DEAD CIDE CLUB, developed and published by PressA, is a multiplayer shooter that sets itself apart by abandoning the traditional first- and third-person perspectives in favor of a 2.5D side-scrolling format. It’s a bold shift that immediately gives the game a distinct identity, blending elements of platforming, hero shooters, and battle royale design into a single framework. On the surface, it feels like a refreshing alternative to the saturated shooter market, but the longer you spend with it, the more it becomes clear that its ambition is matched by uneven execution.

At the center of the experience is its lateral combat design. Players move across side-scrolling maps while aiming freely within a 3D plane, creating a hybrid system where positioning and vertical movement are just as important as aim. Grappling hooks, ledges, and environmental traversal tools introduce a layer of mobility that separates it from more conventional shooters. Fights often unfold across multiple elevations, forcing players to think in terms of space and angles rather than just reflexes. When everything comes together, the game can feel dynamic and engaging, offering a style of combat that is both chaotic and tactical.

The game supports a range of modes, including battle royale-style matches, team-based objectives, and cooperative encounters. This variety helps showcase different aspects of the gameplay, with some modes emphasizing survival and others focusing on coordinated team play. The inclusion of factions, or cartels, adds another layer, as each group provides unique perks and abilities that influence how players approach matches. This system encourages experimentation, allowing players to tailor their playstyle toward mobility, offense, or defense depending on their preferences.

However, the same systems that add variety also introduce complications. Balance is inconsistent, with certain abilities and loadouts offering clear advantages over others. In competitive environments, this can create situations where success feels tied more to build optimization than to player skill. The progression system, built around unlocking upgrades and customization options, reinforces this imbalance by gradually widening the gap between new and experienced players. While this structure is common in free-to-play games, it can make the experience feel less accessible over time.

The side-scrolling perspective, while innovative, is also one of the game’s biggest challenges. Visibility can become an issue during intense encounters, especially when multiple players are attacking from different elevations. The limited field of view sometimes makes it difficult to anticipate threats, leading to moments that feel less like strategic missteps and more like unavoidable surprises. This can be particularly noticeable in modes where survival depends on quick reactions, as the game’s perspective does not always provide the clarity needed for consistent decision-making.

Visually, DEAD CIDE CLUB adopts a stylized approach that complements its fast-paced gameplay. Characters are distinct, environments are colorful, and the overall presentation maintains a level of readability even during chaotic moments. The art direction supports the game’s identity, though it does not push beyond functional design into something truly memorable. The focus remains on ensuring that players can track movement and action, which is essential given the complexity of its combat.

One of the more significant issues affecting the game is its reliance on a strong multiplayer ecosystem. As with many live-service titles, the quality of the experience depends heavily on an active and balanced player base. Over time, maintaining this balance proved difficult, and fluctuations in player engagement impacted matchmaking and overall accessibility. This highlights a broader challenge: while the game’s concept is strong, sustaining long-term interest requires consistent support and refinement, which the game struggled to maintain.

Despite its shortcomings, DEAD CIDE CLUB remains an interesting experiment within the shooter genre. It takes familiar mechanics and reshapes them into something that feels different, offering moments of genuine excitement when its systems align. The combination of platforming movement, ability-driven combat, and varied modes creates a foundation with clear potential, even if that potential is not fully realized.

In the end, DEAD CIDE CLUB is a game defined by its ideas more than its execution. It introduces a unique perspective on multiplayer shooters and delivers flashes of creativity, but it is held back by balance issues, visibility challenges, and the demands of maintaining a live-service environment. For players looking for something unconventional, it offers a glimpse of what the genre can become, even if it falls short of becoming a lasting standout.

Rating: 7/10