Have you ever considered what it would be like to wield an ancient flintlock firearm against gods in a Souls-like game? Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn takes that audacious premise and runs every way with it by giving players unique weaponry and mixing history with dark fantasies. Drive hard to make this action role-playing game by A44 Games a world where the dead walk, gods meddle, and you’re the only hope to set things right. But does it manage to stand out from the crowded field of Souls-like titles? Let’s find out with the Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Review right here!
Nor’s Journey
You will take up the axe of Nor, an axe-wielding warrior with a mission as unenviable as it sounds. The world is teetering on the precipice because somebody opened that door to the afterlife. Now the Walking Dead is loose, and Nor, compelled by guilt and obligation, will have to clean up the mean. Shortly after she starts, Enki, a miniature fox-like deity, joins her and offers many abilities but few answers.
Combat: Familiar But New
Combat in Flintlock mixes all the familiar Soulslike tropes with some refreshing tweaks. You’ll lock onto enemies, dodge, block, and swing your axe to get those sweet parries and counterattacks. A firearm interrupts attacks, adding excitement. Thankfully, a few melee strikes restore ammo, so you won’t be stranded reloading like it’s the 17th century.
The game features a wide array of firearms, perhaps even bordering on ludicrously, including a blunderbuss that can send enemies sprawling. Pulling your gun in the sight of axe wielders and hitting the ‘I win’ button, ala Indiana Jones. There is also a ranged weapon with limited amounts of ammunition, making it perfect for dealing with pesky foes from far away, lower in numbers before jumping in with your axe.
World Exploration
Flintlock isn’t reduced to simply fighting off enemies; it even involves going on adventures and explorations. Nor and her growing gang of friends travel across diverse areas, liberating hamlets, solving side quests, and upgrading their gear. Double-jumping and dashing through the air unlocks the portals that catapult you across the map.
Mobility is amusing and pragmatic since double jumps and air dashes allow backtracking to collect lost reputation points due to a death. Fighting estranged creatures and finishing missions would also gain some reputation, the most sought-after currency. After that, it could be used for special skills, enhancing weapons, or making style-cool purchases. Granted, a word of caution: If you perish, all your reputation is ripped, or you are afforded one chance to recover it from where you left off.
Enki: Your Godly Companion
In many games, it feels as if they’re only along for the ride and to be cute. Enki doesn’t fall into that trap. Able to be used to attack an enemy and build up into a meter, allowing for a big, badass strike, repeatedly encouraging Enki to attack can be vital to success. The unlocked skill tree opens enough practical touches for Enki, suspending enemies in the air to be prey for your axe-wielding assaults.
It gives combat an extra edge with Enki at your side without overcomplicating how you proceed and an added sense of strategy regarding how you use his powers. Whenever. Not to mention the moments of comic relief when Enki tries to teach Nor to speak the god language.
Souls-lite Experience
You can identify Flintlock as a Souls-lite, but it’s much kinder overall. It even offers a difficulty setting if you want an easier time. Even the story, set around Napoleonic soldiers battling out the deities, may not be one of the most original, but it is functional to keep you taking the next step.
However, the voice acting is something of a mixed bag. Some performances stay grounded and in touch, while others go over-the-top or get filled with in-universe slang. This often proves a tad off-putting, especially when the dialogue becomes cringe-worthy.
The World and Its Quests
Three of the game’s significant areas look amazing but fall into the usual traps of fantasy tropes. Equally charming is the idea that you can clear the undead from local hamlets and turn them from a state of dilapidation to a state of prosperity. You receive new amenities like a coffee shop, which gives you an additional flask to heal with.
Some side quests can be fascinating, like one that sends you after a manor where parents are experimenting on their children to achieve immortality. Those small moments add an extra layer of intrigue and depth; sometimes, this is a deficit in the main story.
Overview
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is perfectly competent as a Souls-like, doing all the things well but stumbling on the execution of things at almost every single level, from art style right down to the mechanics. The combat is good, albeit less polished and intricate than a top-tier game. The serviceable story and C-grade characters within a world that, while pretty, don’t have any locations of note hold it back from greatness.
However, its mobility mechanics, sly reputation system, and a godly companion in Enki bring something new. If you’re a fan of action RPGs and are looking for something more lenient than what the Souls-like genre offers, look no further, check here, Flintlock comes heartily recommended. Just don’t expect it to dethrone the best of them anytime soon.
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