Review of the game after beating it on Gamepass. 23h total

[The Seventh Son]

So as the title says, it took me 23 hours to beat the game with one character, though I played a couple hours on each character, so the campaign total time is probably closer to 18 hours. There isn't a ton of side content to do, but I did all of it. Lastly I ended the game at level 21 on Devinder, but played every character to at least level 5.

TLDR: I think Redfall is a flawed game that is very over priced, but gets more hate than it deserves. 6/10

Characters
Each character's kit is interesting, and feels very promising, but they all lack real depth so that your build feels like it matters. They all feel different, and the skill trees do impact gameplay, but it just felt like stacking buffs on our abilities, not like I was changing how they worked or what they did. I'll also say I felt Devinder's kit was a lot more useful than anyone elses. His javalin is powerful, teleportation is such a big deal, and his ultimate trivializes vampires AND heals everyone after a 1 point investment. Just a powerful kit. Next is Jacob, Remi, and Layla last. Devinder and Remi both feel good as characters and really fit into the story, Jacob and Layla likewise do not. Honestly feels like they were originally going to be Vampires who are allied with the humans, but the idea was scrapped too late in the process to really change them much. So vampire boyfriend, magic powers and undead raven.

Story
The story was solid. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either. I didn't mind the slide show style, some critique it as a budget choice, I choose to see it as a style choice. I don't think it really hurts the story to tell it in the way they did, however it's certainly not helping them. The story hits a lot of the standard beats, patient zero, hospital trying to cure everything, etc. Doesn't make any weird story decisions outside of Layla and Jacob. It ultimately fails to make us really care though. The entire way through, the game feels like a game, not a story. That said, I don't think they were really trying to tell a story.

Gameplay
I think they thought the gameplay would carry the game. The classes certainly are interesting, but as I mentioned previously, they lack depth. Likewise, the gameplay lacks depth. I had fun going through, but my strategy never changed from Level 5 to level 21. My tools just got stronger. People argue that the AI is too easy, I don't think that's the issue. The AI is very inconsistent. It feels like their to hit chance is somewhere around 95%, but their to shoot chance is 25%. You get a lot of instances where everyone but 1-3 enemies is just running around or aiming at you, the 1-3 are the only ones actually shooting at you and they can't miss. Vampires are the exception. Generic vampires will just charge at you and you can generally kite them. The special vampires can all be killed within 3 shots with the Stake Launcher (Save for the rook, but he's easy to kite like the generic vampire). If you're strategic at all, this game is pretty easy. However, at max difficulty it can have it's moments where they're strong enough that being dumb doesn't matter.

Overall
It's a generally fun game, just not exceptional in any regard and falls flat in a few. If the game had been 30 bucks brand new, I think it'd be doing a lot better. The gameplay isn't hard or deep, but it's still fun. I often play difficult games like Fromsoft games, hollow knight, or Darkest Dungeon, so having a game where I can just mess around and flex on the computer is refreshing every now and again. I think there's a place for games like this, just not at a 70 dollar price tag.

[Raziel119]

I agree with you on all of your points about the game, I've done two playthroughs with Jacob and have about 60 hours in total with trying each of the characters and finishing the game twice. For me, it's not a great or terrible game, it's just a game and it really just felt like another Arkane single-player game, but one that was held back by trying to be forced into being a co-op game. I think, had the game been priced at $49.95, it wouldn't have been completely decimated by reviews the way that it was, or at least would have been treated with less scrutiny, but what really killed this game was asking top dollar and delivering bottom of the barrel in so many aspects. I think the game had redeeming qualities that I could appreciate associated with the same formula and art style from the other Arkane titles, but the parts that were taken from the typical co-op games were done both poorly and generically... and it's a topic that's been beaten death, much as this game has, so I won't say more on that, but I did enjoy the story, I could see and appreciate where talented people who worked on the game had really poured a lot into it, and I hope, at least for their sake lol, that they're not taking the reception of the game personally, because there are some great elements to the game, but it just seems like so many other important areas weren't prioritized, especially where co-op is concerned, that ultimately caused it to go down in flames. The price tag was definitely the nail in the coffin. I'm a vampire game fan, so I had to play it, regardless... I took my gamer tag from an older, but really great vampire game, The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, so my interest in vampires and vampire games probably also swayed my opinion.

