Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
" Emotional action-adventure RPG with rich narrative and unique dual protagonist mechanic but slow traversal "
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Review
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a narrative-driven action RPG set in a supernatural 17th-century New England. The game excels in storytelling, focusing on the complex relationship between the protagonists Red and Antea, and explores themes of grief, loss, and moral ambiguity. Players engage in ghost hunting and investigate haunting cases that often present difficult choices, shaping the story's outcome. The richly crafted world and atmospheric art direction contribute to an immersive experience.
However, the gameplay and pacing receive mixed responses. Combat is described as basic and repetitive early on, improving as players unlock abilities but remaining somewhat shallow. Traversal and exploration are frequently criticized for slow movement, excessive backtracking, and restrictive fast travel, which dampen player engagement. Technical issues like performance drops and long load times further hinder the experience. Despite these flaws, many players find the emotional narrative and character dynamics compelling enough to recommend the game, especially at a discount.
Highlights
Players praise the game's strong narrative and emotional depth, especially the relationship between Red and Antea. The haunting cases and moral choices are well-written, adding meaningful complexity.
Graphically, the game features beautiful environments and effective art direction that blend realism with fantasy. The voice acting and sound design receive positive remarks for enhancing immersion. Gameplay mechanics such as character switching and combat customization are appreciated once fully unlocked, providing strategic variety.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on sluggish traversal and excessive backtracking, which make exploration tedious. Combat is often described as repetitive and lacking depth, especially during the early game. The enemy variety is limited, and encounters can feel like chores rather than engaging challenges. Technical issues, including inconsistent performance and long load times, further detract from the experience. Some players find the pacing uneven, with a mid-game dip caused by filler content and slow progression.
Pros
- • Emotional storytelling with a poignant focus on grief and loss.
- • Strong, nuanced relationship between the two main characters.
- • Well-crafted haunting side quests with meaningful moral dilemmas.
- • Beautiful and atmospheric art direction and environments.
- • Excellent voice acting that enhances character immersion.
- • Unique mechanic of switching between living and spectral protagonists.
- • Customizable combat and ability progression add strategic depth.
Cons
- • Traversal mechanics are slow and filled with tedious backtracking.
- • Combat is repetitive and lacks enemy variety or challenge.
- • Exploration feels padded with filler content and fetch quests.
- • Limited fast travel options increase player frustration.
- • Performance issues cause frame drops and long loading times.
- • Mid-game pacing suffers from filler and slow progression.
- • RPG systems and gear customization are shallow and underdeveloped.
Rating Criteria
Hunt ghosts as two memorable characters in a story-driven Action-RPG where your decisions carry dramatic consequences. Torn between honoring your oath to the living and saving your departed partner, how far will you go for love?