Universally recognized as a studio that has consistently designed unique gaming experiences, Arkane has accrued a lot of goodwill with gamers over the years. Its list of commercial and critical hits means that any of its upcoming titles are sure to be met with much excitement and anticipation, and Redfall is no different. But from the glimpse that gamers have had of the game so far, it’s clear that Arkane may be mixing up its formula even more than usual.
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Everything Revealed About The Game So Far
During the E3 presentation, players were given a glimpse of the upcoming title with a cinematic trailer showcasing Redfall’s stylish design and core concept. Although there hasn’t been an official look at gameplay just yet, fans still have lots of details to pique their interest and spark their excitement before the game’s release next year. With the choice to either play solo or in co-op with up to three others, players will come up against a deadly horde of vampires that have taken over the once-idyllic island community of Redfall. The previously sleepy and quaint town has been decimated by the vampires, who are the result of a scientific experiment gone terribly wrong before they were let loose on the town’s population.
Players will choose from four playable characters as they blast, snipe, and power their way through the vampiric legion and get to the bottom of their origins. Gamers can choose their own path across the island in the open-world environment, using unique skills and customizable weapons to out-maneuver and over-power the various enemies. But players won’t just have the undead to contend with – they’ll also have to take out outposts of human cultists who worship the vampiric creatures in the hopes of soon becoming one of them. Redfall will also be an Xbox exclusive, only available on PC and various Xbox systems, unlike Arkane’s other titles like Deathloop and Prey which are playable on PlayStation.
How Redfall Differs From Previous Games
From what players have been shown so far, it seems that Redfall certainly has the DNA of an Arkane title. The developer has established itself as a studio that makes excellent single-player adventures that feature strong environmental storytelling, interesting mechanics, and innovative gameplay design. In the Dishonored series, players could customize their characters with new abilities and methods of taking out enemies and either choose a stealth approach or a more no-holds-barred strategy. Bethesda, the publisher of Redfall as well as a number of previous Arkane titles, has said that optional approaches will also be available in the upcoming game.
Previous games in the Arkane stable have consistently featured differing elements of adaption, whether it be in environments, enemies, or playable characters. As Bethesda has said on its official Redfall reveal page, the vampires that the player encounters in the game are continuing to evolve, suggesting an ability to adapt to how gamers choose to play or other in-game elements. Bethesda’s Pete Hines has also said that “the world is changing from the last time you played it, in ways that are meaningful from a gameplay standpoint,” further hinting at adaptive environments and enemies for a more interactive and fluid experience.
Each Arkane title has been committed to deep world-building and innovative game mechanics, and it seems Redfall will also feature these elements. The main departure from the tried and tested Arkane formula, it seems, is Redfall’s embrace of cooperative gameplay. Although other Arkane games like Wolfenstein: Youngblood had an optional co-op mode, the emphasis on cooperative play with up to four playable characters is a big change for the studio. From what has been revealed to date, Arkane’s Redfall is taking the successful and popular aspects of the studio’s previous titles and building on its legacy, with a new, much more collaborative approach to gameplay thrown in. Players will no doubt be curious to see if this adds to or diminishes the appeal of the Arkane game once they can get their hands on it.
Redfall releases in summer 2022 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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