Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 306 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Game Cover
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an action-RPG that delivers on most of its promises, along with some solid side content that is well worth indulging in – even if the full game isn't anything particularly remarkable.
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"Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn" is a Souls-lite action game from A44, where you play as Nor Vanek, a Coalition army member, seeking vengeance against the Gods who have opened the Door to the Great Below and unleashed their army of the Dead. Joined by a mysterious fox-like companion, Enki, you must fight back, using gunpowder and magic, to close the door and retake the world. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes three customization packs for Nor's outfits. Your battle against the Gods begins now.

Play Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 306 reviews
story58 positive mentions
stability9 negative mentions
  • The combat system is engaging and fun, allowing for a mix of melee and ranged attacks that feel satisfying.
  • The game features beautiful graphics and a well-designed world that encourages exploration.
  • The character dynamics, particularly between Nor and Enki, add depth to the story and enhance the overall experience.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, including frame drops and crashes, particularly on certain hardware setups.
  • Enemy variety is limited, leading to repetitive encounters and a lack of challenge in some areas.
  • The story feels rushed and underdeveloped, with characters lacking depth and the ending leaving much to be desired.
  • story173 mentions

    The story in "Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn" receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet lacking depth and polish. While some appreciate the character development and world-building, others criticize the pacing, dialogue, and overall execution, describing it as mediocre or rushed. Overall, the narrative serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, which many agree is the game's stronger aspect.

    • “I liked Nor and Enki a lot, and rescuing old comrades and bringing them together is satisfying, with each character being well-written and having their own story and relationships.”
    • “The story is good overall, even though there are no major surprises or plot twists that would blow your mind, but the world it paints is interesting, lively, and colorful.”
    • “The story, while not extremely deep, was overall enjoyable.”
    • “The story is rushed and crudely executed; the dialogue could be better.”
    • “The story feels like another take on the God of War formula, what with the whole killing gods theme.”
    • “The storytelling, voice acting, sound mixing, and writing are all subpar, which really hurts the storytelling.”
  • gameplay130 mentions

    The gameplay of "Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn" is characterized by a mix of fluid combat mechanics, engaging movement, and a unique risk/reward reputation system, drawing comparisons to both "God of War" and souls-like games. While many players appreciate the satisfying combat and exploration, some criticize the confusing mechanics, pacing issues, and technical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a fun and accessible gameplay loop that encourages experimentation and skill development.

    • “The combat is interesting and requires you to pay attention to animations and mechanics without ever feeling unfair or crushingly difficult.”
    • “Fun risk/reward mechanics, feels like a hybrid of God of War and souls-like (but not punishing), with more mobility, crafting isn't over-complicated, and you build up the skill tree at a consistent pace through the game.”
    • “The gameplay overall is very good throughout, with only a few misses in gameplay or bugs/issues, and the game is pretty enough that I'd actively look at the scenery.”
    • “Confusing mechanics choice by the developers.”
    • “Tunnel levels, terrible camera, terrible controls, unclear game mechanics... no, thanks.”
    • “The game needs so much more polish to eliminate issues like enemies hitting the player through their block; the parry mechanic not working when there is a slight height difference between player and enemy, and the camera lock-on getting stuck or just dropping at random.”
  • graphics53 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and art style, while others criticize technical issues such as optimization problems and graphical pop-ins. Many agree that while the graphics can be beautiful and immersive, they do not consistently reach the potential of modern engines, leading to a somewhat uneven experience. Overall, the visuals are often described as good to great, but they are marred by performance issues and a lack of polish in certain areas.

    • “The graphics, animations are good, maybe even great but do not quite reach the limits of the new Unreal Engine, but it is solid work.”
    • “The graphics are very attractive and the game runs really well.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and fun and engaging combat system so far!”
    • “Unstable and disappointing graphics.”
    • “Looks bad technically and dull aesthetically.”
    • “Very unoptimized, no real graphics settings, clunky gameplay mechanics, linear gameplay, no story worth hearing, gets boring and repetitive quickly.”
  • optimization38 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant stuttering, frame drops, and performance inconsistencies, particularly during intense moments like boss fights. While some users report smooth performance on high-end systems, others find the game poorly optimized, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, it appears that while there are moments of good performance, the game requires further optimization to address the prevalent issues.

