![]() There are no jump scares, no creepy creatures lurking in its caves or on its drained, sea-less beaches. In its place are vapid NPCs and an empty game world mostly filled with two enemy types: humans with guns and vampires that melee. I wanted to care, wanted to find the trademark Arkane charm I told myself had to be here somewhere.īut it wasn't. Every citizen just said "Hmm." And, spoiler alert, most named characters spew "Hmm" by default after delivering one, maybe two, lines of dialogue. Surely there would be some colorful dialogue? Instead, I got six "Hmm"s in a row. ![]() I was eager to talk to the citizens in the liberated safehouse who were, moments ago, facing a grim death. In another memorable moment, I defeated a Blood Tree (think haunted tree with a vampire inside) that had wrapped itself around a safehouse, trapping everyone inside. Anna's blandness is not the exception, it's the rule. Cutscenes have been replaced by film-grain filtered slide shows, a lazy shortcut that undermines any investment players may make in the plot or characters. I can look past a lot of underwhelming gameplay if it’s offset by a good story. Vampire nests can offer some excitement in between long bouts of boring. And if you’re an Arkane fan like I am, or just love a good looter-shooter, it’s not worth $70 and it’s not a compelling reason to purchase Game Pass, either. Killing your first few vampires feels triumphant and then you’re quickly obliterating them five at a time.Īdd in the co-op, and the accompanying japery you get from goofing with friends online, and Redfall delivers a certain B-movie appeal - if you don’t take it too seriously.īut a “so bad it's good” vibe is likely not what Arkane, Bethesda, or Microsoft wanted after five years of development and a marketing war chest that included paid TV spots. ![]() ![]() Your early hours are tense and slow, but once you unlock a few basic skills and collect a half-decent arsenal, you gain the confidence to go headfirst into danger. Yes, the combat lacks sophistication and genuine challenge, but I did enjoy the power fantasy as I leveled up. Bethesda Softworksĭeflated expectations aside, there is some fun to be had in Redfall. Even the monstrous Rook, a baddie sent by vampire gods, is no match for a half-dozen broken pool cues. ![]()
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