Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn review: Keep your powder dry

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As an old-time adventurer with scars earned from countless battles and exploration, I’ve seen my fair share of games that tried to capture the essence of challenging combat and intriguing lore found in the Souls series. Yet, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn managed to stand out from the crowd with its unique blend of new ideas and familiar elements.

As a huge fan of Dark Souls and the unique challenges it presents, I can’t help but feel a pang of apprehension whenever a new game in its vein is announced. It’s no easy feat to carve out an original identity in a genre so richly populated by the masterwork of FromSoftware. However, with Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, A44 Games from New Zealand has managed to forge its own path.

Jumping the gun

Fundamentally, Flintlock centers around a desperate attempt that turns disastrously awry. For the past decade, Nor Vanek – an accomplished soldier armed with a robust axe and a trusty black powder pistol – has been combating the relentless onslaught of undead creatures infesting the city of Dawn. In the prelude, they successfully demolish the Door to the Great Below following a fierce confrontation against a colossal guardian beast. However, the explosion’s force causes Nor to lose consciousness and be swept into a river, unaware that this destruction has unwittingly freed other deities, resulting in the undead emerging onto the surface. Desperate and acting against her better judgment, Nor forms an alliance with Enki, an enigmatic, fox-like being, to annihilate these gods forever.

In a unique blend of flintlock magic and otherworldly deities, the game’s setting is imaginative and unlike anything typical, yet the narrative fails to fully exploit its rich lore. This shortcoming can be attributed to an overly brisk beginning that thrusts players into the thick of things without adequate context. The city of Dawn, a gateway to the Underworld, the Coalition, gunpowder weaponry, a pantheon of gods, and a quintet of Sappers are all introduced within the first twenty minutes, leaving little time for absorption. A character guide or journal detailing major figures, creatures, and landscapes would have been invaluable during this initial exploration. Additionally, scenes depicting Dawn before the zombie uprising or the devastation Nor suffered throughout a decade of conflict would have added depth to their motivations and made them more relatable.

In a positive turn, the story effectively explores the intriguing dynamic between Nor and Enki, who proves to be more than just a mystical fox. While Nor remains a fierce warrior throughout, Enki’s transformative journey drives most of the character development. Their contrasting personalities create tension that propels the narrative forward, especially once Nor locates some missing Sappers and completes their tasks. Although the story could have delved deeper into the clash between human gunpowder and divine powers, the lead-up to the climax is engaging. Regrettably, the conclusion feels rushed and incomplete, leaving ample room for a continuation or additional exploration.

Outfoxed

In terms of fighting, Flintlock is a more approachable alternative to Dark Souls, offering some distinctive features. If you’ve managed to finish any games in the FromSoftware catalog, you’ll find yourself right at home on Normal or Haunted mode. Several fundamental mechanics from Dark Souls carry over to Flintlock, such as pulling enemies with ranged attacks, timing health potion consumption, and strafing around adversaries while evading or blocking their attacks. Saving at a campfire or lodestone will respawn enemies on the map but will restore your health and supplies. The change in camera angle to over-the-shoulder might take some getting used to, but the absence of stamina management and the indication of unblockable attacks with red markings make battles more manageable overall.

Additionally, Nor is equipped with an impressive collection of tools and weapons that make her a formidable force on her own. Her trusted pistol is effective for attacks from a distance and reloads using powder charges, which can be replenished through successful melee strikes. As the battle progresses, she obtains additional firearms with limited ammunition, elemental grenades, and armor pieces offering special benefits. Nor also has the ability to shoot at explosive barrels in the surroundings for increased damage, although this can sometimes complicate target identification.

In essence, Enki endows Nor with a double jump capability, enhancing her agility against adversaries, and bestows upon her the potent Withering spells as ultimate weapons capable of swiftly eliminating clusters of enemies. Moreover, the deity of foxes imparts priming damage to opponents, preparing them for demise. This damage accumulates in a gauge, once full, making the enemies susceptible to a damaging critical hit that either removes their armor or inflicts significant injury.

Staking your reputation

As a gamer, I can tell you that in this game, Nor earns reputation points much like souls are currency in other titles. With each enemy defeated and quest completed, Nor’s reputation grows. An exciting bonus comes into play when Nor strings together a series of impressive moves without taking any damage; this results in a reputation multiplier. This multiplier can be saved and spent at the player’s discretion, making the grinding process more efficient while encouraging thoughtful combat strategies. Reputation primarily goes towards purchasing skill and equipment upgrades. It is wiser to invest reputation rather than risk losing it all upon death and being unable to recover Nor’s fallen form. However, prioritizing skills acquisition over everything else is essential since they enhance Nor’s overall damage output and offer benefits regardless of the chosen equipment setup. For instance, skills like performing charged attacks and increasing resource regeneration are invaluable additions, making Nor a more formidable gamer.

After completing a 20-hour gaming session, I developed a strategy for my character that primarily involved dodging and keeping a safe distance from adversaries. I employed firearms and utilized Enki’s priming ability to inflict damage. I maximized the potential of an axe with burning effects and donned a helmet that recharged powder charges following each standard attack from Enki. Several bosses and groups of enemies required multiple attempts before being defeated, but once I learned their weaknesses and tactics, they ultimately succumbed.

Making a clean sweep

The prologue introduces the city of Dawn as the first location in Flintlock. Additionally, this game offers two major zones: Three Peaks and Wanderer’s Rest. These areas offer a good deal of optional activities. Although the primary routes through each map are mostly linear, there are numerous hidden paths worth exploring. Delving into the intricacies of the surroundings often yields resources for enhancements, hidden treasures, health-enhancing Inaya shrines, and lost feathers that raise Enki’s level. Both regions boast a significant amount of vertical terrain, encouraging Nor to leap to distant ridges using double jumps and scale rooftops to secure strategic vantage points. A notable discovery in these areas is the magic skull, which bestows upon Enki the power to transport Nor through triangular portals, enabling her to bridge large chasms effortlessly and uncover shortcuts to previously visited locations.

Following the victory against an enemy chief in a hamlet or encampment, a cozy coffee shop becomes accessible, inhabited by a welcoming host. This host bestows extra health elixirs and imparts gossip about undiscovered side missions for the player, named Nor. The establishment boasts an array of cosmetic items, but choosing them requires reputation points, which often takes precedence over acquiring skills or equipment enhancements. There’s also Sabo, a captivating mini-game with coins as currency, where Nor can participate to amass reputation. However, the integration of Sabo within the game could use improvement, and its modest rewards typically pale in comparison to the reputation earned through combative efforts.

No rest till Dawn

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn stands out in the Souls-like genre with its innovative blend of complex combat, intriguing lore, and immersive environments. Although the gameplay could benefit from finer tuning, it effectively broadens the genre’s appeal. The storyline may begin rapidly and end abruptly, but the bond between Nor and Enki provides a captivating foundation for the narrative. As a debut title, Flintlock sets a strong foundation for future adventures with this unconventional duo.

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2024-07-17 15:28