Demo Review

[Chefski]

Just finished the demo at 2.5 hours - which is quite a long demo!

I thought I was going to be playing some AA shovelware or throaway game you just pass on, but this was impressive! I have never heard of 'Don't Nod' or played any of their games so I didn't expect some full scale AAA game!

It was a good demo and the lore depth is crazy. I enjoyed it, but man, there is so much dialogue and reading. This isn't 'bad' but these games often take me forever and I need laser focus to keep my attention.

I wishlisted it though and I could see myself definitely playing it. It reminded me very much of the Witcher - i.e., monster hunters for hire, etc.

The graphics were really good and performance was smooth as butter - with my i5-1200k and 3070 Ti, I was averaging about 120fps with DLSS Quality on max settings, which was unexpected!

I don't have too many complaints but if I had to name a few:
• It would be nice to have an identifier to let me know which items are notes I have already read before.
• Breaking barrels and crates are not very fun or easy. It just feels like a half arsed addition to the game with little to no reward.
• The movement is good, but something feels off about it. It's not bad, but it feels somewhat stiff in a not horrible way?

Overall, great demo and I was impressed. Again, I was expecting some standard shovelware crap since most demos I play are and I never even heard of this game!

[harken23]

I got about 20 minutes into the demo, and there's an AWFUL lot of exposition for a demo, to me. I've fought a couple of enemies, but most of the time has been setting the scene. I'm not sure I want to be immersed in the setting until I see how it plays, they're kind of doing it backwards, in my view.

[Quillithe]

It's probably just the beginning of the game which is naturally pretty narrative heavy.


I wouldn't bother breaking barrels.

Also compared to something like Witcher 3 it's a lot more linear and combat is more limited. The plot is solid though, Dontnot actually got their most fame from Life Is Strange which was just purely an adventure narrative game.

They also made Vampyr which is kinda similar to this in style. Personally not as good in gameplay (and older in graphics) but you do get to be a Vampire in London in 1918 which is always fun.

[fadeinshadow]

The combat wasn't that smooth and its kinda clunky and awkward but otherwise the game seems decent. Not a 9 or 10 but maybe a 6 or 7.

[IcecubePAL]

Game is on sale.

[sw1ff3]

Yall think its worth it ay 29 bucks??

[sw1ff3]

Edut: subbing for replies

[Welinos]

Publicado originalmente por sw1ff3:

Yall think its worth it ay 29 bucks??

no

[Quillithe]

Publicado originalmente por sw1ff3:

Yall think its worth it ay 29 bucks??

It's been $25 usd on steam before.

I'd say yeah, though be sure you're in it for narrative.

[Chefski]

Publicado originalmente por harken23:

I got about 20 minutes into the demo, and there's an AWFUL lot of exposition for a demo, to me. I've fought a couple of enemies, but most of the time has been setting the scene. I'm not sure I want to be immersed in the setting until I see how it plays, they're kind of doing it backwards, in my view.

Late reply, I Know, but yeah, completely agreed. I recall having to sit through like 45 minutes of the 2 hour demo. I enjoy story sometimes but exposition gets annoying af and iirc this game overkilled us with it.

[Quillithe]

Publicado originalmente por Chefski:

Publicado originalmente por harken23:

I got about 20 minutes into the demo, and there's an AWFUL lot of exposition for a demo, to me. I've fought a couple of enemies, but most of the time has been setting the scene. I'm not sure I want to be immersed in the setting until I see how it plays, they're kind of doing it backwards, in my view.

Late reply, I Know, but yeah, completely agreed. I recall having to sit through like 45 minutes of the 2 hour demo. I enjoy story sometimes but exposition gets annoying af and iirc this game overkilled us with it.

I know the feeling.

At least this has a distinctive setting - the number of demos that seem to think I need an unskippable cutscene about how their generic fantasy setting is under generic threat by generic fantasy evil...

Ugh

[Chefski]

Agreed again. Did you end up getting this game? I picked up a random game called "Steelrising" for like $3 and it's pretty dmn good souls-like set in the french revolutionary war.

On topic, the game has SO MUCH DMN STORY, I literally have ChatGPT open as I am playing to explain the 30+ characters, what is going on, who is what and what is who, etc.

Some of these games are fun, but good lord, you shouldn't need to do active research and journaling to be immersed in the story. I feel like Banishers is probably a lot like Steelrising in this regard.

Edit: French Revolution war

[Quillithe]

Publicado originalmente por Chefski:

Publicado originalmente por Quillithe:

I know the feeling.

At least this has a distinctive setting - the number of demos that seem to think I need an unskippable cutscene about how their generic fantasy setting is under generic threat by generic fantasy evil...

Ugh

Agreed again. Did you end up getting this game? I picked up a random game called "Steelrising" for like $3 and it's pretty damn good souls-like set in the revolutionary war.

On topic, the game has SO MUCH DMN STORY, I literally have ChatGPT open as I am playing to explain the 30+ characters, what is going on, who is what and what is who, etc.

Some of these games are fun, but good lord, you shouldn't need to do active research and journaling to be immersed in the story. I feel like Banishers is probably a lot like Steelrising in this regard.

I haven't tried Steelrising but Banishers is definitely plot heavy.

It might not be AS bad because of the way it works - there are a few characters that tie into the bigger story but a lot of things are more selfcontained.

You do 'haunting cases' that have to do with 2-3 characters and their plot and then they usually drop from the story at that point (each one ends with a choice where you can usually kill them).

So there are a ton but they mostly are important when you meet them and do their quest.

[Senyaak]

Publicado originalmente por Quillithe:

Also compared to something like Witcher 3 it's a lot more linear and combat is more limited.

I would disagree - the desicions u make rly matters here, it atleast at same neveau as withcer, but combat is much better. In witcher you just dont have any challenge. Here the game give you a lot. Also it forces you to play different style, not only the one you preffer