Deathloop: Why Playing As Julianna Is More Fun

Deathloophas two playable characters (Julianna and Colt), but playing as Julianna is far more entertaining and enjoyable than playing as Colt. When booting up the game, players can choose to “Break The Loop” or “Protect The Loop,” which allows them to select Colt or Julianna, respectively. To unlock Julianna, players must complete Deathloop’s tutorial. Choosing Julianna allows players to invade Colt playthroughs and hunt them down, effectively defending Blackreef’s Loop.

Deathloop is a first-person shooter designed by Arkane Lyon, Dishonored’s developers, focusing on two assassins trapped in a time loop on Blackreef. The inhabitants of Blackreef suffer from amnesiac effects brought on by Deathloop’s time loop, with only Julianna and Colt retaining their memories. Colt will try and kill eight Visionaries before midnight to break the loop, while Julianna attempts to hunt him down. Stealth, parkour, and crafting systems will be players’ paths to victory, enabling many playstyles to solve puzzles and win battles. However, players will find that Julianna’s gameplay is much less stressful than Colt’s.

Juliana’s Invasion ability is Deathloop’s multiplayer initiator, allowing players to enter one another’s games and engage in PvP activities. Though Julianna only has one life, there is virtually no consequence to being defeated by Colt. Without the pressure of resetting the time loop, players can embrace Deathloop’s gameplay mechanics with smaller stakes. Unfortunately, there is no skill-based matchmaking, meaning Julianna players can face anything from a new player to a dozen-hour veteran. Deathloop’s Julianna also entertains players with sassy quips, which can be far more entertaining than Colt’s constant confusion.

Deathloop’s Julianna Encourages Players To Use New Strategies

Deathloop imbues Julianna and Colt with unique abilities, also called Slabs, that encourage different playstyles depending on the character. Colt’s Reprise ability gives him three lives, and he can also use the Slabs of other Visionaries. Extended time in the loop allows Colt’s players to build up arsenals before Julianna arrives. However, Julianna’s players can use stealth and deception to great lengths. Disguising Julianna as an NPC and using long-range rifles to eliminate Colt from a distance are just a few of her many skills. While Colt’s playstyle encourages perfection to complete his objectives, Julianna can move more freely throughout the world.

Many games launch with glitches and unbalanced mechanics, and Deathloop is no different. A glitch in Deathloop allows Julianna to trap Colt in his safe areas without an escape route. Additionally, there are few limitations to Julianna’s spawns, meaning Colt can be caught off guard and have an entire run ruined from lousy timing. There is also a glitch where Colt’s players will receive a “Julianna is Gone” message, with Julianna still lingering in the world. Arkane Lyon will likely patch these glitches soon, but their existence makes playing as Colt far more frustrating than Julianna’s gameplay.

Thankfully, the world of Deathloop is an enjoyable callback to Arkane Lyon’s other games, Dishonored and Prey. Stealth, parkour, and assassination mechanics work wonderfully in Blackreef’s distorted reality. The personalities of both Julianna and Colt keep players company as they journey through the game’s colorful world. Each character has something unique to bring to the table, but more carefree players may want to focus on playing as Julianna in Deathloop for now.

About The Author

Natalie Lindner
(499 Articles Published)

See also  How To Get Away With Murder: 10 Times Connor & Oliver Proved They Were Meant For Each Other

Natalie Lindner is a Game Features Writer for Screen Rant, creating content on the past, present, and future of games in the industry. Prior to this, she worked out of a writing consultancy in Rhode Island from 2018 to 2021, where she helped college students improve their writing abilities. Natalie has contributed her video game writing to several smaller websites and projects since 2018 and is eager to continue that journey with Screen Rant.

Working out of New Hampshire, Natalie spends the time she isn’t writing about games outside; hiking or biking. On those rainy days, she can be found striving for action on the latest FPS or perusing the latest comic books.

More From Natalie Lindner