From classic spy adventures to bizarre sci-fi thrillers, Arkane Studios pulled inspiration from many cinematic sources while developing Deathloop.
While crafting the stylish time loop shooter Deathloop, developer Arkane Studios pulled inspiration from a variety of cinematic sources. The recently-released title puts players in the shoes of Colt, a man trapped in an endless time loop on the island of Blackreef. Deathloop tasks players with assassinating eight key Visionaries, with each successive loop giving players more and more knowledge to help track down their elusive targets.
Deathloop holds several similarities to Arkane Studios’ previous work, particularly on the Dishonored series. Both properties put a focus on assassination, with each level in the Dishonored titles focusing on reaching and eliminating a specific target. Supernatural powers also bind both Arkane works, as Deathloop provides players with a variety of abilities which closely resemble those available in Dishonored. While the time loop adventure puts a heavy emphasis on first-person shooter mechanics, various other tools also allow players to manipulate the game world in each game. Further connections between Dishonored and Deathloop may even suggest that the two franchises take place in the same universe, with Deathloop being set decades after the last Dishonored installment.
In an interview with Polygon, Deathloop art director Sébastien Mitton outlined 13 different films which inspired the unique time-bending action title. Some of these obvious inspirations come from films based on time loops, such as Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow. However, additional thematic and aesthetic inspiration came from more unexpected sources. The films of Quentin Tarantino, particularly Inglorious Basterds, helped Arkane Studios write memorable characters with colorful personalities. John Carpenter’s Escape From New York epitomized an anti-hero escaping from confinement, while James Bond flicks such as Skyfall led to Deathloop‘s fancy gadgets and moody atmosphere. Even John Carpenter’s wacky 1988 sci-fi thriller They Live served as an influence on the game’s slowly unfolding mystery.
While Arkane Lyon’s Deathloop has just recently launched, its sister team at Arkane Austin has already revealed its next project. The cooperative vampire shooter Redfall will transport players to the titular island town, located in Massachusetts, which has been overrun by the bloodsucking undead. Players will be able to freely explore the town of Redfall, and a variety of playable characters will each possess their own unique playstyles and abilities. Redfall has been compared to other co-op shooters, particularly Left 4 Dead, but Arkane Studios’ unique perspectives and inspirations could help make the title feel completely original.
Like many of Arkane Studios’ past titles, Deathloop delivers unique gameplay opportunities and artful aesthetics for gamers to experience. While the game’s assassinations and supernatural powers are quite similar to Dishonored, many other inspirations went into the development of Arkane’s latest release. From James Bond adventures to the terrifying mystery of They Live, Deathloop drew from beloved cinematic sources in order to craft a completely unique video game experience.
Deathloop is available on PS5 and PC.
Source: Polygon
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