GODFALL - PC and PS5 (Details)

image source: epicgamesstore

Platforms: PC - PS5

Release date: November 12, 2020 

Genre: action

Developer: Counterplay Games

Publisher / distributor: Gearbox Publishing

Gods want you...

Godfall is a fast-paced third-person action game originally created with an emphasis on cooperative play. At the same time, the game can be enjoyed in single-user mode.

The emphasis in Godfall is on melee with an edge on offense, where defense plays a very minor role. The main thing is not to stop killing crowds of enemies and finding approaches when fighting powerful bosses.

Godfall was one of the first games ever revealed for PlayStation 5, and as such it’s got a lot to prove. The looter-slasher has shown itself to be worthy of a new generation with fancy graphics and impressive particle effects, but as more and more information about it comes out, can it possibly meet the rising expectations people have for PlayStation 5 and its initial offering of games? Godfall’s key conceit is simple: you choose a set of armour (medieval European by way of Boris Vallejo), pick a weapon, and dive into the fantasy world of Aperion to slay enemies and relieve them of their loot. As developer Counterplay Games likes to say, you “build your own identity around these legendary figures and become God-like”. It’s a simple proposition and one that seems – so far – to lead to a pretty compelling experience. You choose one of 12 Valorplates (armour sets) before heading into the world. Valorplates are broken down into classes: Balanced; Specialised; and Exotic. Some fit with your standard RPG setup and are geared to speed, or tanking, or crowd control, while others are designed to take advantage of cooldown abilities (and accelerate how quickly those cooldowns work), and some are focussed on debuffs, which make them more viable in co-op. To complement your stylish Arthurian armour, you’re also able to equip one of five weapon classes. If you prefer to be lightning-fast and agile, the longsword is the way to go. If you’re more interested in throwing your weight around and wreaking havoc with brutal momentum, the two-handed hammer is for you. If you want to keep mobs in check and specialise in crowd control, there’s the spear, and if you’re more into your combos and chaining together attacks, you may prefer to opt for the heavy dual blades or the greatsword.

A cursory glance at game in action will show you why combat is the selling point of this game: it’s weighty, it’s satisfying, and it’s gorgeous. Counterplay Games makes a big deal about how good melee action feels on the pad, too: the studio takes advantage of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback to give you a better sense of passing through the game’s myriad environments. Imagine walking along a marble floor, Counterplay suggests, trying to get us to imagine the way it feels different through your boots compared to walking over gravel, dirt, or a rain-slick field. The developer tells us we’re going to notice the difference as we pass through each of these places – as well as when we dodge, or get knocked off our feet – without ever having to look at the ground onscreen. Once you’ve taken a trip to the armoury and got yourself armed and ready for combat, it’s time to step into the lush, bright, fantasy realm the game calls home. Missions are similar to Destiny’s Strikes: standalone and somewhat linear activities that take you through levels brimming with powerful enemies. You’re going to need to think about your Valorplate setup before you jump into a mission, since the end bosses are super-strong and resilient to most attacks. Knowing how to take advantage of any weaknesses is essential. 

Since it is the first announced game of Playstation 5, it is special for us in this respect, we do not have much other expectations.