Dex (video game)

Dex is a side-scrolling action role-playing game developed and published by Dreadlocks Ltd. The
game was crowdfunded on Kickstarter, and was released in 2015.[3][4][5]

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot

Dex is a 2D side-scrolling platform game focused on exploration and non-linear gameplay, more like
a Role-playing game. The player controls the eponymous character, Dex, and receives quests from
NPCs. Every quest has multiple possible solutions and it is up to player which of them to choose.[6]

The player receives experience points for every quest completed or enemy killed. Experience points
grant skill points that can be invested into the character's skills. Skills include fighting, shooting,
hacking, and lock-picking.

Plot

The story follows Dex, a young woman living in Harbor Prime. Harbor Prime is a city controlled by
corporations that are integrated into a secret authority known as the Complex. Dex becomes a
target of the Complex that sends its assassins to her. Dex is saved by a hacker known as Raycast
who guides her to safety. Raycast reveals that Dex is the "fragment of Kether." Kether was the
supreme Artificial Intelligence program created by the Complex. It was shut down when the
Complex lost control of it. Dex becomes part of the resistance against the Complex.

Development and release

The game was announced at the Game Developers Session 2012 and originally scheduled to be
released in 2013. In late 2012, developers started a Kickstarter campaign, which started on
November 12 when the studio asked for £14,000. The amount was reached a week later and in the
end the game was pledged £30,647. On November 4, 2012, Dex was greenlit for Steam.[7][8][9][10]
The first build of Alpha version was released an
Dex
Early Access on August 14, 2014.[11] It featured a
limited amount of quests and locations.[12] The
second build was released three months later,
featuring more quests, locations and
characters.[13] The Beta was released on April 1,
2015, adding almost all features intended for the
final release, including the story, and was
Developer(s) Dreadlocks Ltd
published only in Steam Beta Build. The final
version was released on May 7, 2015.[14] Publisher(s) Dreadlocks Ltd

A physical version produced by publishers PQube Designer(s) Jan Jirkovský

and BadLand Games for the PlayStation 4 Programmer(s) Michal Červenka

console was released on July 29, 2016.[15] Jaroslav Meloun

Writer(s) Jan Jirkovský

Reception
Morris Stuttard
Axel Droxler
Dex received mixed reviews upon its release.
Arcade Sushi praised the gameplay system which Composer(s) Karel Antonín
"combines expressive 2D sprites and nostalgic
Engine Unity[1][2]
platforming with some grade-A, modern action-
RPG." It also praised the story and its familiarity to Platform(s) Linux, OS X,

Deus Ex and Shadowrun. On the other hand, the Windows, PlayStation

Vita, Xbox One,
save system was criticised as was the journal
PlayStation 4,
system. The review also mentioned some minor
Nintendo Switch
bug, but was overall positive and called Dex a
"solid game worth investment."[21] Czech website Release Linux, OS X,
Zing praised the atmosphere of the game world Windows

and the story along with the soundtrack. Side- May 7, 2015
PlayStation Vita
quests that include possibility to make a decision
December 20, 2016
also gained praise. However, it criticised the
Xbox One
number of bugs and noted that Dex should have
July 8, 2016
stayed in Early Access for a bit longer.[22] Dex won PlayStation 4
the Czech Game of the Year Award for artistic July 12, 2016
contribution to Czech video game output in Nintendo Switch
2014.[23] July 24, 2020
Website Games.cz voted Dex the best Czech Genre(s) Action role-playing
video game developed in 2015. They noted that
Mode(s) Single-player
the game would not have been nominated for the
title at release due to the high number of
Reception
bugs that spoiled the experience, but
Aggregate score
Dreadlocks had released multiple bug-
Aggregator Score
fixing and game-improving updates since
then. The review noted that after these (PC) 62/100[16]
(XONE) 69/100[17]
updates Dex "is the undisputed best title"
Metacritic (PS4) 67/100[18]
among Czech games of 2015.[24] Game
(Vita) 49/100[19]
Obscura also praised the Enhanced Edition, (NS) 72/100[20]
saying "it's a must play for the fans of
cyberpunk RPG games."[25]

