging, and the game adds to that. Deflector is built around Arrowfirst’s own take on the uptake genre. I’m usually wary when a developer claims to be doing something groundbreaking, so I was ecstatic when Deflector actually seemed innovative. The bend mechanic is the main feature, hence the name Deflector. It adds another dimension to a bullet hell game when you can do more than simply dodge the incoming bullets. There are also a slew of upgrades that improve the capabilities, as well as an almost infinite number of different ways to put it to the test. The pace takes some getting used to, but once you do, it’s a lot of fun. Deflector is a dangerous adversary.
You’re given a large overview screen of the following rooms, with roads twisting between them, as well as information on which arenas include powerful foes and exclusive awards. The player has complete control over the course they take through the levels. You advance to new locations dependent about which enhancements you choose, yet these decisions don’t feel particularly important. Improvements definitely meant a lot, but I wasn’t sure why or how the position of the gameplay mechanics mattered. That could be attributed to Early Access, maybe it’s something they don’t intend to elaborate on. It doesn’t really matter because the game’s main focus is on bullet-hell gameplay and a clever deflector system. Another aspect of Deflector that I adored was the overall look of the game. Deflector is a visually attractive game. When I first played it, it started to evoke comparable thoughts as Hades, which is excellent praise. In terms of variety, the locales were starting to feel a little boring, but I attribute that up to the early stages of development and am curious to see what else is added later. Deflector’s music is likewise really fantastic. It contributes significantly to the game’s frantic mood. The early attention to detail in terms of the design and feel of Deflector gives me a lot of hope for the future. In roguelike games, risk and threat balances are crucial, and Deflector hasn’t fully captured the feeling of luring the player in with strong upgrades accompanied by the threat of lethal encounters. The number of upgrades available – such as chain strikes with your boomerang and exploding adversaries – pales in comparison to simply surviving the final fight with all of your vitality alive, which you’ll need given how nasty they are.
