Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of buzz about “Deadlock,” this new hero shooter from Valve. It’s still super early access, but I managed to snag a key and dove in headfirst. Here’s how it all went down.
First, I had to actually find a way to play. This wasn’t your typical Steam release. It was all hush-hush, with keys being given out in a pretty limited way. I spent a good few hours scouring forums and Discord servers, finally lucking out and getting a key from a generous user.
Then came the download. It wasn’t a huge file, surprisingly, given the game’s ambition. It was pretty straightforward, just a matter of clicking through the usual installer prompts. I was already picturing myself dominating the leaderboards (spoiler: that didn’t happen).
Once installed, I fired it up. The initial menus were pretty barebones, as expected. There were options for, you know, graphics settings and stuff, but nothing fancy. It was clear this was a work in progress.
The Character Selection
- I jumped into a practice range first.
- Tried out a few different heroes, each with their own wacky abilities.
- It reminded me a bit of other hero shooters, you know the type, but it definitely had its own unique feel.
- The characters are very creative.
The Gameplay
After messing around in the practice range, I felt brave enough to try a real match. I queued up and… waited. And waited. The player base is obviously pretty small right now, so finding a full match took a while. But hey, that’s early access for you.
Finally, I got into a game. The map was pretty cool – a mix of tight corridors and open areas, clearly designed for some strategic hero play. I picked a hero I thought looked cool (priorities, right?), and started running around.
The gunplay felt pretty solid. It wasn’t revolutionary, but it was satisfying enough. The real fun came from using the hero abilities. I was zipping around, throwing grenades, and generally causing chaos. I even managed to get a few kills, which was a pleasant surprise.
The match was intense. Lots of back-and-forth, with teams clashing over objectives. I definitely died… a lot. But I also learned a lot. It was clear that teamwork and understanding your hero’s role were crucial.
My Overall Impression (So Far)
“Deadlock,” even in this early state, is showing a lot of promise. It’s rough around the edges, sure, but the core gameplay is fun, and the hero designs are interesting. It’s definitely something I’ll be keeping an eye on as it develops. It needs more players, more polish, and probably a whole lot more content, but the foundation is there. If you can get your hands on a key, it’s worth checking out, just be prepared for a bumpy ride.
