Dawn of Defiance

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Dawn of Defiance is a single player and multiplayer action adventure game. It was developed by Traega Entertainment and was released on August 15, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,700 reviews

story66 positive mentions

grinding92 negative mentions

The game has beautiful graphics and a stunning environment that captures the essence of ancient Greece.
The building mechanics are intuitive and allow for creative freedom, making it enjoyable to construct unique structures.
The combat system is fun and engaging, with a good balance of challenge and accessibility.

The game currently feels empty, with a lack of diverse enemies and wildlife, leading to repetitive gameplay.
Quest progression can be tedious, often requiring players to gather large quantities of items or hunt specific animals that are hard to find.
There is no character customization, which limits player identity and variety in gameplay.

story
384 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
78%
5%
The game's story is generally perceived as underdeveloped and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of basic fetch quests rather than a compelling narrative. While there are elements of Greek mythology and potential for a richer storyline, the current quest design is criticized for being tedious and unfulfilling, often leaving players without a clear sense of purpose or direction. Overall, while the game shows promise, significant improvements in storytelling and quest mechanics are needed to enhance player engagement.
- “The story and quest elements were compelling and it felt satisfying working as a team to take down foes.”
- “I am truly excited to see how the story unfolds and what is in store.”
- “Fans of Greek mythology will enjoy the design and storytelling elements.”
- “The story is not very fleshed out and you don't really know what you are doing there or why; you get objectives but no real 'drive' to get them done, as the story is not clear.”
- “Story: pretty much non-existent in its current stage; every time you load your game, the one NPC you purchase and sell things to repeats his lines about just arriving on the main isle just for going near him.”
- “There is little to no story, or at least not one that leaves an impact.”
gameplay
240 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The gameplay of the game features solid building and crafting mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like Valheim, but it suffers from a lack of content and repetitive quests. While combat can be challenging and enjoyable once players grasp the mechanics, many reviewers noted issues with enemy variety and clunky combat animations. Overall, the game shows potential with its unique mechanics and aesthetic, but it requires significant improvements in quest design and world-building to enhance the overall experience.
- “The building and crafting mechanics are a lot of fun and the combat mechanics are very stable and can be challenging if you are not prepared.”
- “I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Dawn of Defiance [dod] so far, especially its survival-craft mechanics, which offer a solid foundation for a unique gaming experience.”
- “The game has amazing mechanics and a semi-decent storyline, mainly just a progression line, but it's good.”
- “The gameplay feels extremely glitch-riddled and incomplete.”
- “Moreover, the variety of enemies is very poor, combat is clunky, and game mechanics are questionable to say the least... for example, to open new recipes you need to open some chests but the game does not even give you a hint where those chests are.”
- “That all is not necessarily the problem, but the gameplay loop itself is very boring, repetitive, and gets very walking-simulatory.”
graphics
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
33%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising the stunning visuals, atmospheric environments, and attention to detail, particularly in the lush landscapes and dynamic lighting effects. However, some players have noted issues with optimization, including frame rate drops and blurry textures even on high settings. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some technical shortcomings.
- “Firstly, and I cannot emphasize this enough, the visuals are breathtaking.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous and atmospheric; the sound is top notch.”
- “Graphics are outstanding: this is a high-resolution Valheim, with Greek flavor, vegetation is lush, enemies look great, environments look lovely, the skybox is amazing, especially when the sun sets and you see the stars appearing.”
- “The game cannot even maintain 30fps at 1440p on low graphics with an RTX 3080.”
- “It's felt like a 640x480 picture got upscaled but still extremely blurry even on ultra settings, and I have a XFX Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card, so it shouldn't be an issue.”
- “The graphics are quite a bit prettier, but this is actually a downside quite often as the game is not yet well-optimized, and occasional jankiness and frame-rate issues are very common.”
grinding
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding resource gathering and crafting to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when building structures or managing inventory. While some appreciate the progression system that alleviates some grind, others feel that the travel mechanics and stamina limitations exacerbate the grindy experience. Overall, players suggest that while the game has potential, it currently leans heavily on resource grinding and fetch quests, which can detract from enjoyment.
- “The mechanics are fun and it's not too grindy.”
- “It's not too tedious.”
- “The resources are extremely tedious to gather to the point you need to build 1 main base and 4 small bases to store and gather, because like in ores, despite not needing much materials since they only really go in gear, there isn't much of said material and it's extremely spread out.”
- “There is the foundation of a good game here, but right now, it's just resource grinding and fetch quests in a mostly barren map.”
- “I do not recommend this game in its current state because you get around 15 to 20 hours of exploring and finding things for the fetch quests and buying of recipes, but the only reason it takes that much time is because quests are tedious, time-consuming, and not very impactful or fulfilling.”
optimization
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
50%
