Deathloop PS5 Review: 8 Ups & 3 Downs

2. Julianna Is A Genuine Threat & Implemented Perfectly

The final piece of the core gameplay puzzle is, suitably, Julianna. As mentioned earlier, Julianna is actually controlled by a real human player, who can invade your run during any level and attempt to end your loop.

This is where the Deathloop concept really comes alive, as Julianna is the biggest threat you have to losing your progress and residuum. Balancing the objectives at hand, while watching out for another player potentially lining you up in their sniper sights from afar, brings about a certain palm-sweating tension that ups the stakes massively.

This unpredictable element easily makes for the best unscripted moments in the game, as you and the other player try to outsmart each other using everything you've learned in the single-player runs, and the loadout you've equipped.

Playing as Julianna is a whole other beast too, as you're given unique powers to stalk your opponent. One allows you to take on the guise of certain NPCs, allowing you to close down on the player potentially undetected. It can be thrilling, and makes Julianna as threatening as she claims to be in her rapport with you over the radio.