[Mentally Unstable]

Speaking about price, they sure chose one of the worst games to spearhead their $70 increase. If it had been starfield, it might have been a little easier to stomach. But redfall being the first of their $70 stable? MS has got to be taking the piss.

[Okihara Jones]

Great review, thanks! I haven't bought the game yet (waitin for a sale), and this review is super-helpful. Thanks again, partner.

[WikiTora]

Played for 50 hours, tried all characters, beaten twice, once at max difficulty, and this game is garbo, pure torture. I couldn't even get all achievements because of glitches. Brain dead AI, horrible gunplay, insufferable charactares, awful graphics paired with poor performance, and on-and on-and on... Everyone, stay away.

[SimpleSiren]

Originally posted by The Seventh Son:

So as the title says, it took me 23 hours to beat the game with one character, though I played a couple hours on each character, so the campaign total time is probably closer to 18 hours. There isn't a ton of side content to do, but I did all of it. Lastly I ended the game at level 21 on Devinder, but played every character to at least level 5.

TLDR: I think Redfall is a flawed game that is very over priced, but gets more hate than it deserves. 6/10

Characters
Each character's kit is interesting, and feels very promising, but they all lack real depth so that your build feels like it matters. They all feel different, and the skill trees do impact gameplay, but it just felt like stacking buffs on our abilities, not like I was changing how they worked or what they did. I'll also say I felt Devinder's kit was a lot more useful than anyone elses. His javalin is powerful, teleportation is such a big deal, and his ultimate trivializes vampires AND heals everyone after a 1 point investment. Just a powerful kit. Next is Jacob, Remi, and Layla last. Devinder and Remi both feel good as characters and really fit into the story, Jacob and Layla likewise do not. Honestly feels like they were originally going to be Vampires who are allied with the humans, but the idea was scrapped too late in the process to really change them much. So vampire boyfriend, magic powers and undead raven.

Story
The story was solid. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either. I didn't mind the slide show style, some critique it as a budget choice, I choose to see it as a style choice. I don't think it really hurts the story to tell it in the way they did, however it's certainly not helping them. The story hits a lot of the standard beats, patient zero, hospital trying to cure everything, etc. Doesn't make any weird story decisions outside of Layla and Jacob. It ultimately fails to make us really care though. The entire way through, the game feels like a game, not a story. That said, I don't think they were really trying to tell a story.

Gameplay
I think they thought the gameplay would carry the game. The classes certainly are interesting, but as I mentioned previously, they lack depth. Likewise, the gameplay lacks depth. I had fun going through, but my strategy never changed from Level 5 to level 21. My tools just got stronger. People argue that the AI is too easy, I don't think that's the issue. The AI is very inconsistent. It feels like their to hit chance is somewhere around 95%, but their to shoot chance is 25%. You get a lot of instances where everyone but 1-3 enemies is just running around or aiming at you, the 1-3 are the only ones actually shooting at you and they can't miss. Vampires are the exception. Generic vampires will just charge at you and you can generally kite them. The special vampires can all be killed within 3 shots with the Stake Launcher (Save for the rook, but he's easy to kite like the generic vampire). If you're strategic at all, this game is pretty easy. However, at max difficulty it can have it's moments where they're strong enough that being dumb doesn't matter.


Overall
It's a generally fun game, just not exceptional in any regard and falls flat in a few. If the game had been 30 bucks brand new, I think it'd be doing a lot better. The gameplay isn't hard or deep, but it's still fun. I often play difficult games like Fromsoft games, hollow knight, or Darkest Dungeon, so having a game where I can just mess around and flex on the computer is refreshing every now and again. I think there's a place for games like this, just not at a 70 dollar price tag.

Sorry this is complete ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Google about the AI. Hardest setting you can follow the AI for 10 mins 1 foot behind them. They cant come over little bumps in the road. If there is a pebble between you and a bosses you can stand there and kill them. Or just do circles around the bosses they cant hit you. Bosses that are melee that wont move so you step back and shoot them and they are stuck in place. My god its like playing against a bunch of drunk and High Stormtroopers on a bouncy ball trying to shoot you. Frak that would be a better game. This all on Max difficult

Ill leave it at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJqrGtUSPY&ab_channel=ManyATrueNerd

[Okihara Jones]

"Any type of positive review for this game makes me feel ragey emotions so I'm gon talk about my feelings because I feel them"

DAAAAAAANG some folks sure mad about this game thats for sure. OP was just giving a fair opinion about an admittedly flawed game. But SOME a yall-- Weeeeellll lets just say if that's what yall gotta do to feel better at night, then what's the likes of me to say what's what.

