Death Squared Review (PS4)

Death Squared sees you playing as artificially intelligent robots under the supervision of robot tester David, a worker for the futuristic tech company Omnicorp. A co-op puzzle game for 2-4 players - although there is a "lonely co-op" mode for those who don't have a companion on hand - developer SMG Studios' first console outing is a solid and enjoyable affair, although one that lacks innovation.

It's a simple premise: each player controls one coloured block - though in single player mode, one player controls two blocks, using both sticks - and must guide it to their corresponding goal. Things start off simple enough, but soon objects in the game's levels are manipulated depending on the movement of a certain block. For example, a coloured laser might turn or change direction depending on the movement of a block, or a lift or teleporter might change position and reveal a new area or solution.

What's satisfying about Death Squared is that everything is colour-coded, easily allowing for new mechanics and obstacles to be introduced without requiring much of an explanation. A blue button only activates when a blue player is on it, and translucent blocks only allow the corresponding-coloured player through while acting as a wall (or floor) for other coloured players. This simplicity keeps the game's 80-level story mode flowing quickly and fluidly, while still creating tough puzzles.

Said story is nothing too special, but the banter between David and his AI friend is quite funny - though it does fall flat in places. Other than a "how do you do fellow kids"-esque conversation concerning memes, the light-hearted humour of the game is enjoyable in places.

As a co-op game, Death Squared is the antithesis to the frantic action of something like Overcooked; because of the game's mind-boggling nature, a slow and cautious approach is best when playing with friends, creating a relaxing yet satisfying experience, -although tension can certainly racket up when a laser is centimetres away from vaporising one of your teammates. The puzzles are arguably more fun and challenging to tackle as a single player experience, however. Getting used to using the two analogue sticks for two different characters is a tough task, but one that ultimately feels like more of an accomplishment when you've completed a tough level.

Thanks to the physics-based nature of the game, pushing around blocks - as well as general movement - feels weighty, although a few problems can arise. We've had the frustrating experience of falling off of the map many times thanks to one tiny micro-movement, and while this is a testimony to the game's engine, it's hugely frustrating - especially when you've just had that eureka moment of realising the puzzle's solution.

Still, this is all a part of the trial-and-error nature of Death Squared. While it's possible to finish a level in one go, you're expected to fail many times since it's part of the learning process. It's a game about experimenting with different ideas and combinations until you've found the one that works - again, something that feels very rewarding, especially in the later levels.

Once the ten-hour story is over, the game's fun wears off a little. There is a challenging Vault mode that contains 30 harder levels - a mode that SMG Studio has promised to constantly update post-launch - and a Party mode for up to four players, but none of them are as fun as the main story mode, and are unlikely to keep you entertained for much longer.