It’s been a while since the hype train has been for a spin, so I figured what better time to put it back on the tracks than August 2019. However, I’m not sure I can be trusted with the keys after I infamously pumped up Homefront: The Revolution’s wheels in this very segment, something people have never let me forget. But everyone loves a story about redemption, so perhaps this is my chance to atone for the sins of the past. The game that will (hopefully) help me restore some credibility to my name is GreedFall, the latest RPG from Spiders (of The Technomancer fame) and a game that is schedule to hit consoles and PC out on September 10.
If you’ve never heard of GreedFall I wouldn’t blame you, it’s been going under the radar since its announcement back in February 2017. But thankfully these type of games (read: AA games) are my bread and butter, so I was all over it from day one, and after waiting what feels like an eternity, we’re finally on the precipice of the game’s release.
So, what is GreedFall? It’s a fantasy RPG set on the magical island of Teer Fradee where you, De Sardet, a diplomat has journeyed in search of a cure for a disease known as the Malichor.
Initially what caught my eye was the 17th century baroque-inspired art style. But the more Spiders drip-fed information to the masses the more I was intrigued. Everything from the game’s unique colonial-inspired premise to the choice-driven gameplay involving factions had me searching for any morsel of information I could find.
The world of GreedFall looks amazing, with Teer Fradee teeming with gorgeous flora and unique fauna, some who are open to your presence on the island, while others who are less than welcoming. I’m looking forward to exploring the island, finding its many secrets and delving into the lore.
From a gameplay perspective it has all the bells and whistles of a standard RPG (skill trees etc.), but it’s the choice-driven element that has really me excited. Players will be left to their own devices as to how they engage with the island’s various factions. Should you wish to embrace or betray them is up to you, you’ll either reap the rewards or suffer the consequences as a result. Eurogamer’s hands-on preview labelled it the game Bioware fans should care about, while Wccftech said it could be even better than Bioware. Old Bioware of course, not Anthem Bioware.
Teer Fradee is no walk in the park
One nice improvement from Spiders’ previous title The Technomancer is the ability to choose the gender of your character, something that will no doubt please a lot of people. You can also romance other characters, both same and opposing sex. Meaning that you can become the ultimate colonial casanova should you choose that that is your calling.
The major sticking point for a lot of people is Spiders, whose games are usually excellent conceptually but often fail to capitalise on the potential with a lack of polish and performance issues. Spiders has said that GreedFall is the game’s biggest title to date (including budget) and from what we’ve seen and what has been said online, it looks much improved on its previous titles, especially the combat.
With a recent bevy of single-player gems such as A Plague Tale: Innocence, The Council, Vampyr and more, French publisher Focus Home Interactive has been knocking it out of the park, and based on what we’ve seen so far who’s to say that GreedFall won’t follow in the footsteps of those above?
I’m not the biggest lover of RPGs, simply due to the sheer number of hours they require. But every now and again a premise will suck me in and convince me to put in the hours it demands. GreedFall is one of those games, and if Spiders can deliver with the gameplay and story while getting the technical side right, this may just be their ticket to the big time.
GreedFall will hit consoles and PC on September 10. Pre-order on PS4 (Digital), Xbox One (Digital) or Steam.
