firelock : The Siege of Dawn is some of the most play I ’ve had playing a newfangled title in years . Why ? Because for every second I drop in this plot , I could find the love that hold up into creating it .
Gameplay
As it touts itself as the new kid on the block in the Soulslike ' literary genre ' , how does Flintlock measure up to some of the competition out there ? I ’m felicitous to report that it does just ticket . Within the tutorial section you get usher in to the basics , how to hit , how to bring around , and then how toshoot .
It was when I was informed on how to aright gun parry that I know Flintlock would be a bloody good time , and it most certainly was . fight is heavy and well animated , albeit perhaps a small sluggish at time . Movement is also very well done , and in reality plays a far grownup role in the plot at large than I first think .
Powdered Mobility is a game auto-changer , enabling you to double jump and double dah ( with some great animation and level-headed purpose ) whilst also serving as more than a simple mobility gimmick . It volunteer up your individual best tool for controlling your fights , as you use it to turn tail from large groups of hostile , get off special attacks ( such as the Ground Slam or Jump Attack skills ) , and of course scare stratagem when the going gets tough .
Enki , your Fox - ish companion and occupant Deity , also has a big impact on gameplay , as he cater the magic to your metal . You use Enki ( in bicycle-built-for-two with your attacks ) to seamlessly apply ' Curse ' to your object , which act similarly to something like a bleed proc inElden Ring . Once the streak is filled all the way , you ’ll be able to perform a form of ' crit ' on your target , which can loot them of their armour , or even toss off them outright ( with a fancy putting to death vitality to boot . )
So the osseous tissue are potent as is , but it ’s all aided by a world filled with activity to do . Enemy camp , village to liberate , and side quest out the wazoo all come together to give you plenty of intellect to use your outfit whilst taking your meter to explore some very well crafted worldly concern space .
talk of kit , Flintlock also has a great appurtenance system , with a lurid amount of weapon and armor variety , and options to befit a bunch of playstyles . You ’d be forgiven for remember you ’ll be gravel with just an ax and a firelock , but no , you later gain admittance to power hammer , sword , a blunderbuss , and even aflamethrower .
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
And finally there ’s the skills on offer , which are properly well design , balanced , and implemented . Very few that are dewy-eyed stat improvements , as nigh every skill ( besides one or two ) has a very tangible impact on your gameplay . dodging blast , the ability to evade unblockable attempt with your ordnance , having Enki levitate foeman to keep ‘em off your back , and enough more is on offer .
All in all , the gameplay here is tons of fun , and kept me coming back for more .
grade - 4.5/5
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
Story
The story here is nothing groundbreaking , but it ’s sure solid , with you being assigned to pop all of the Gods that moseyed their manner on through the logic gate to the land of the Gods after you rather cockily tear a big glowing wall . You ’ll move through various areas in which they ’ve taken residence to cause mayhem , meeting ally new and quondam , and returning to where you began for the final confrontation against Uru , the Ravager . This is rather predictable for a biz of this musical genre ; it also feels rather … light , and like it ’s in a hastiness to be over , with the plot coming to a jolly quick close shortly after only thesecondmajor taradiddle boss . But , with that being said , this game has something no other games do : Nor and Enki .
You dally as Nor Vanek the ' Sapper ' , a frontline trench champion who specializes in the function of ' Black Powder ' . Sappers are a hard masses , and Nor is no elision , and her desire to see the hordes of the undead push back for honorable result in her create a footling bit of a boo bird , as she unleash some rather wrathful Gods upon the deathly carpenter’s plane . Enki is someone you ’ll meet shortly after you make this grave error , and expose that he himself is a God . However , he wants to help you put things right , and so you pretend off on your seeking to ( as the games tagline says ) kill all Gods .
The same goes for Enki . Their common suspicion of one another turns to a shaky alliance , and evolves over time . Enki picks up Nor ’s vulgar , and has these moments of actual attempts at humanity . He get good at it over time , but has these blip in which the façade crack and the God beneath reveals itself once more . And then , he shock you , with moments of genuine vulnerability , in which he register veneration , and his desire to be free of the shackle of Godhood . ( He ’s also … painfullycute . )
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
Alone these are both keen characters , but together theyelevatewhat would be otherwise a pretty so - so ( and scant ) fantasy narrative into a taradiddle of the ontogeny of a genuine and believable friendly relationship .
grudge - 4/5
Bosses
It would n’t be a Soulslike if I did n’t talk about this , and sadly , this is where Flintlock fell the ball a little . This game has a sort of … Dark soulfulness 2 trouble . Three of the major bosses ( for instance Rammuha ) just feel like the great unwashed with armour and a cool weapon , and whilstvisuallystunning , they do n’t really propose much in the fashion of a mix up of gameplay with the exception of the last boss . Of naturally , this is partially to be expected of a biz with such a heavily set gameplay loop , but it ’s still a moment of a disgrace there were n’t more foreman that really ' wowed ' me .
Part of the issue is this gamedoeshave some slap-up unique boss . One in the 2d major area is a boss that is a written matter ofyou , which means it can do everything you may ! You have to really take your time with this battle , and it did n’t just cease up being a parry and heavy weapon break fest like a spate of the others did . The final boss too really mixes it up , specifically in the second phase in which all of your Enki abilities are stripped from you and you ’re go out with just your Powder and Steel .
Flintlockshowsthat it can commingle thing up , but lamentably it does n’t quite as much as I ’d care it to .
Score - 3/5
Final Verdict
Overall , Flintlock : The Siege of Dawn was an utterly great time . There was never a bit in which I was n’t having a total blast , and that ’s all thanks to some bright fun core gameplay machinist , two of the best write main fiber I ’ve seen in a long time , and some beautiful world space with a host of body process to chase down . However , it loses some full stop with some rather plain boss encounters , which do n’t really push the envelope in countenance you deform your acquirement set up and gear , and with a independent story that feels a little tired and rush at multiplication .
[ Disclosure : A innocent copy of the game was provided to PGG for recap purpose . ]
If you ’ve enjoyed this revue , and are looking for more Soulslike content , check outSoulslikes Tier List – All Soulslikes , Rankedhere on Pro Game Guides .
