Pleasing ARPG and souls-like gamers is no easy task. Most games in this genre feel quite similar, and it takes something unique to grab your attention right away. Flintlock, however, stands out as an intriguing game and a big project for one studio. It has massive potential, and the demo we played genuinely impressed me, making me think, “Oh wow, this is actually really good.” Nevertheless, despite its potential, the game is not without its flaws. Yet, something deep inside me kept urging — I need more of this!
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, developed by New Zealand’s Aurora44, is an impressive addition to the action RPG genre, set to launch on July 18 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Also available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, this game introduces players to the fantasy world where guns and magic coexist with equal potency.
In the world of Kian, a catastrophic event unleashes undead terrors when a mysterious door is opened, releasing ancient evils upon the land. As Nor Vanek, a skilled member of the Coalition's elite forces, you're separated from your team and team up with Enki, a fox-like god, to stop Uru, a god bent on ending humanity. The partnership between Nor and Enki drives the story, and I was pleasantly surprised by the strong voice acting. While there were some issues with inconsistent volume and occasional voice cuts, Enki's voice was a delight to listen to.
Flintlock’s combat system is a standout feature, blending elements from other Soulslike games and action RPGs. The gameplay feels like a dance, where timing is everything - every shot, parry, dodge, and melee attack must be executed with precision. And at the heart of it all is Nor's trusty flintlock pistol, which serves as a game-changer in combat, allowing you to interrupt enemy attacks and add a whole new level of strategy to the mix.
As you face off against armored enemies, you'll need to master the art of parrying their attacks to break through their defenses. As you progress, you'll unlock new weapons like the musket, giving you more options for taking out enemies with precision headshots. And with Enki's abilities, you'll gain the power to curse your foes and unleash devastating critical attacks with the priming system - adding a whole new level of excitement to the combat.
I’m generally easy to please when it comes to combat. If it’s functional and not too difficult to master, I can spend hours playing a game like this. However, it took some time to get used to blocking, which felt clunky at times. Timing the blocks was challenging because our protagonist remains in attack animation for a bit longer before she can block, requiring you to careful plan your attacks.
Additionally, most enemies have predictable attack patterns, making things easier once you get used to them. Whether it’s a standard attack, an unblockable red attack, or a dodge, there is a lot to grasp and learn. The most annoying enemies were the long-ranged ones, like those throwing grenades or using muskets. They dealt significant amount of damage, but the AI in general wasn’t very smart. Often, they would shoot at walls or behind rocks if you were hiding, giving you enough time to react and attack them properly.
Exploration is a huge part of Flintlock, with an open-world design that's reminiscent of Elden Ring. You're free to roam and discover new areas, and the game encourages you to venture off the beaten path. With Enki's powers, you can even travel through rifts to reach hidden places and add some platforming elements to your journey. And as you explore, you'll collect feathers to upgrade Enki's abilities or help liberate hamlets from enemy control, unlocking new quests and rewards along the way.
I spent around three hours on the demo (though you don’t need that long to finish it). I was eager to explore every side and corner of the game, making sure nothing escaped my attention. One feature I found particularly interesting was the ability to collect resources like wood, iron, stone, and cloth, which you can use to upgrade your weapons. The in-game map is easy to navigate, helping you identify both your next objective and hidden areas waiting to be discovered. With the addition of fast travel, Flintlock does indeed offer a well-rounded experience.
Flintlock follows a familiar Soulslike progression system. You earn Reputation by defeating enemies, which is used to unlock skills and upgrade weapons at camps and fast-travel points called Lodestones. The Reputation system includes a multiplier, rewarding extended success without taking damage but resetting upon getting hit. While this risk-reward mechanic adds depth to the gameplay, I wasn’t particularly fond of it. You can retrieve your items if you reach the death stone after dying, but if you die a second time, there’s a chance you might lose everything. Nonetheless, this added a certain challenge, which made me carefully consider which battles to engage in and which to avoid.
The game's world is inspired by the stunning landscapes of New Zealand, complete with native plants and animals. Powered by Unreal Engine 4, Flintlock boasts impressive visuals with advanced graphics options like NVIDIA DLSS and Intel XeSS. While the demo did experience some minor hiccups like stuttering, the developers are likely working to smooth out these issues before the game's release.
While the game's world has some nice ideas, it's a bit lacking in visual flair. The environments can feel quite dull, with not much to grab your attention besides some intimidating giant birds. The characters also don't really stand out, but you can customize Vanek with new outfits from spirit vendors in the settlements you liberate. To clear these settlements, you'll typically need to defeat the Army of the Dead, which usually consists of a few zombies and a tougher leader. Once you've taken care of them, the fog lifts and the townsfolk return, allowing you to progress through the game.
There are skill trees focused on Steel, Magic, and Powder, which overlap at various points, suggesting some build-crafting potential in the later game. This could add more depth to the overall experience. Each upgrade offers something different, and I’m excited to see how the later parts of the game will develop.
The most enjoyable moment I had during the demo was defeating a side boss who was guarding a chest containing a new axe. It was incredibly satisfying to block, outplay him, and finally learn his patterns after dying over 50 times. Each death was a learning experience, and the joy of finally defeating him was worth it. Was I frustrated? Not really. I was just making dumb mistakes, but those mistakes kept me motivated until I finally succeeded.
In the end, I have high expectations for Flintlock. Although I'm not a passionate fan of souls-like games, this one has intrigued me with its approach, gameplay, and fantastic elements. While the demo can't be a true representation of the full game, I'm optimistic that it won't disappoint and that we'll have plenty of time to sink our teeth into it. What we've seen in the demo looks promising, but whether it will remain that way throughout the entire game remains to be seen in a month's time.
English (UK) 
Hrvatski