Deadfall Adventures
A first-person treasure hunt against Nazis and supernatural threats.
Deadfall Adventures is a first-person action-adventure game from The Farm 51, published by Nordic Games. The story takes place in 1938, with players controlling James Lee Quatermain, the great-grandson of famous adventurer Allan Quatermain. James must escort a U.S. agent to Egypt in search of the Heart of Atlantis, while Nazi and Soviet factions pursue the same artifact. The game is set in the universe of H. Rider Haggard's Allan Quatermain novels.
Gameplay involves fighting Nazi soldiers and supernatural enemies like mummies across environments including Egypt, the Arctic, and Mayan ruins. James uses a compass to find hidden treasures that boost his stats, Allan Quatermain's notebook to solve puzzles and traps, and a flashlight to navigate dark areas and repel supernatural foes. Weapons include revolvers, shotguns, and a knife for melee combat.
The game was built with Unreal Engine 3, drawing inspiration from action-adventure books and movies such as Indiana Jones and the Allan Quatermain novels. The development team studied popular films and consulted movie industry professionals to capture the treasure-hunting genre's tone. Initially announced for July 30, 2013, it was delayed twice, first to September 27 and then to November 15, 2013, when it finally released for Windows and Xbox 360. A collector's edition included an Allan Quatermain revolver skin, three multiplayer skins, a "Making Of" DVD, an original soundtrack CD, a printed manual, and a bonus DVD with an artbook. A Linux beta became available on December 31, 2013, for those who bought the Windows version on Steam. On June 11, 2014, a PlayStation 3 version titled *Deadfall Adventures: Heart of Atlantis* was announced for summer 2014, featuring enhancements such as a new co-op survival mode, new boss fights, cutscenes, locations, and an improved leveling system. It was released on October 28, 2014.
Reception was mixed to negative. The Windows version scored 53/100 on Metacritic, and the Xbox 360 version scored 43/100. GameSpot's Cameron Woolsey gave it 3/10, calling it "hopelessly predictable" and a "tiresome formula of kill rooms and effortless puzzles." IGN's Craig Pearson gave it 4/10, describing it as "an uninspired retread of good concepts." Game Informer's Jeff Marchiafava also gave it 4/10, calling it "An Adventure Best Forgotten," and Edge magazine awarded the same score.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Deadfall Adventures
- Developer
- The Farm 51
- Publisher
- Nordic Games
- Composer
- Piotr Musial, Pawel Cincio, Arkadiusz Reikowski, Jakub Gawlina
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Released
- Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360WW · November 15, 2013PlayStation 3 / WW · October 28, 2014
- Genre
- First-person shooter, action-adventure
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Deadfall Adventures takes place in 1938, with players controlling James Lee Quatermain, great-grandson of the famous adventurer Allan Quatermain. James must escort a U.S. agent to Egypt in search of the Heart of Atlantis, while Nazi and Soviet factions pursue the same artifact. Gameplay involves using a compass to find hidden treasures that improve stats, Allan Quatermain's notebook to solve puzzles and overcome traps, and a flashlight to navigate dark areas and fend off supernatural enemies like mummies. Weapons include revolvers, shotguns, and a knife for melee combat.
The game was developed using Unreal Engine 3 and was inspired by action-adventure books and movies such as Indiana Jones and the Allan Quatermain novels. The development team researched popular films and consulted movie industry professionals to capture the treasure hunting genre's tone and look. Originally announced for release on July 30, 2013, it was delayed twice before launching on November 15, 2013. A collector's edition included an Allan Quatermain revolver skin, three multiplayer skins, a 'Making Of' DVD, original soundtrack CD, a printed game manual, and a 'Bonus Content' DVD with an artbook. A Linux beta was released on December 31, 2013, for Windows purchasers on Steam.
On June 11, 2014, a PlayStation 3 version titled Deadfall Adventures: Heart of Atlantis was announced for summer 2014, featuring enhancements such as a new co-op survival mode, new boss fights, cutscenes, locations, and an improved leveling system. It was released on October 28, 2014.
Reader's Guide
Deadfall Adventures occupies a minor place in the adventure game landscape of the 2010s, primarily noted for its mixed-to-negative reception. The Windows and Xbox 360 versions received Metacritic scores of 53/100 and 43/100, respectively. Critics were largely unimpressed: Cameron Woolsey of GameSpot gave it a 3/10, describing it as 'hopelessly predictable' and a 'tiresome formula of kill rooms and effortless puzzles.' Craig Pearson of IGN awarded a 4/10, calling it 'an uninspired retread of good concepts' and 'an unfortunate visitor into a genre with some genuine giants.' Jeff Marchiafava of Game Informer also gave it a 4/10, labeling it 'An Adventure Best Forgotten,' while Edge magazine similarly scored it 4/10. Despite these reviews, the game's connection to the Allan Quatermain literary universe and its attempt to emulate the Indiana Jones-style treasure hunting genre gave it a niche appeal. The delayed release and subsequent PlayStation 3 version with added content suggest a modest effort to extend its reach, but it failed to achieve critical or commercial success, remaining a footnote in the action-adventure genre of the era.
Did You Know?
- The game is set in the universe of the Allan Quatermain series by H. Rider Haggard.
- The PlayStation 3 version, titled Deadfall Adventures: Heart of Atlantis, added a new co-op survival mode and new boss fights.
- The collector's edition included an Allan Quatermain revolver skin for single-player mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deadfall Adventures?
Deadfall Adventures is a first-person action-adventure game developed by The Farm 51 and published by Nordic Games. Released in late 2013, it blends treasure-hunting exploration with combat against both human and supernatural foes.
Who is the protagonist of Deadfall Adventures?
Players control James Lee Quatermain, the great-grandson of Allan Quatermain from H. Rider Haggard's classic novels. Set in 1938, his mission is to escort a U.S. agent through Egypt to recover the legendary Heart of Atlantis.
What platforms can I play Deadfall Adventures on?
The game launched on Windows and Xbox 360 in November 2013, with a PlayStation 3 version following in October 2014. It was built on Unreal Engine 3.
What are the main antagonists in Deadfall Adventures?
Players face off against Nazi soldiers, Soviet operatives, and supernatural threats such as mummies. All factions are competing to claim the Heart of Atlantis across locations in Egypt, the Arctic, and Mayan ruins.
Why is Deadfall Adventures notable among 2010s adventure games?
It stands out for placing players in the literary universe of H. Rider Haggard's Allan Quatermain stories, connecting a modern video game to a century of classic adventure fiction. The mix of period setting, supernatural enemies, and multi-region exploration gave it a distinct flavor compared to other first-person adventures of the era.
More in Adventure Games of the 2010s, Part 2 1-24
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