Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

A spoonful of honey in the barrel of despondency

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden I was eagerly anticipating – thanks to the countless and highly skilled trailers from the publisher. The videos offered an immersive experience, challenging encounters with spirits and the deceased, and thought-provoking moral dilemmas. And all this in a world where there is no right or wrong, but only varying perspectives. And you know what? This is exactly what I mastered from the game. Regrettably…

The intro of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is truly impressive. The game expertly perplexes the average gamer, immersing them in the haunting atmosphere of the village of New Eden. A skilled atmosphere engulfs the grimy streets, moonlight illuminates signs of despair lurking in the shadows, and a handful of townspeople brace themselves, resigned to their fate.

No, seriously, the prologue is absolutely outstanding in the entire game. An intriguing semi-open location filled with a vibrant cast of characters who expertly unravel the enigmatic secrets surrounding New Eden, revealing the presence of some dubious activities. The initial investigation introduces you to a ghost and quickly highlights the complex nature of the main characters’ profession, as they forcibly banish wayward spirits into the depths of the abyss. And then comes an incredibly immersive stroll to the place of worship and the initial, unsuccessful encounter with the Nightmare. It appears that after the introduction, the game will leave you in awe, with no time to recover from the sheer excitement.

And so it happened – I found myself having to hold my jaw with my hand for countless hours. However, it’s not because of the game’s coolness, but rather to prevent your mouth from getting tired from constant yawning. In Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, the unexpected challenge lies in navigating through repetitive environments that replace the core gameplay.

And no, I assure you, I am not exaggerating. Right after the prologue, your hero regains consciousness on the seashore and embarks on a thrilling journey, navigating through forested rocks with impressive agility for a solid hour and a half. By mastering this task, you will earn a well-deserved quest that will last approximately 15 minutes, followed by… Indeed, you will need to diligently follow the marker all the way to the first settlement for an entire hour.

Occasionally, my wanderings are disrupted by intense battles against a variety of malevolent entities. There are a variety of enemies here – white ghostly silhouettes of people, blue ghostly silhouettes of people, and even green ghostly silhouettes of people. Only a few? Well then, maintain skeletons armed with sabers and skeletons armed with guns. And also wolves and deceased wolves paired with some sort of luminous orbs. Embrace diversity.

On the bright side, having only a few enemies isn’t too terrible. The primary issue with Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is that engaging in battles against these apparitions and skeletal beings lacks enjoyment. The combat system here is top-notch: your hero has a wide range of attacks, including regular and enhanced strikes, a powerful gun (which you’ll receive early on in the game), defensive moves like blocking and counterattacking, and the ability to roll out of harm’s way. And a few abilities that have such long recovery times that they can easily slip your mind.

There seems to be an unusual occurrence with the impact. The enemies either respond to your attacks with recoil, or calmly counterattack, seemingly unfazed by the saber lodged in their ethereal abdomen. It’s like a professional experience – at some point, you may unexpectedly realize that a formidable challenge has caught you off guard and significantly impacted your well-being. Simultaneously, the impudent individual remains hidden due to the faulty camera, while the character remains unresponsive to any harm inflicted upon them.

All these issues are exacerbated by the lack of balance, which wasn’t even present in the game for a full night. You face a relentless onslaught of enemies with varying levels of difficulty, and must be prepared for the unpredictable number of blows that can end your life. At some point, I encountered a mini-boss – a ghost, that, when defeated, boosts the hero’s characteristics. It turned out to be a run-of-the-mill level 12 enemy, defeated with just five hits. However, the moment I stepped just ten meters away from the battlefield, I was immediately confronted by a horde of ghosts, now three levels stronger, emerging from every crevice. And you know what? They managed to withstand a dozen blows with ease.

And with this, the entire game is mastered. You dedicate countless hours exploring intricate dungeons and battling formidable creatures in pursuit of the rewarding moments of engaging quests and captivating cutscenes. This entire process reaches its peak just before the search for the first major boss. Not only does it take nearly two hours to reach the destination, but the battle itself is incredibly monotonous – simply aim at a glowing spot on the enemy’s body and occasionally evade their sluggish attacks. And as a bonus, you’ll be treated to a stunning scene, the chance to tackle challenging decisions, and an extra two hours of exploration before the next quest.

And you know what’s the most offensive? The quests in the game are impressively well-designed. Each of them is a captivating short story that lasts 15-20 minutes, filled with surprising plot twists and thought-provoking decisions. Investigating cases of ghosts who, for various reasons, refuse to leave the living alone can be quite fascinating. And the imbalance becomes even more apparent when there are long stretches of rehearsal gameplay between well-crafted stories.

Is Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden worth playing? Yes, if you’re a fan of the setting of colonial America during the witch hunts. Yes, if you enjoy games that provide the option to make difficult moral decisions. Indeed, if you can overlook the repetitive combat system and the requirement to explore similar areas for extended periods of time. In all other instances, the title is not worth your attention.

After all, you can easily watch the plot and cutscenes on YouTube.