As Morgan Freeman said to Brad Pitt:

"It's impressive to see a man feeding off his emotions."

Have a great day yall

[The Seventh Son]

Originally posted by SimpleSiren:

Sorry this is complete ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Google about the AI. Hardest setting you can follow the AI for 10 mins 1 foot behind them. They cant come over little bumps in the road. If there is a pebble between you and a bosses you can stand there and kill them. Or just do circles around the bosses they cant hit you. Bosses that are melee that wont move so you step back and shoot them and they are stuck in place. My god its like playing against a bunch of drunk and High Stormtroopers on a bouncy ball trying to shoot you. Frak that would be a better game. This all on Max difficult

Ill leave it at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJqrGtUSPY&ab_channel=ManyATrueNerd

Your boss comment just discredited your entire opinion. Pebbles and bumps in the road have no effect of bosses, namely cuz 3 of the 4 bosses in the game don't move around and are way too big for a pubble to stop them from attacking you, and the 4th only performs ranged attacks.

Maybe you're talking about the Vampire Underbosses though. Fair enough, but they all fly. They're either Anglers, SHrouds, Siphons, or the shield guys (Can't remember the name). So you can't be talking about them.

Only thing I can think is you've seen a clip of someone fighting a rook and think a rook is a boss. They are just elite vampires you fight from time to time lol.

So you're quite literally talking out of your ass with no actual experience in game. Cherry on top, you posted a link to the person who does all your thinking for you. Maybe you should actually play a game before you develop such strong emotions over it bro.

[Many-Named]

The AI literally backtracks into you sometimes and still doesn't notice you. Arkane completely dropped the ball on this one, it's just unbelievable. And at that price point...shame shame shame

[SimpleSiren]

Originally posted by The Seventh Son:

Originally posted by SimpleSiren:

Sorry this is complete ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Google about the AI. Hardest setting you can follow the AI for 10 mins 1 foot behind them. They cant come over little bumps in the road. If there is a pebble between you and a bosses you can stand there and kill them. Or just do circles around the bosses they cant hit you. Bosses that are melee that wont move so you step back and shoot them and they are stuck in place. My god its like playing against a bunch of drunk and High Stormtroopers on a bouncy ball trying to shoot you. Frak that would be a better game. This all on Max difficult

Ill leave it at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJqrGtUSPY&ab_channel=ManyATrueNerd

Your boss comment just discredited your entire opinion. Pebbles and bumps in the road have no effect of bosses, namely cuz 3 of the 4 bosses in the game don't move around and are way too big for a pubble to stop them from attacking you, and the 4th only performs ranged attacks.

Maybe you're talking about the Vampire Underbosses though. Fair enough, but they all fly. They're either Anglers, SHrouds, Siphons, or the shield guys (Can't remember the name). So you can't be talking about them.

Only thing I can think is you've seen a clip of someone fighting a rook and think a rook is a boss. They are just elite vampires you fight from time to time lol.

So you're quite literally talking out of your ass with no actual experience in game. Cherry on top, you posted a link to the person who does all your thinking for you. Maybe you should actually play a game before you develop such strong emotions over it bro.

Its in the fraking video lol. GTFOH . If you think this AI is good you suck at FPS games lol.

[naomha]

I went into a home today. There were THREE vampires hiding in waiting in the home. Absolutely NONE of them aggroed on me. They just floated there. I tried shooting them but it just went right through them like they didn't exist. They mumbled some gibberish but they were TOTALLY BROKEN. It's absurd. I killed one of those "shadow" vampires. She stuck in the ground UPSIDE- DOWN and it wouldn't let me stake her. I had to wait until she regen'd and do it again. Then, she got stuck UPSIDE-DOWN AGAIN!!! On the 3rd attempt I was finally able to do her in.

While traveling to one of the helicopter crash sites I shot a cultist. The vampire was RIGHT NEXT to him and never aggroed on me. Like, wtf is up with this AI? It's absolutely terrible and broken most of the time right now.

The game is ridiculously happy to break all the immersion you had going and just F*$K it all up.