Dead Take Reviews
Dead Take clearly wants players to focus on uncovering its story, and the mansion is built in a way that makes exploration feel rewarding even without much resistance. The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting, with sound and lighting creating an ever-present sense of tension that kept me leaning forward the whole time. Dead Take might not break the escape room genre wide open, but it finds a creative way to pull players into its world, and it's worth seeing through to the end.
Dead Take too often dips into the surreal but is otherwise an authentic and terrifying view into the trauma of being an actor.
Dead Take features Ben Starr and Neil Newbon as opposing actors fighting for a seat at an auteur's table
If the story were longer and there were more live-action sequences, then the game could have been something truly special. However, what’s here is still worth checking out, especially for horror aficionados who are looking for something a bit different, and a little more real.
Dead Take is a sublime horror game filled with some phenomenal performances expertly heightened by the live-action nature. It's unique, fun, and fantastically paced.
This short jaunt through a haunted mansion leads you through entertaining puzzles, even if you're not quite sure why you're there, but will entice you further with a deeper mystery about the abuse of power in the entertainment industry.
A short first-person psychological horror game, Dead Take cleverly incorporates full motion video footage to explore the lengths that some will go to in order to achieve success. It's not particularly scary but it does go to some dark places, making it definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre.
A well-executed psychological horror game that looks beyond the glossy surface of the film industry to reveal its compromises.
Review in Italian | Read full review
"A profound and elegant horror experience" Dead Take delivers a psychological horror experience characterized by deep narrative, realistic performances, and a bold combination of cinematic acting and in-game interaction. While some elements lack depth and direction, the sound, visuals, and acting more than make up for it. It's an unusual experience that demonstrates Surgent Studios' maturity as a team striving to deliver impactful storytelling in innovative ways.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
A fantastic cast brings a very real light to harsh realities of the entertainment industry, accompanied by some brilliantly realised puzzle/horror gameplay that oozes tension and atmosphere throughout the entire story.
Dead Take stands out in the genre of horror walking sims with its intriguing story, talented cast and FMV elements. Unfortunately its horror aspects are where it falls flat, as it tries to cram itself into the genre with the use of cheap jump scares and horror clichés.
Dead Take has the potential to be a strong psychological horror puzzler, but its scattered direction, lack of suspense, and unclear narrative thread hold it back from standing out in a crowded genre - despite solid acting and a haunting setting that could have delivered so much more.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
While the atmosphere is good, and the puzzles are logically structured, they don't reinvent the wheel in any way. While everything is well integrated into the setting, it's not enough to distinguish it from the rest of the genre. Anyone who has a soft spot for this setting or enjoys FMV scenes from well-known voice actors should definitely check out "Dead Take."
Review in German | Read full review
Dead Take is a fantastic psychological horror that pulls no punches, delivering superb acting and some great puzzles that keep you engaged until the very end.
Dead Take is a solid four or five hours of classic horror puzzle fun, mixed with some excellent (and some mediocre) live-action scenes. It isn’t looking to break any ground, instead targeting a good, scary time, and nailing it.
Dead Take is a commendable attempt at psychological horror games, seemingly born from genuine passion and a desire to deliver a distinctive experience with a unique visual style and vivid storytelling. The involvement of well-known actors from the gaming world added a professional touch and greater depth to the experience, reflecting the clear ambition of the development team. While it stumbled in delivering a fully cohesive horror experience, it nevertheless left a notable mark on the genre.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Between video fragments and empty spaces, Dead Take builds a contained, atmospheric experience, with a level of surrealism that softens the dramatic weight of its more serious inspirations.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dead Take is a solid adventure for the FMV genre that provides an eerie and moody atmosphere set in the Hollywood hills. What's there is an intriguing exploration of the powers that be and the dog-eat-dog nature of the film industry, and how it can consume people. It may not contain the deepest or most complex puzzle, nor does it make replayability easy for optional objectives, but you don't stay for that. What you're there for is the stellar performances; the likes of Ben Starr, Neil Newbon, Laura Bailey and more giving it their utmost all to deliver you a sufficiently chilling horror experience. There are horrors in that mansion, and though not all in there may delight, it's a worthwhile and memorable jaunt behind Hollywood's closed doors.