13%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as low frame rates and mouse lag, particularly on lower-end systems. However, others report smooth performance and good graphics, especially on higher-end hardware, indicating that optimization may vary widely depending on the player's setup. Overall, while there are notable performance concerns that need addressing, some players appreciate the early access optimizations and customization options available.
- “Optimization is incredible for early access, lots of toggles to up or lower settings already in.”
- “The combat is also really cool and so far it's very well optimized with a lot of customization to reduce and tweak in case your PC is a bit older.”
- “So much to love, the graphics are awesome, smooth performance, high replayability, and bug-free.”
- “In summation: this game isn't even worth $10 right now with how unplayably bad the performance is.”
- “The graphics are quite a bit prettier, but this is actually a downside quite often as the game is not yet well-optimized and occasional jankiness and frame-rate issues are very common.”
- “I understand it's fresh out the womb but it's the first game that runs legitimately terrible for me, even on the lowest possible graphics settings with 32 gigs of RAM, like single-digit FPS at times when I'd look inland and I've tried every way of drawing out performance I know of.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
5%
63%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing minor glitches and bugs, while others report smooth performance, particularly on specific devices like the Steam Deck and Rog Ally X. Common issues include freezing at startup, getting stuck in terrain, and combat-related bugs, but many users appreciate the developers' efforts to improve the game. Overall, while some players encounter significant stability problems, others enjoy a largely glitch-free experience.
- “I've been on Steam Deck for my entire 20 hours and it runs great.”
- “It looks amazing and runs great, can't wait to play more.”
- “Runs great on terrible connections!”
- “Would love to play it on my PC, but it freezes on the start screen almost every time.”
- “Buggy in some ways: stuck in terrain without stamina (you can only log off and log in to fix it), golem throwing stones in any direction (even behind him), skills (stuck at athletic and can't get more XP), inability to fly (have to die to be able to fly again), unable to use bow (same solution, have to die to be able to use bow again).”
- “I can live with some missing animations, clunky movement and combat, but I feel straight up insulted by this empty, boring, buggy joke of a game.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many users noting that it consists of only a couple of soundtracks, which can be repetitive and uninspiring. While some appreciate the combat music and ambient tracks, there is a strong desire for more diverse and thematic Greek music to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the music is seen as a minor aspect of the game, lacking depth and variety.
- “The scenery is really beautiful, but to get that Greek feel, it needs more Greek music.”
- “Music is chosen well; if you are in combat, there's different music that enhances the experience.”
- “For being a game in early access and not a massive survival game fan, I am very impressed with the character movement, menu system, music, and the Greek mythology theme!”
- “Music is just 2 soundtracks and will lull you to sleep.”
- “Music is essentially non-existent.”
- “There is some ambiance and very light music, but it's almost a non-factor.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning graphics, impressive sound design, and effective use of light and shadow, particularly during the day/night cycle. Players appreciate the immersive Greek/Roman setting, highlighted by awe-inspiring giant statues and a well-crafted environment that enhances the overall experience. While some note minor rough edges, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that elevates the gameplay beyond simple survival mechanics.
- “The graphics are gorgeous and atmospheric, the sound is top notch.”
- “I love the atmosphere, and the light transition of the night/day cycle is awesome.”
- “The Greek atmosphere is unique, the giant statues of the gods are awe-inspiring.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The game is noted for its humor, particularly through its amusing physics and quirky glitches, such as trees "exploding" during harvesting and comical enemy behaviors. While some animations and combat mechanics feel stiff, the overall comedic elements contribute to an entertaining experience, making it a worthy purchase despite its flaws.
- “A bit stiff animation, the combat is janky... and when the trees 'explode' when harvested, it's hilarious.”
- “Let's call it a con that trees do not fall and kill you in this game... because who doesn't think it's funny as hell when that happens in other survival games?”
- “The graphics are great, the physics are hilarious in some settings, but it's definitely a worthy buy.”
- “We walked through this game so fast it's not funny.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players feeling a sense of accomplishment and understanding through character interactions, particularly with "Dirty," who instills confidence in their abilities. Additionally, the mechanics in Valheim evoke a sense of attachment and responsibility, as players experience the consequences of their actions on structures and materials.
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, noting the potential for varied challenges and experiences with each playthrough. The introduction of diverse monsters and divine retributions adds depth, making the game infinitely replayable and enhancing the overall survival experience.
- “This could also introduce a wider array of challenging monsters or divine retributions, adding even more layers to the survival experience, and can have potential replay value.”
- “ infinitely replayable”
- “ infinitely replayable”
- “This could also introduce a wider array of challenging monsters or divine retributions, adding even more layers to the survival experience; and can have potential replay value.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is praised for being phenomenal and highly creative, contributing significantly to the overall game experience. Players appreciate the depth and evolution of characters throughout the gameplay.
- “Phenomenal game development, character development, and highly creative in game space.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game has been criticized for its high price point, with some users suggesting that it borders on being a cash grab if it were any more expensive.
- “If the price tag were any higher, I would call this a cash grab.”