Pressing the face buttons in pairs triggers more powerful attacks, and there are even moves that require you to hit three of them simultaneously. The three-button moves proved to be exceptionally tough for me to pull off, even in the Lesson Mode (read: tutorial), as it felt like I was pretty much enveloping the controller with my hand.

It’s mostly solid, although jumping from object to object is sporadically irritating as it can be difficult to properly gauge distance, which leads to some tumbles. The game’s camera is another potential hazard when being pursued since Monster is invariable right on your heels. That results in being unable to see yourself from the default camera position.

Behind this triumph is the pairing of Fidget’s elemental projectiles and your “dust storm” attack, which allows you to create a whirlwind by rapidly spinning your sword and in turn causing Fidget’s strikes to careen into your enemies over and over again. Once you get the hang of chaining attacks and juggling foes, your combos will easily exceed 1,000 hits, earning you both a satisfied smirk and some bonus experience points.

Outside of a few structural weaknesses, such as the inability to transition between cover, which can be a real hindrance during stealth missions, the controls hold up extremely well.

Thankfully, the game is at its best when taking part in its signature activity: sniping. Your heart rate is shown in the corner of the screen, and when you’re calm you can “empty your lungs,” which slows time and creates an extremely precise firing point. Depending on the difficulty setting you’ll also need to adjust for gravity based on your distance from the target (pro tip: aim high), which can be particularly tough when trying to lead moving targets. Although a little tightening from the close-quarters elements would’ve helped, the controls hold up well in the most critical department.

When everything is flowing smoothly, Deadlight is a joy to play. Jumping feels precise, and when you’re springing from objects, transitioning into rolls and sprinting to the next leap of faith it has a borderline parkour feel to it. Melee combat is decent and features a stamina meter to prevent you from flailing away wildly without consequence. The shooting mechanic is also solid as you aim with the right analog stick, fire with the right trigger and reload (bullet by bullet) with the left bumper.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the lack of difficulty. Deaths are still punished by dropping some studs and a perpetual hint system all but ensures you won’t be stumped for long. Plus, while the puzzles do feel more enjoyable they are still repetitive as you’ll be trying on the same handful of suits and using the same character powers from start to finish.