Star-crossed lovers, Raudrigh “Red” Mac Raith and Antea Duarte, are invited to New England Town, New Eden by their old friend Charles Davenport. Upon arrival, things are not what they expect. Charles is no longer in the land of the living, with Antea not far behind, and their skills as Banishers are needed more than even they know.
Their worst Nightmare has made New England Town its new home…
What is it all about?
Called to New England Town by their old friend, banishers Red and Antea embark on a journey through New Eden to rid the area of The Nightmare. Meeting and interacting with the local population along the way. Red and Antea need to make tough, although necessary game-altering decisions. From being loved by the locals to receiving the cold shoulder, these decisions not only change the outcome of the story but also the interactions with the locals of New Eden.
Banishers excels in delivering an exceptionally inviting, yet haunting ambiance. The dark, moody and atmospheric aesthetic balances the overall eerie feeling of the environment with a warm and inviting undertone that keeps you coming back.
The gothic architecture, misty landscapes and spectral effects evoke a sense of unease and dread. The stylised realism gives the game a immersive yet distinctly styled look.
Gameplay
Banishers makes use of a dual character system that allows you to effortlessly switch between Red and Antea. Situations demand the use of Red’s sharpshooting, sword wielding strength. Followed by Antea’s ghostly phase walking powers. Controls are fairly easy to get the hang of and feel natural once getting the hang of them.
Red’s parry and block mechanism however can be a pain due to a rather large input delay. This lead to a more evasive fighting style which serves you well in end game fights. Switching between the two distinctive fighting styles opens a wide range of possible ways to rid the world of whatever enemies you may encounter.
Open World and world building
New Eden does a magnificent job of keeping you engrossed in the world. Apart from the stunning visuals and feel of the environment. The world feels alive as no single walk through any camp or village is the same. NPC’s not only interact to your presence but your choices in both main – and side quests.
Hauntings replace the traditional side quests, where Red and Antea deploy their skills as Banishers to help rid locals of lingering spirits attached to them. Hauntings build a relationship between the player and NPC’s which is second to none. From helping an elderly lady not relive her worst mistake, to ridding a mourning husband of his wife’s ghost. The player gets sucked into the world of New Eden and each interaction feels personal due to the relations built with NPC’s.
Lore
New Eden is littered throughout with books, letters and ancient texts that seem like your run of the mill open world fillers. Upon further inspection these offer a more in-depth look into NPC’s, past events and even current happenings. Though not necessarily containing game altering information, these collectibles offer insights into the world that serve to pull you even further into it. Acting like a cherry on the cake these titbits of information elevate the world beyond your every day open world for those willing to read a few additional lines of text.
Verdict
Banishers Ghosts of New Eden is a well designed, developed and thought out game. Offering the player a multitude of choices which directly and indirectly influence the game and your play through experience. The beautifully crafted visuals and story keeps you coming back for more. Looking past the sometimes slow input response this game is a definite must play.
Review by guest writer Jacques du Preez
