Breach & Clear: DEADline Review

We had the opportunity to test Breach & Clear: DEADline for you. This game is developed by Mighty Rabbit Studios and Gun Media and is published by Gambitious Digital Entertainment and Devolver Digital.

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If we would describe the gameplay of Breach & Clear: DEADline in a short way, we would like to say that it is a great mix of genres. This game includes a Top-Down-Shooter with RTS-Gameplay and a touch of a RPG. We want to show you if the developers have included all this elements so that they fit together and if it’s worth to get the game.

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B_C_DEADline-MedLab-Soldier_v04-logo2First we would like to talk about the story. You take control about a military Four-Man-Team that have crash-landed in the middle of a Zombie affected city. The goal is clear, ‘survive’. You get the story told by getting new quest or you can call it ‘missions’. Players get this goals by their superiors or from a number of survivors you meet on the way through the city. You have to find the source of the virus and destroy it. This isn’t the deepest story by enough to push the player in a reasoned way through the game.

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DEADline-WeaponShot_Beretta_92FSAs a player you can control every member of your team. You are able to switch between the soldiers via tab. We like it that everyone of the team has their own special abilities and preferred weapons which allows you many tactical variations of playing the game. DEADline-WeaponShot_MK46For example, we can use the explosives Expert who can throw explosive charges in the middle of the Zombie Hordes or you can use the Medic who can help other team members after they have been hurt.

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In addition to the classic Campaigns-Mode, Breach & Clear: DEADline offers a Challenge Mode. In this Mode players have to get through different levels within a certain time. You can also play the multiplayer Co-Op-Mode. The also offers two different playmodes which are very useful in the multiplayer.

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Deadline-Urban-Encounter_with_Infested_HordeNot only you can switch between the characters, it is also possible to switch the gameplay-mode while the game still running, and we love it. Players have the opportunity to play in the Action-Mode which gives you a direct control about the units. The game is like a classic Top-Down-Shooter in this mode. You control the company with your Mouse and Keyboard (or Controller) and fight like you would fight your way through hell.

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On the other hand you can play in the very useful Commando-Mode which is a better mode that gives the players a deep strategic opportunity. In this mode you automatically switch in a game-pause which gives you the chance to plan your next steps or attacks. You can send your units separately to different positions, tell them to attack certain enemies and to order that they have to use their special abilities or items. This all commandos will be accomplished by switching back in the Action-Mode or by holding the spacebar. By holding the spacebar you are able to watch your units run the commands. It is also possible to release the spacebar anytime and to change your orders.

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On the way through the city you will meet other survivors which are asking for your help. Unfortunately, there are no voice recordings, so you have to click through the text dialogs. After you get your mission, you move your troop in the direction of your task which is luckily marked on the map. Deadline-Urban-SimplePlan-DirectTarget-WMWe like it that the missions have different goals to manage with. For example, once you have to get some hard liquor to disinfect wounds. On the way we meet some Zombie-Groups and are hunted by some Zombie-Waves. Players notice this by the automatically switch in the Command-Mode. At this stage of the game it is important to find the right position for you units so that they survive the approaching enemy waves without prejudice.

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Unfortunately, we noticed that the games enemy’s IA is not the smartest one. Not at once we had the opportunity to attack our enemies from behind or it was easy to flank them. After every fight we get informations about the time we needed, the taking damage and a rating shown by stars.

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Deadline-Squad-Equipment_MenuIn addition to weapons, ammunition and equipment, which we capture from crates, defeated enemies drop some scrap. Players can use this to upgrade their weapons and equipment on the workbench in our shelter. Players are also able to upgrade the skills of their units. Deadline-Squad-Medic_Character_Class_Skill_TreePlayers can do this any time by using the skill trees in the menu. Important is, that each team member has his own skill tree. Players get a point for every level-up which can be used to unlock new skills like a higher precision and much more.

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What we like is that the missions which lead you constantly to new places. The map is build linear but we like that we have enough space for different tactical opportunities. To pass larger distances the game gives us a Fast Travel System which is installed in Bus-Stops.

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Deadline-Sewers-ActionMode-ShamblingHorde-WMUnfortunately, we have to say that the developers have focused more on the gameplay mechanisms than on the graphics. This isn’t bad but we wished the game would have more graphical details and smoother animations. We have repeatedly seen that the graphic representation is not so relevant and that the gameplay mechanics let it be a great experience.

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Breach & Clear – Deadline is a game with a great mix of genres and this is the point we love most about it. We had a lot of fun to plan and order our next tactical attack and switch after that in the Action-Mode to fight with our comrades. Unfortunately, we have to say that the graphical issues let the game look more like an Early Access version than as a finished game. But this isn’t bad because we like the gameplay. The story is not the deepest one and the enemy’s AI is not the best, but you have to keep in mind that the most enemies are Zombies. You can find other games in the Top-Down-Action- and Strategy-Game-Genre that are great, too, but we think Breach & Clear – Deadline should get a chance, especially after we have seen that the developers still working on the game to make it better and only for a price of 20 €/$. We think it is a solid game. We have found a lot of potentials and hope to see more about.

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