Summary
Essentially the primary pioneer of the genre, FromSoftware is still very much the king of the Soulslike genre. Even at its very worst, FromSoftware’s Soulslike entries have been some of the best the genre has ever seen, withtheDark Soulstrilogy,Bloodborne,Sekiro, and nowElden Ringall proving that the studio has always had, and continues to have the X factor. WhileFlintlock: The Siege of Dawnnaturally can’t live up to those heights, it tries its very best to, and it delivers some innovative features along the way.
Released just a week ago,Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn’s critical reception hasn’t been all that glowing, with it currently sitting at a 71 on Metacritic, but there’s still a lot to love about this ambitious Soulslike. Throughout the course ofFlintlock’s well-paced 10-hour story, players will encounter several features that put fun, innovative little twists on Soulslike staples, some of which FromSoftware’s next game might even benefit from borrowing.
Features FromSoftware Could Borrow From Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
A Souls Multiplier
By far one ofFlintlock: The Siege of Dawn’s best features is itsReputation multiplier. InFlintlock, the currency that’s gained from killing enemies and used to unlock new skills and upgrade weapons and armor is named Reputation, and when players enter a fight they’ll see a small multiplier appear right next to their temporary Reputation counter.
This multiplier increases the more that the player attacks, counters, and parries their opponent, and by pressing down the left D-pad button, they can add that multiplier to their Reputation, and add that to their permanent Reputation pool. However, upon being hit just a single time, the player will lose their multiplier entirely, and any Reputation not already cashed in will be automatically added to the pool at its base value, thus adding a neat layer of strategy to moment-to-moment gameplay.
An Armor Synergy System
Another great feature that FromSoftware’s next game should borrow fromFlintlock: The Siege of Dawnis itsArmor Synergy system.Flintlockgives players three separate armor slots, one for a shoulder pauldron, one for a helmet, and one for gauntlets. Players can mix and match any of the game’s armor, but if they equip two or more of the same armor set at once, they gain an Armor Synergy bonus. These bonuses range from giving the player the ability to transfer curses between enemies to gaining a Black Powder Charge back after killing an enemy with a firearm or explosion.
The Return of Firearm Counters
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawnfeatures a firearm counter mechanic that seems heavilyinspired byBloodborne. While FromSoft has obviously already had this mechanic in its past, it skippedDark Souls 3andElden Ring, and it deserves a comeback in the studio’s next game.
Some More Direct Side Quests
There’s a lot to be said for FromSoftware’s approach to side quests. Ingames likeDark SoulsandElden Ring, players encounter NPCs out in the wild, and interacting with them often begins a kind of side quest. It’s up to the player to then seek these characters out again, either stumbling into them by luck during their journey or by seeking them out using context clues from the conversation. While this approach makes FromSoftware’s worlds feel more immersive, it can be difficult for players to keep track of all the game’s various side quests. Sometimes, a more direct approach to side quests – like the one inFlintlock: The Siege of Dawn– can be more enjoyable.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
WHERE TO PLAY
From games studio A44, makers of Ashen, comes an explosive Souls-lite, where Gods and guns collide in a battle for the future of humanity.The Door to the Great Below has been opened unleashing the Gods and their armies of the Dead. The lands of Kian are besieged, the city of Dawn is on the brink of destruction. It’s time for the Coalition army to fight back. Embrace vengeance, gunpowder and magic as you embark on an epic journey to defeat the Gods, close the door and retake the world.Kill all gods.Your battle begins now.
