GreedFall 2 is an intriguing inversion of a ‘New World’ story

GreedFall 2 is an intriguing inversion of a 'New World' story

As an avid gamer with a soft spot for intriguing narratives and immersive RPGs, diving into GreedFall 2: The Dying World was like stepping onto a hidden treasure map. Being new to the series didn’t hinder my experience as the prequel setting made it accessible for fresh eyes.


Entering GreedFall 2: The Dying World, a fresh RPG by Spiders now accessible via Steam Early Access, I wasn’t certain about what lay ahead as I hadn’t experienced the original game. However, this prequel structure made it easy to jump right in without feeling lost. The narrative is self-contained yet enriches for those familiar with the first game from a world-building standpoint. There’s no confusion like typical video game onboarding; instead, I could concentrate on the engaging premise that offers a unique twist – it flips the frequent colonial setting found in RPGs upside down.

In GreedFall, you assume the role of a child from the enigmatic and mystical island of Teer Fradee, hailing from an indigenous village. Together with another apprentice, you embark on a rite of passage to become Sages. Your tasks are twofold: uncover the cause behind a mysterious illness afflicting some villagers and investigate the sudden decline in the local wildlife population. As your journey unfolds, you encounter the complexities and perils of colonization, as these issues stem from settlers encroaching, establishing power, and causing ecological disruption.

GreedFall 2 is an intriguing inversion of a 'New World' story

As a gamer, it’s rare to find games or media that deviate from the usual perspective when tackling the complexities of colonization. Often, even when stories attempt to address these harsh realities, they do so from the point of view of the invaders. However, Spiders boldly flips this narrative on its head. The main characters in this game communicate in their native language with each other, especially when they’re not interacting with settlers. At first, it may seem strange to embrace such an unconventional approach, but the backlash I’ve seen only solidifies this as a brave move. For me, reading subtitles doesn’t cause any psychological harm, so I had no trouble understanding the story.

Uncovering these tasks revealed that GreedFall 2’s core gameplay elements revolve around combat and exploration/investigation. Interestingly, the opening scenario offered numerous non-combat solutions to problems. For instance, dealing with a band of profit-driven hunters provided options like assisting a nearby settlement for their legal backing, supplying the village’s hide market, bribing them with money, or resorting to force. Each solution subtly addressed complex issues associated with colonialism, adding a sense of regret or disillusionment to your decision, regardless of your choice. The story eventually transitions from Teer Fradee to the “mainland,” traversing treacherous routes. I’m eager to explore how the dynamics displayed on the island function when navigating hostile territories.

GreedFall 2 is an intriguing inversion of a 'New World' story

Combat is interesting all on its own as well. GreedFall 2 seems interested in exploring a homage to Dragon Age: Origins, combining MMO-like automated action and cooldowns with a tactical mode that lets you pause the action to set up character positioning and areas of effect. This is where GreedFall 2 feels the most like a work-in-progress, taking on something much more complex compared to the previous game’s more action-oriented approach. There are already mixed feelings on it in the fanbase, so seeing how these systems develop over the coming months will carry a lot of weight.

In its Early Access stage, GreedFall 2 is bound to undergo significant changes over time. On its launch day, there were some issues like the one that temporarily deactivated fast travel and others, such as my character’s hair vanishing upon entering a new area, which might seem trivial. Remember, Early Access means you should expect ongoing improvements and adjustments. The game developers appear to be actively engaging with the community to refine this game thoroughly. The complete narrative isn’t ready yet; instead, it will gradually unfold along with additional features, fixes, and unexpected updates.

As an eager fan, I’m genuinely intrigued by GreedFall 2. Its captivating hook and engaging prologue have left me yearning for more. However, it’s essential to note that this game is far from completion, offering a unique opportunity to join the action at its inception. There’s immense potential here, with plenty of room for refinements, enhancements, and unexpected twists as we journey together through Early Access. The road ahead is long, without a specific release date in sight, only the promise that both the developers and I will continue working tirelessly until we’re both content – as clearly stated on its Steam page.

In Steam’s Early Access, you can already play “GreedFall 2: The Dying World” – titled version-specific release date hasn’t been announced yet. The publisher has granted a PC access code for this preview.

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2024-09-27 19:27