Paris, France – In the latest video game of the supernatural action-adventure genre, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden offers an intriguing plot set in an alternate 1600s America. Developer Don’t Nod delivers a unique mix of death, drama, and romance, with the added twist of playing as a ghost-hunting detective in a supernatural realm. The game intertwines the stories of the living and the spectral protagonists, offering an innovative concept and stellar investigation mechanics. However, despite its original setting, Banishers borrows heavily from the action-adventure game structure, with repetitive combat that falls short of its inspirations.
The game falls into the category of third-person action-adventure titles with a serious tone and slow pacing, similar to popular games like God of War and The Last of Us. While it successfully executes the familiar blueprint with strong writing and likable characters, the formula feels somewhat overplayed. Banishers follows the journey of Red and Antea, paranormal investigators known as Banishers, who seek out ghosts and help them resolve their unfinished business. The game allows players to explore a mystical 17th-century alternate reality and engage in haunting cases, optional combat encounters, puzzles, and side quests.
The reimagining of colonial America as a supernatural backdrop adds depth to the narrative, focusing on themes of love and loss with death and the afterlife looming over the characters. While the game offers different outcomes for each haunting case, the limited choices at the end of each scenario feel restrictive and do not fully explore the nuanced moral implications of the situations. However, the ability to swap between the living and dead characters to uncover clues and solve mysteries adds an intriguing layer to the gameplay.
Although Banishers presents innovative ideas and exciting character abilities, it falls short in combat mechanics, with controls feeling clunky and movement being unresponsive at times. Additionally, the lack of enemy variety and repetitive encounters hinder the overall experience. However, the game still manages to offer an enjoyable mix of haunting cases, engaging puzzles, and well-written side quests.
Overall, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden delivers a fresh take on familiar game mechanics and storytelling, providing an enjoyable experience for fans of the supernatural action-adventure genre.