Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, the latest offering from renowned studio DON’T NOD and Focus Entertainment, emerges as a captivating blend of narrative-driven adventure and engaging gameplay that immerses players in a hauntingly beautiful world. Set in the year 1695 amidst the backdrop of New Eden, players assume the roles of Red Mac Raith and Antea Duarte, so-called Banishers entrusted with dispelling a malevolent curse that has engulfed the settlement in darkness and despair. We were impressed with the game when we went hands on with it last year, and couldn’t wait to try out the game – here’s our review.
The premise of Banishers lays the foundation for a gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and consequence, as players navigate morally challenging decisions that shape the fate of both the living and the dead. Those decisions of course bring back memories of the studio’s earlier work, but a completely different setting and gameplay mechanics make this one feel fresh. The emotionally charged love story between Red and Antea is brought to life by stellar voice and acting performances, giving the protagonists a real sense of personality and empathy, thus drawing players into an emotional journey as they confront spectral horrors and wrestle with their own inner demons along the way.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, Banishers offers a satisfying mix of exploration, combat, and decision-making, inviting players to uncover secrets, solve environmental puzzles, and undertake haunting cases that delve into the dark past of New Eden’s inhabitants, making the world and the characters that live in it come alive in a great deal of detail. The open zone design of the game encourages exploration, with each location teeming with hidden treasures, lore-rich artifacts, and memorable but often chilling encounters that test the player’s resolve and judgment.
Combat, while initially feeling a tad clunky (a bit reminiscent of Vampyr in that sense), evolves into a dynamic and strategic system as players unlock new abilities and synergies between Red’s physical prowess and Antea’s spectral powers. The ability to switch seamlessly between characters adds depth to engagements, allowing for adaptive tactics in confronting the game’s supernatural threats once you get comfortable with the controls and mechanics. However, the game’s combat encounters can suffer from a lack of enemy variety, leading to somewhat repetitive engagements that detract from the overall experience – having more enemy types would have been a definite improvement.
Despite its flaws, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden stands as one of DON’T NOD’s most accomplished title to date, showcasing their expertise in crafting compelling narratives and immersive gameplay experiences inside beautifully realized game worlds. While small technical issues such as visual glitches may occasionally disrupt immersion, the strength of the game’s storytelling and character-driven narrative shines through, making it a journey worth undertaking for fans of narrative-driven adventures.
In conclusion, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is another strong testament to DON’T NOD’s storytelling prowess, offering an emotionally resonant experience set against a backdrop of supernatural suspense and intrigue. With its captivating story, meaningful choices, and rewarding exploration, Banishers invites players to embark on a journey that explores the depths of love, sacrifice, and the human spirit, leaving a lasting impression long after the credits roll – which for us happened after just over twenty hours of gameplay, which felt like the sweet spot for this title.
Score: 8.2/10
Press Play Media 