Even before its release, Redfall is considered a typical cooperative game for close-knit groups of friends. The demo was supposed to showcase Arkane Studios production from a different angle, but I think it flopped.
Dishonored only offers single-player fun, and Deathloop, while allowing for a specific type of two-player mode, remains a single-player game as well. Meanwhile, another new game from the creators of these productions, even before its release, was considered a title focused primarily on co-op.
The recent Redfall press show was supposed to show that Arkane Studios hasn’t given up on providing good entertainment for people who prefer to play solo. In my opinion, this objective has not been achieved. – although such a statement may be premature at this stage.
The vampire world seems…dead?
During the show, I was able to spend about two hours in Redfall. I was included in the game somewhere in the third part of the story and faced a quest to find out more about the antagonist’s past. – a mad doctor. The story snippet turned out to be rather generic, and the supposedly emotional flashbacks didn’t sit well with me, especially since the way they’re presented looks more like pale pictures of situations than something really poignant. What I was missing was something developed, a punch, a single feature that could make me more excited.
Red Fall, Bethesda Softworks, 2023
The events might have been more interesting if you also knew how it all started. Otherwise, it was difficult for me to give him credibility, the scene looks generic, like an excuse to enjoy the game. The second main quest convinced me of this even more, and it involved finding and bringing back two items; after that there is a short briefing at the base and we continue. I found a lack of expressive characters, humor, drama, anything that would give Redfall a special flavor. Theoretically, we can collect additional information (like notes), read the results… but what’s the point?
It’s the same with the open world. Again, the final version might have more to offer, and two hours is certainly not enough time to assess the full experience. But the inhabitants of the island did not reveal their strengths to me. – mostly consists of repetitive opponents who barely react to our attacks other than with their health bar depleted. The game lets you engage in various activities, such as freeing vampire hostages, which rewards you with experience points. However, I can already imagine how quickly these activities will become boring.
Hope in co-op
I’ve had time to try all the champions available and I think their Skills must complement each other well when working in a team.. When played solo, characters may not reach their full potential. Also, while some abilities sound fantastic, like being able to summon an ex-boyfriend to help you, in practice, they’re not that fun. A character supports us for a moment and that’s it. Stealth seems to have a bigger impact on gameplay, along with abilities like temporary invisibility.
Red Fall, Bethesda Softworks, 2023
The game features several gameplay approaches, and they’re all valid, whether it’s engaging in open firefights, taking down enemies with a sniper rifle, or simply playing silent pacifist. Other than that, if the in-game character I experienced is representative of the whole product, then be prepared to look for different things that will move the story forward. Some of them match the content very well, as their location can be guessed by linking certain clues. However, I must honestly admit that blindly rummaging in a large house for items a little tired. I missed the Hogwarts Legacy revelio spell.
In Redfall, I had to find the necessary materials and get to know the rather dry and generic yarn; this is unlikely to convince single-player fans. Add to that a world largely unaware of our actions, whose opening I find redundant, and graphics that I find a little too colorful. Redfall can still be a good game, I’ve only seen a small part of it. The potential is certainly in the cooperative and sometimes in the layout of the place. (the vampire nest with a cinema had funny movie posters). I don’t have high hopes, but only after fully experiencing it can we judge the quality of Arkane Studios’ new offering.