Wanted: Dead (2023) Review: Old-School Hack-and-Slash Meets Modern Chaos
Released in early 2023, Wanted: Dead arrived with a promise to resurrect the golden era of difficult, B-movie-inspired action games. Developed by Soleil—a studio boasting veteran talent behind legendary action titles like Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive—the game positions itself as a chaotic hybrid of third-person shooting and grueling melee hack-and-slash combat.
Developer & Platform Availability
Published by 110 Industries and crafted by Japanese developer Soleil, Wanted: Dead is widely accessible across multiple generations of gaming hardware:
- PC (Steam & Epic Games Store)
- PlayStation 5 & PlayStation 4
- Xbox Series X/S & Xbox One
Story and Narrative
The game places players in the boots of Lt. Hannah Stone, the hard-nosed leader of the Zombie Unit—an elite task force operating within a dystopian, cyberpunk-infused vision of Hong Kong. Working alongside the Hong Kong Police Force, the unit is dispatched to uncover a corporate conspiracy involving a major synthetic human manufacturer.
The narrative embraces a bizarre, intentionally campy B-movie tone. Storytelling jumps between 3D rendered cutscenes, traditional anime sequences, and weird mini-games involving ramen eating contests and karaoke. While the plot line can feel fragmented, its oddball charm and eccentric voice acting make it uniquely memorable.
Graphics, Visuals, and Audio
Powered by Unreal Engine 4, Wanted: Dead presents a crisp yet mixed visual package. Character models, gory execution animations, and blade effects look sharp and satisfying. However, environmental textures and level designs can occasionally feel repetitive and reminiscent of the Seventh Generation console era. The soundtrack offers a surprisingly fun mix of heavy metal, synthwave, and quirky pop covers that fit the chaotic mood.
Gameplay and Combat Dynamics
The true heart of Wanted: Dead lies in its uncompromising, high-difficulty combat system. Players must fluidly alternate between katana slashes, close-quarters handgun parries, and assault rifle cover shooting. Success demands quick reflexes, precise defensive parrying, and relentless aggression to execute limb-severing finishing moves.
Overview & Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Soleil |
| Publisher | 110 Industries |
| Release Date | February 14, 2023 |
| Genre | Action / Hack-and-Slash / Shooter |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
Final Verdict: Should You Play It?
Wanted: Dead is an unapologetic love letter to 2000s-era action games. It suffers from rough edges, uneven difficulty spikes, and eccentric pacing, but it delivers genuine charm and deeply satisfying melee combat for those willing to master its systems. If you miss tough-as-nails AA action games and enjoy quirky sci-fi stories, Wanted: Dead is well worth a try, especially for fans of classic hack-and-slash titles.
