Redfallhas a simple premise: kill vampires and stop the threat they pose to a small town in Massachusetts. This simplicity runs through every aspect of the game, whether that’s the story or gameplay. Arkane Studios games are typically known for their indirect storytelling approach, their meticulously detailed locales, and generally flexible game and level design, butRedfallforegoes a lot of these elements for a mostly straightforward story, a simple open-world town, and more rigid quests.
That’s not to sayRedfalldoesn’t have that identifiable Arkane art style, general aesthetic, and overall vibe, but it’s more of an “Arkane-lite” title than something akin toDeathlooporPrey. It’s not without its own mysteries either, but whereasDeathloopleft a lot of questions up in the air, players will feel likeRedfallchecks every box by the end, leaving nothing to the imagination. Prior to launch, the developer describedRedfallas something more likeFar CrythanLeft 4 Dead, and that rings true.
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Redfallis split into two, smaller open-world maps, and it’s worth knowing that players cannot return to the first map once they leave until they start a new game. Each is filled with interesting landmarks, safehouses, side quests, and lore bits, and perhaps the best part is that players will always find something at every turn. Whether exploring the exposed seafloor at the edge of Redfall or delving through a neighborhood, there will be something worthwhile to find. Several locations are locked by keys that players must find and there’s perhaps a little too much rummaging around in the dark looking for these, but it’s a solid open-world design nonetheless.
Of course, players are going to encounter enemies at every turn.Redfall’s enemiesare largely split into three factions: cultists, Bellwether operators, and vampires. The first two groups can be challenging with their weaponry, but they are largely forgettable. The vampires are not, however. Weapons like Stake launchers can make quick work of a lot of vampires, but they each pose new interesting gameplay challenges, especially when facing off with more than one. Basic vampires are more melee-oriented and much quicker than human enemies; some will drain players' health if they are too close, others will black out the environment, and another can drag a player across the map, forcing players into close-ranged combat. Not to mention, players will need to stake (or use certain abilities) to finish a vampire for good, and the cost of not doing so in hectic encounters can be dire.
When faced with large groups, players will certainly be fighting for survival. There’s also the Rook inRedfall, an enemy that spawns from an electrical storm whenever players incur the wrath of the watching Vampire Gods. Facing them when fully kitted out with supplies is a challenge, but doing so when low on items is terrifying. That first lightning strike can feel far more claustrophobic than a vampire sneaking up on a player in a house.Redfallis not a horror gameand there’s nothing particularly scary in the game, but some encounters are downright chilling. Meanwhile, players will also come face to face with four Vampire Gods in the game, and while they vary in complexity, each one will test a player’s skills.
The gunplay is whereRedfall’s overall gameplayshines. Each weapon can feel distinct, and every shot feels punchy. Players will likely find which weapon type works best for them and stick to them, but going in guns blazing, approaching an encounter tactically, or desperately fighting back hordes of vampires never get old. Combine this combat with the vampires' AI that is top-notch, and there’s no denying thatRedfallis a ton of frenetic fun. There’s no walking away from the game without a smile on one’s face.
However, the biggest problem withRedfallis that players will end up walking away sooner rather than later, thanks to how shallow its mechanics are, giving players very little to bite into for the long term. There’s nothing wrong with a short game, they can actually be better than games that take dozens of hours, butRedfall’s content has as much depth as its vampires have souls.
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For example, the gunplay may be remarkable, butRedfall’s weaponsare not. Legendaries aside, there are only a handful of weapons in the entire game. Players will loot the same pistol, rifle, stake launcher, sniper, and so on in the opening hours as they do in the final ones; the map shift mid-game doesn’t even change this. Players will find Morrigans, Strigas, Yokai rifles, and so on all through the game, with the only differences being their level, their weapon mods, and their rarity. But the level of a weapon doesn’t change the fact it’s the exact same weapon, not to mention the weapon mods are incredibly basic, and the rarity of the weapon has no real bearing on their quality.
Furthermore,Redfallsees players take on the role of the telekinetic Layla Ellison,cryptozoologist Devinder Crousley, combat engineer Remi de la Rosa, or former Bellwether operator Jacob Boyer. Each character adds a little perspective to the story, and each has their own abilities. Layla can use an umbrella to block shots, for example, while Jacob has a ghostly sniper rifle. Remi can create a healing point with her ultimate, while Devinder can throw a shocking javelin. However, none of them feel entirely unique; the skills of each character are largely the same, if differently flavored across the board. Players spend skill points to upgrade these abilities' damage, length of effect, and so on, or they can increase ammo capacity for certain weapons and the like. These abilities ultimately add very little to the game.
Layla and Devinder, for example, have movement-based abilities that are incredibly situational. Remi can distract enemies and Jacob can use a raven to track them, but the benefit of doing so is minor. Damage-dealing abilities are the most useful of the lot since the game doesn’t really cater to many approaches other than see vampire, shoot vampire. Multiple times, we found ourselves forgetting we even had abilities in the game. They are useful, but never clutch. And that highlights the game’s biggest fault:Redfallcould be stripped bare, and the game would feel the same. The level system, the various skills and abilities, and thelooter-shooter elementsadd so little to the game that engaging with these systems is not as rewarding as it could be.
Many console players were upset to learn thatRedfallwouldn’t be 60 FPS at launch, but from a technical standpoint, it is a refined experience. We encountered very few issues throughout our time with the game. Of course, some bugs are to be expected, but the worst we encountered was a slight issue where our ping wouldn’t appear where it was supposed to (on the map and it’s an easy fix) and some occasional stuttering when staking enemies. The polish ofRedfallshines through its rare, shaky moments.
Redfallis ultimately a fun experience thanks to the world, the enemies, and the gunplay itself, but as a whole, it’s an incredibly shallow one too. Because of this, some may question whether it’s worth the price tag, but it’s noteworthy thatRedfallis launching on Xbox Game Pass. It feels like the game is designed for the service, with an experience that is easily digestible, is full of simple mindless fun, and is easy to move on from.
Redfalllaunches on May 2 for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided an Xbox Series X code for the purposes of this review.
Redfall
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover the truth, take back Redfall: The island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, is under siege by a legion of vampires who have blocked out the sun and cut the citizens off from the outside world. Ally with a handful of survivors against the creatures threatening to bleed the town dry.Slay alone or squad up: Venture into the darkness alone or to squad-up for up to four player co-op. Teammates can try different loadouts and combine their strengths to find creative solutions to the vampire apocalypse that suit their playstyle.Unconventional heroes versus the night: Choose from a team of diverse heroes – each with their own character-specific abilities – to overcome the vampire legion and their brood of maniacal followers.The open world of Redfall: Redfall is a true Arkane experience in a rich world that blends the familiar with the extraordinary. Fight through cultist outposts and supernatural psychic spaces as you piece together Redfall’s many mysteries.
