This was quite the fun ride. It definitely has some hard hitting moments. The storry was gripping and kept me invested as I made dozens of small choices that eventually added into something more than the sum of their parts. As a game, it ran well with no bugs and with a UI and music that fitted the setting. It was a fun ride that kept me hooked for about 10 hours, or 1.5 play throughs. All in all, I enjoyed it.
First of all, I'll admit I'm biased. Cyberpunk has a very special place in my heart. Dex hit the spot: well written and voice acted plot, fun and memorable characters, music that is thematically appropriate, gameplay that fits the setting. It takes thematic inspiration from games like Deus Ex, but with simpler sidescrolling gameplay. And with reduced technical requirements, Dreadlocks was able to concentrate on what truly mattered to me: a content-rich world that responds to your choices as to play through the well-written story. I like that this game that lets you play your way, and that your choices in the story have real consequences. In this way, the game is immersive, with the gameplay and artistic elements playing into the story of corporate corruption and technological growth at the cost of humanity. In so far as flaws go, it's an indie title with all the usual issues. Other reviewers mentioned bugs, but the only bug I found was that a dead minor character came back to life briefly if things were done in a very particular order. I'll also admit that my first impression of the sidescrolling gameplay was that it was user-unfriendly and kind of janky. While my judgment remains, this improves as you get upgrades within the game, reflecting your progression. Personally, I thought this was a neat way to cover up technical issues in a story consistent way. All in all, I loved Dex for a lot of the same things I loved about Deus Ex. While it certainly has some rough edges, I just had a great time exploring its rich and engaging world, while gradually discovering a story of technology and conspiracy.
