Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn | Review

Initial release date: 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developer: A44 Games

Mode: Single-player video game

License: proprietary license

Genres: Action role-playing game, Adventure game, Fighting game, Adventure

Publisher: Kepler Interactive

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!

Key Takeaways

• Ten hour campaign without side content
• Janky yet fun combat
• Sublime verticality map design
• Weapon upgrades via materials
• Three skill trees: Enki, Magic and Combat
• Visuals and art were pedantic
• A few bugs and glitches
• I played it via Gamepass on my Xbox Series X
• Performance mode is a smooth sixty
• A solid budget Gamepass AA action RPG
• Polish and budget lacking
• Story “Kill the Gods”
• Enki is the most interesting character
• Not as challenging as Souls games
• Lacking enemy variety

Introduction

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a budget AA action RPG that really fits Gamepass’ service. There are times when I want to play a Souls-Like that’s AA budget, smaller, with jank that’s pretty fun. Flintlock was just that.

I have played plenty of Souls-like video games in my day. I will tell you, the reader, that Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a better video game than Thymesia and Steelrising, both AA action RPGs of the Souls-Like persuasion. Flintlock Video Playlist

Presentation

I experienced a multitude of bugs during my 10 hour plus playthrough of Flintlock. I seen floaty frozen enemies. Unclickable options in the menu, NPCs disappear, screen flickering etc. I couldn’t talk to Baz on occasion at camp due to input bugs. Stuff like the latter.

Despite the bugs I still had fun and completed Flintlock because I wanted to. The game despite it’s janky combat, bugs and visual flaws I kept wanting to play due to it’s great maps and fun combat. I was hooked.

I played Flintlock via Gamepass on my Xbox Series X in both Quality and Performance modes. I didn’t enjoy the stutters in Quality Mode so I stuck with Performance Mode which I really enjoyed as it stayed sixty most of my playthrough.

Story

Flintlock: the Siege of Dawn takes place in a high fantasy setting where gods and monsters roam below and above. You play as Nor Vanek a Sapper who breaches structures via demolishing for the Coalition.

The story goes Nor meets Enki, a mythical God of Death. Nor must hunt down all of the Gods of The Below who have risen to the surface. The story is basically “let’s go hunt down and kill the Gods” with a fox. I didn’t care so much about the story as it was non-existent. However, I did particularly like Enki as I found him interesting.

Gameplay

Gameplay is action RPG featuring axes and hammers in your main hand and a pistol in your right hand that features a Bloodborne parry mechanic. You also have Rifles and Mortars for both hands that you can switch to. Throwable bombs and grenades as well.

You can upgrade your weapons which consume black powder which is mana that you gain when attacking creatures. Collecting wood and sulfur materials scattered throughout the map are your main upgrade materials for weapons and armor.

Flintock’s best asset in regards to gameplay is it’s map design. Particularly it’s verticality within it’s maps. Combat and traversal do have jank but once the systems clicked for me I had a lot of fun with this budget AA video game. Oh and enemy variety was terrible.

Visuals | Art

Drab, boring, pedantic art and visuals. This game isn’t pretty. Maybe it was the budget at fault? I expected a better looking video game on my Xbox Series X but alas. I did like Enki’s design along with some vistas. Enemy design was severely lacking creativity.

Sound | Music

Music and sound didn’t stand out at all. I won’t say it’s non-existent. Just not memorable. The voice acting was servicable for Baz who I believe was Adam Jensen’s actor from the recent Deus Ex video games so that’s cool.

Anyways, that’s all I got. If you have Gamepass and like trying Souls-likes give Flintlock a go. Otherwise wait for a deep sell. I’m not saying this is a bad game. I believe it needed a larger budget. Later – Jason