The console version has received more positive reviews than the PC version. It holds a 69% rating
on Metacritic. Elias Blondeau of CGMagazine praised the story and gameplay. He called Dex "the
absolute best Ghost in the Shell game we’ve ever gotten."[26] Digitally Downloaded compared Dex with
The Technomancer. It praised Dex for its gameplay but criticised narrative.[27] Lauren Relph praised
the art design and the inspiration from various cyberpunk sources such as Blade Runner. Another
praise was for story and well-acted characters. Relph on the other hand criticised the combat and
hacking mechanics. Relph concluded her review: "A modest and enjoyable game, with a selection of
great characters, and a storyline often giving pause for thought. Dex is a solid project, clearly put
together with love. While its combat mechanic and hacking are lacking, the majority of the
experience is deep and interesting."[28] ZTGD published a negative review which criticised the
combat, story and controls. He also noted performance issues with the Xbox One version. His
conclusion was: "Dex just never stood out enough for me. The generic and clichéd story left me cold,
and the technical issues made the game hard to like. However, it is worth noting that the various
performance issues I encountered on the Xbox One were not present on the PC version. So if you
feel like you need to check Dex out and have the ability to do so, get it on PC. It doesn’t differ much
in general, but at least it will be slightly more pleasant to play."[29] Brandon Marlow wrote another
negative review. He praised the game's world and story, noting interesting characters and places;
but he criticised its gameplay which he called a "dull affair."[30]

References

1. "2D Cyberpunk RPG Dex On Kickstarter news - Dex Game" (http://www.moddb.com/games/de

x/news/2d-cyberpunk-rpg-dex-on-kickstarter) . Mod DB. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
 2. "Cyberpunk 2D RPG Dex shows off its Concept Art" (http://www.lightninggamingnews.com/cy
berpunk-2d-rpg-dex-shows-off-its-concept-art/) . Lightning Gaming News. 2013-11-27.
Retrieved 2015-07-24.

3. "Dex - Cyberpunk 2D RPG by Dreadlocks — Kickstarter" (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/d

readlocks/dex-cyberpunk-2d-rpg) . Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 2015-07-24.

4. "Dex: Side-Scrolling Cyberpunk RPG Lands On Kickstarter" (http://www.cinemablend.com/gam

es/Dex-Side-Scrolling-Cyberpunk-RPG-Lands-Kickstarter-60589.html) . Cinemablend.com. 16
November 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-24.

5. "Dex a 2D side-scrolling open-world RPG released" (http://linuxgamenews.com/post/11846779

7276/dex-a-2d-side-scrolling-open-world-rpg-released) . Linux Game News. Retrieved
12 February 2016.

6. Loukota, Ladislav. "Dex - recenze" (http://games.tiscali.cz/recenze/dex-recenze-ceskeho-kyber

punkoveho-rpg-251432) . Games.cz. Retrieved 9 February 2016.

7. "Čeští Dreadlocks uspěli na Kickstarteru a radí, jak je následovat" (http://www.tyinternety.cz/20

13/11/27/clanek/cesti-dreadlocks-uspeli-na-kickstarteru-a-radi-jak-je-nasledovat/) .
Tyinternety.cz. 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2015-07-24.

8. "Dreadlocks představili české akční RPG Dex" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013849/

http://www.zing.cz/novinky/14793/dreadlocks-predstavili-ceske-akcni-rpg-dex) . Zing.cz.
Archived from the original (http://www.zing.cz/novinky/14793/dreadlocks-predstavili-ceske-ak
cni-rpg-dex) on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2015-07-24.

9. "České kyberpunkové RPG Dex zamířilo na Kickstarter - Games.cz" (http://games.tiscali.cz/ozn

ameni/ceske-kyberpunkove-rpg-dex-zamirilo-na-kickstarter-64568) . Games.tiscali.cz.
Retrieved 2015-07-24.

