Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden – It’s a Wonderful Game Made in UE5

Developed by the elite team at Don’t Nod, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, a game that has taken the gaming community by storm, is a testament to the power of storytelling and the evolution of gaming technology. In a world of unoptimized garbage, this game pushes boundaries of what we can expect from interactive entertainment and delivers on the spot.

Even APU’s such as the 8700G can run this game with considerable settings and attain a playable framerate.

Banishers is no stranger to Epic’s state-of-the-art engine, Unreal Engine 5. The game showcases photoreal visuals, tactile environments, and immersive lighting. The decayed and haunting atmosphere of the game world is brought to life with an organic realism that immerses players in the narrative like never before.

Story

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a compelling tale of love, sacrifice, and the supernatural. Set in a fictionalized rendition of colonial North America, the game plunges players into a dark land stalked by all undead apparitions. The narrative’s true driving force is the relationship between the two ‘banishers’ sent to rid the land of this undead evil.

The game follows the journey of two Banishers, Scotsman Red MacWraith and his Cuban-born wife Antea Duarte. They venture to New Eden to investigate a mysterious curse that has befallen the land. As players explore New Eden, they uncover a wealth of secrets and encounter a variety of intriguing characters, all tied to the curse.

One day, however, it happens that Antea is transformed into a ghost and the player’s task will be, in the role of Red, to look for any way to save her, combining both Red’s abilities and Antea’s supernatural ones. This twist adds a layer of complexity and urgency to the narrative, making the player’s journey through New Eden all the more engaging.

In a sea of sequels, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden has a wonderfully fresh story to tell. The developer, Don’t Nod, provides such a compelling mix of death, drama, and romance it made many wonder why no one had tried this sooner. It mostly sticks to landing with the things it tries beyond that story as well, from the excellent concept of swapping between your living and spectral protagonists, to its stellar investigation mechanics.

Playing as Red, the overly emotional Scotsman with hair that’s way too cool for the period, and Antea, the ill-tempered master ghost hunter who is a ghost herself, you’ll travel around talking to all kinds of pilgrims to solve their hauntings. As occult experts called Banishers in a mystical 17th-century alternate reality, it’s your job to seek out ghosts, help them resolve their unfinished business, then send them to the afterlife.

The story of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a testament to the power of narrative in gaming, offering a rich, immersive experience that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Protagonist Roles

The game’s protagonists are the ghost-hunting Banishers, Scotsman Red MacWraith and his Cuban-born wife Antea Duarte. They must protect the residents from the lingering threat of spirits and spectres. The game’s dual protagonist system allows players to experience the story through the eyes of both main characters.

Missions

The game features a variety of missions, known as Haunting Cases. These cases serve as investigations where players delve into the haunting experiences of individuals, sometimes involving more than two people. Your task is to uncover who or what is haunting them and bring closure to the case once it’s solved.

Banishers: Ghost of New Eden, Optimization and Gameplay Experience

The game’s optimization is commendable, providing a smooth and immersive gameplay experience. The combat in Don’t Nod’s latest offering feels great, at least it felt good from my perspective.

Taking control of protagonists Red Mac Raith and Antea Duarte, seamlessly alternating between the two mid-combats, is fluid and kinetic. The game also offers a semi-open world, an area that feels vast yet inhibits gloomy claustrophobia, with different biomes distinguished by lighting and vegetation.

Positive Aspects

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden has been praised for its great narrative-driven experience, amazing backgrounds and settings, and compelling choice system. The game’s dual perspective narrative, in which love and loss appear equally, makes for meaningful narrative interaction. The relationship between the two main characters is the most interesting element in the game.

Negatives

Despite its numerous strengths, the game isn’t without its shortcomings. Some players have criticized the combat throughout the game as lackluster, although this is subjective and largely depends on individual preferences.

Performance issues have also been a point of contention, particularly among those who expect their RTX 3060 to deliver 4K ray tracing. It’s important to note that these expectations reflect the advancements in gaming technology, and meeting them can be a challenge for developers. Certain graphical choices have been called into question as well, potentially detracting from the overall experience.

However, this is likely to be addressed in upcoming updates. Lastly, the open world of the game, while expansive and immersive, is sometimes filled with repetitive tasks that can feel like busy-work. Despite these criticisms, the game holds promise and has room for improvement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a game that beautifully blends narrative and gameplay, creating an immersive experience that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Despite its flaws, the game’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a must-play for any gaming enthusiast. It is a testament to the talent and creativity of the team at Don’t Nod, and we eagerly anticipate what they will bring us next.

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