Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Belle surprise !

Our main protagonists are relatable figures with very human shortcomings but good intentions above all. I loved to listen to their witty banter during the quests and dialogues. Their voices and accents (I really appreciated the Scottish-Gaelic phrases) were very authentic to my ears. You can feel that they love each other with a mature kind of love. I've also liked how they displayed a high level of emotional intelligence, which - I think, isn't very characteristic for the era in which the game is set. This brings us to the downsides - some of the characters' dialogues became repetitive, and in a few places, the wording was too modern for my taste. Also, I just wished that the creators would've delved deeper into their pasts - how they actually met and fell in love. Our main antagonist is a well written, well (re)presented character with a tragic backstory/fate, both of which was characteristic of the given era (17th century before the Revolution). Different aspects of this character are gradually revealed throughout the gameplay, allowing the player can piece them together like a puzzle. Aspects fit well for the given locations, but in my opinion, intra-characteristically didn't relate to each other so well. I really loved how female rage was represented through this character: a primal, deep, dark pain that many women can still relate to today. Somehow the character design itself felt a bit flimsy and crude, even a bit cliché - a very typically and simply designed wraith-frame, that could've been refined a lot more; especially hair and face textures. Now about our location - New Eden town is a made-up colony placed in New England area, in Massachusetts - which surely rings a bell for the witch-hunt enthusiasts. Reference to the Salem witch hunts was seen, which was very typical, but I did appreciate it. I loved how the biomes and areas flowed and fused very well together, but - a warning to those who struggle with depression - you don't really get a breather with a lighter and "happier" area - to me, everything was equally grim; every areas for different reasons. The Darkwoods were particularly scary with the eerie music, Mount Pleasant was making me very uncomfortable with the atmosphere - both areas achieved exactly what they were meant to. The environments touch on all of the common aspects of nature, textures and models were fairly well made. That said, some area surfaces were buggy, which was a bit annoying during combat. In certain places (like the Mire Marsh) my game crashed frequently. Combat and skill tree - combat seemed very unique to me because of the character switch, but you could feel that the creators placed their bets on Antea. In my opinion, the character skills and capabilities were pretty imbalanced. I've fought with Antea around 75-85% of the time. Combat itself was very repetitive and enemies did not offer great variety. Skill tree was filled with practical perks, which you could choose in pairs. You could also encounter Scourges, Nests and Elites, which were useful for armor-upgrades. They were a real pain in the a$$ though, especially the dungeon-like Void breaches. I think combat was the most underwhelming part of the game. The NPCs you meet are mostly limited to to participants of haunting cases, with an exception of the few helpers. I liked the morally grey aspects - in may of the cases, you may genuinely be a bit torn between choices. Haunting cases represent relevant problems, many of them could absolutely happen in real life. Key characters, minor antagonists were well designed, but characters in most haunting cases are absolutely forgettable. Some other characters that I've mentioned - the two helpers and especially their enemy - mostly didn't make sense to me, and while the helpers were lovely, they felt like filler content. I could go on about a few more things - collectibles, treasure hunts, haunting grounds (which weren't haunted). Overall, this is a really well written, well constructed game with a very intriguing storyline, somewhat tedious questing and combat, and other minor flaws. The game's rhetoric and themes were very attractive to me, and even though there were some logical and storyline gaps, I've enjoyed it greatly. I've put almost 132 hours into it, after all. I don't understand why it did not make bigger waves on the socials. It absolutely deserves recognition and more praise of the community. TL;DR: 8.75/10. Unforgettable and unique story that deserves more recognition.

Оч похоже на GoW, но тут сюжет даже интереснее

Should have gotten more press. Fantastic game that has elements of Witcher and some other games.

При всех объективных и субъективных недостатках данного проекта небезызвестной французской студии - это хорошая игра, в которой не без удовольствия можно провести несколько вечеров. Желающим причаститься могу порекомендовать ознакомиться с рецензиями других игроков, у проекта есть слабые места, некоторые из которых способны однозначно испортить впечатления и ожидания от проекта.

Loved just about everything about this one. Main story was engaging with optional lore scattered everywhere (just how I like it), side quests were actually interesting as well with links to the main story and were not copy-paste (VERY much how I like it), and even the collectibles had purpose beyond 'collect-all-for-the-achievement'. Combat was satisfying, with plenty of options and incentive to play around with different abilities and loadouts. Environments NEVER feel repetitive or uninteresting, and were downright beautiful or eerie in some places. Creature and boss designs were great. The fact that I got Silent Hill vibes at any point in this game is a plus for me. No complaints. And the characters were well-written in my opinion, both main and side. I was able to connect with them throughout the game and I enjoyed learning more about them all (even the ones I'd gladly send to the void if given the chance). The bond between Red and Antea was heartwarming and I enjoyed their interactions and history. I ended up so invested in them that I got a little choked up at the end (and I very rarely get emotional with any games/movies). Well done. 9/10

A good game! If you liked Vampyr!

The story of this game is a heavy, emotional ride about two lovers, and it actually makes you stop and think about your life choices. Even the side quests are great; they aren't just "fetch quests," but real ghost stories that kept me hooked until the end. The combat is a solid 8/10 for me. Swapping between Red and Antea feels fluid and punchy once you get the hang of it. It’s not perfect, but it’s genuinely fun and never felt like a chore. It’s a rare case of a game with a massive heart that deserves way more recognition. Do yourself a favor and give it a try.