10. "Group Announcements ::" (http://steamcommunity.com/games/765/announcements/detail/1

370515416514754782) . Steam Community. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-24.

11. Loukota, Ladislav. "Český kyberpunk Dex je k dispozici na Steam Early Access" (http://games.ti
scali.cz/oznameni/cesky-kyberpunk-dex-je-k-dispozici-na-steam-early-access-241797) .
Games.cz. Retrieved 14 August 2014.

12. Loukota, Ladislav. "Český kyberpunk Dex je k dispozici na Steam Early Access" (http://games.ti
scali.cz/oznameni/cesky-kyberpunk-dex-je-k-dispozici-na-steam-early-access-241797) .
Games.cz. Retrieved 14 August 2014.

13. "Dex Steam Early Alpha #2" (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dreadlocks/dex-cyberpunk-

2d-rpg/posts/1051645) . Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
14. "Raw Dex Beta" (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dreadlocks/dex-cyberpunk-2d-rpg/post
s/1184947) . Kickstarter.cz. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

15. "2D Cyberpunk, role-playing game Dex slated for physical PlayStation 4 release" (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20160707143214/http://crashlanded.co.uk/dex-ps4-physical-release.php) .
Crash Landed. 2016-07-06. Archived from the original (http://crashlanded.co.uk/dex-ps4-physi
cal-release.php) on 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2016-07-06.

16. "Dex for PC Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/dex/critic-reviews/?platform=pc) .

Metacritic. Retrieved 19 September 2015.

17. "Dex for Xbox One Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/dex/critic-reviews/?platform=

xbox-one) . Metacritic. Retrieved 26 August 2022.

18. "Dex for PlayStation 4 Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/dex/critic-reviews/?platfor

m=playstation-4) . Metacritic. Retrieved 26 August 2022.

19. "Dex for PlayStation Vita Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/dex/critic-reviews/?plat

form=playstation-vita) . Metacritic. Retrieved 26 August 2022.

20. "Dex for Switch Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/dex/critic-reviews/?platform=nin

tendo-switch) . Metacritic. Retrieved 26 August 2022.

21. Denzer, T.J. (13 May 2015). "Dex Review" (http://arcadesushi.com/dex-review-pc/) . Arcade
Sushi. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

22. Zeman, Ondřej. "Dex – český kyberpunk v akci" (http://www.zing.cz/recenze/1379/dex-cesky-k

yberpunk-v-akci) . Zing.cz. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

23. "Česká Hra Roku" (http://ceskahraroku.cz/) . Ceskahraroku.cz. Retrieved 2015-07-24.

24. "Best of 2015: Nejlepší česká a slovenská hra" (http://games.tiscali.cz/tema/best-of-2015-nejl

epsi-ceska-a-slovenska-hra-270787) . Games.cz. Retrieved 9 February 2016.

25. Sashadarko |. "Dex (2015) [PC] – In-depth Review – Sasha Darko" (http://sashadarko.com/dex-
2015-pc-in-depth-review/) . Retrieved 2021-08-31.

26. Blondeau, Elias (20 July 2016). "Dex – Enhanced Edition (PS4) Review" (http://www.cgmagonli
ne.com/reviews/dex-enhanced-edition-ps4-review/) . CGMagazine. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

27. "Review: Dex: Enhanced Version (Sony PlayStation 4) - Digitally Downloaded" (http://www.digit
allydownloaded.net/2016/07/review-dex-enhanced-version-sony.html) .
www.digitallydownloaded.net. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
28. Relph, Lauren (14 July 2016). "Dex for Xbox One review: Striving for singularity" (http://www.wi
ndowscentral.com/dex-xbox-one-review-striving-singularity) . Windows Central. Retrieved
17 August 2016.

29. "Dex (XB1) Review" (http://www.ztgd.com/dex/review/) . ZTGD. 28 July 2016. Retrieved

17 August 2016.

30. Square, Push (20 July 2016). "Review: Dex (PS4)" (http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/d
ex) . Retrieved 17 August 2016.

External links

Official website (http://www.dex-rpg.com/index_en.php)