Sorry Redfall, this is how you do a gothic coop shooter
A rising tide
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I was ready to letRedfallinto my heart. Developer Arkane Studios has a track record for offering thought-provoking games with exciting twists. From the supernatural subplots ofDishonoredto the mind-bending time loops inDeathloop, Arkane has delivered plenty of memorable and unique experiences since its founding in 1999.
Unfortunately,Redfallbucks this trend substantially. Despite having an interesting premise, this vampire-hunting, occult co-op shooter feels like an unfinished mess. Clunky systems, mediocre gunplay, and constant performance issues blight what could have been another entry in Arkane’s roster of great titles.
The opening mission was a bland slogfest, which saw my comrades and I contending with bullet-spongy enemies reminiscent of the worst parts ofBorderlands 3while navigating an uninspired environment that seemed pulled from a mediocre shooter from the early 2010s. Suffice it to say,we were not impressed.
However, all is not lost for fans of co-op horror. There is another title that may yet sate your desires, and it’s available onXbox Game Pass, too.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktideis the latest co-op offering from Fatshark Games. Taking place in the gothicsci-fi horror of the 41st Millennium,Darktidehas you take on the role of a group of convicts who are pressed into service on behalf of the authoritarian Imperium of humanity.
As withRedfall,Darktidesends you into a hellscape of occult horror. Set in the towering megacity of Hive Tertium,Darktide’s band of protagonists are tasked with rooting out a cult of Plague God worshipping fanatics, hordes of zombies, and the occasional super-powered mutant.
Purge the unclean
Darktideis far from perfect. Itsclasses leave something to be desiredwhen it comes to variation and, beyond its stellar opening, the plot is razor-thin. However, if you can look past these failings, you’ll come across a title with incredible combat fundamentals – something thatRedfallsorely lacks.
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Guns inDarktidefeel weighty and unrelenting, supported by immersive sound design. The Bolter, a massive gun that fires rocket-propelled shells, feels just as dramatic and satisfying as you might hope. Conversely, the lighter weapons, like the Lasgun (think laser assault rifle), feel responsive and versatile. The weapons are distinct and tactile, reminiscent ofDoom Eternalin their weight and feel.
Enemies come at you in ebbs and flows, giving you room to breathe between frantic, high-pressure engagements
The fundamentals ofRedfall’s combat feel profoundly dull by comparison. Enemies are spongy with far too much health and gunfire feels unresponsive and unsatisfying. For comparison’s sake, the originalBorderlandshad substantially more impactful weapons and combat way back in 2009.
Darktide, meanwhile, benefits from excellent encounter pacing. Enemies come at you in ebbs and flows, giving you room to breathe between frantic, high-pressure engagements which often force players to makedifficult choices.
Making an entrance
The contrast couldn’t be more evident than in both games’ opening sections.Darktideforces you to make a series of backstory decisions about your character. The majority of these have no impact on the game proper but serve to give you some much-needed context for the struggles that are about to ensue. Cut to a prison ship where your character, convinced of their innocence, uses the cover of a cultist attack on the vessel to break out of their cell and join forces with the Imperial holdout.
Throughout the sequence, the industrial, gothic bleakness of Warhammer 40k oozes off of every surface and line of dialogue. It’s a treat for fans, but also a great jumping-in point for newcomers, as it requires no prior knowledge.
Redfall’s opening is bewildering and disjointed
By contrast,Redfall’s opening is bewildering and disjointed. Though the opening cutscene writes a big check, showing off the rise of Redfall town’s vampire cult, it does little to ground the characters or to give a wider context to the conflict. In the first few minutes, the protagonists, having attempted to leave the town via boat, find themselves run aground by occult sorcery.
After aimlessly wading through cultists, they eventually happen upon a firehouse which apropos of nothing, is transformed into a base of operations, not by the heroes of the story, but by a cast of supporting characters.
Teamwork makes the dream work
It’s no surprise that co-op shooters are difficult to get right. Constructing compelling levels which allow for properly paced encounters while also delivering on a moreish gameplay loop is a tall order. Perhaps after a couple of large patches, the performance issues and lackluster feel ofRedfall’s gameplay might well be fixed.
Darktidecertainly ran into its share of performance issues on launch, and is now far more stable thanks to the ministrations of Fatshark’s patches. In that respect, the two titles have something in common. The key difference, however, is in the gameplay fundamentals:Darktideis kinetic, responsive, and satisfying whileRedfall, in its current state, is anything but.
If you and a handful of friends are looking for a cooperative experience that’ll stick with you, thenDarktideis your best bet onXbox Game Passat the moment. It’s certainly not perfect, but it will deliver dozens of memorable moments through its smart mission design, immersive environments, and a deeply enjoyable selection of weapons.
An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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