    • “Good performance is a rare thing these days (looking at you Jedi Survivor) and A44 Games deserve praise for delivering such a good looking game in a well optimized state.”
    • “Performance: game runs very well, no lag, no freeze and the fights are very smooth.”
    • “The game is also well optimized, I haven't seen any pop-in or glitches and it even runs well on Steam Deck at medium-high settings at around 30-45 fps.”
    • “Massive stuttering if you have a current-gen video card.”
    • “From a technical standpoint, the game feels incomplete and poorly optimized.”
    • “So poorly optimized it's literally unplayable.”
  • music28 mentions

    The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many praising its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, particularly during exploration and boss fights. However, some users noted issues with volume levels and sound mixing, which occasionally overshadowed dialogue and created an imbalance during intense moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with hopes for a future release on platforms like Steam.

    • “The music is fantastic throughout.”
    • “There are moments when I swear that the music reached a much more intense level as I crested a rooftop or hill, almost like it was underscoring the magnificent view I had uncovered.”
    • “Music on the other hand is absolutely fantastic and I hope we get a soundtrack release on Steam in the future.”
    • “Even after turning the music slider down to half, it's way too loud during boss fights.”
    • “The background music often muffles what the characters are saying.”
    • “The un-skippable story cutscenes, boss fight music, NPC dialogue, and the earsplitting opening splash art when you boot the game all play at max volume, no matter what you have the master volume at.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the engaging banter and philosophical conversations between characters, particularly between the player character and Enki. However, many reviewers criticize the lack of depth and on-screen development, noting that significant character growth occurs off-screen and that the story feels detached, leaving characters feeling underdeveloped despite their appealing designs. Overall, while the character design is highlighted as a strong point, the narrative and character development aspects leave much to be desired.

    • “The character design for Nor, the player character, and Enki, your soon-to-be companion for this adventure, along with their banter and conversations along the way, is the highlight of Flintlock.”
    • “I've only played on normal difficulty, and in the beginning, there are a few moments where the game seems harsh and unforgiving, but roughly halfway through, you will just cross the threshold with your character development, and even bosses will only make you sweat a bit.”
    • “I enjoyed the theme, the character development, and some of the more thought-provoking and philosophical conversations between your character and Enki as you wander around.”
    • “Bad story and character development.”
    • “And a disappointing amount of the character development happens off-screen.”
    • “The characters were alright but no depth to them and no character development either.”
  • stability10 mentions

    Overall, stability in the game is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with minimal glitches, others encounter significant issues such as quest-ending bugs, audio problems, and graphical pop-ins. A few users noted scattered lag spikes and minor visual bugs, but many found the game well-optimized and enjoyable despite these shortcomings. The consensus suggests that while the game has moments of instability, it is generally less buggy than many other titles in its category.

    • “It's overall a great game, with no glitches or bugs. The faster-paced Souls-type combat has its own unique spin, great graphics, and the price is definitely acceptable for its size.”
    • “There are aspects to the combat, gameplay, and world-building that should be commended, but quest-ending glitches and some graphical pop-ins do diminish the overall experience.”
    • “Glitches and bugs like characters clipping through and getting stuck in other NPCs and objects as they zip around, audio bugs with fast traveling, and everyone popping in. I had one boss fight that I had to start over because the final prompt to finish them off would not show up.”
    • “The game likes to crash often, audio is a little buggy at the starting phase, and some of the combat feels more annoying than hard.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of witty dialogue, amusing character interactions, and unintentional comedic moments, such as glitches and quirky animations. Players appreciate the lighthearted banter and engaging voice acting, which contribute to an enjoyable experience despite some execution flaws. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay, making it memorable and entertaining.

    • “At first, I just thought it was funny that 'fox' was the first tag on this. Then I saw 'makers of Ashen' and thought, oh nice! This game is genuinely so good; the combat is engaging and varied, the world has a unique vibe to it, and both Enki and Nor are compelling characters who really grew on me!”
    • “They even implemented a Sniper Elite-like bullet camera for the sniper headshots; it's a bit janky, but hilarious.”
    • “Characters were likable, with funny banter, and I enjoyed my playthrough immensely once I got over the early game hump.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the combat is enjoyable, the later stages, particularly after the dukmar boss, can feel tedious due to high hitpoints and a rushed ending. Farming is seen as a fun risk/reward mechanic, especially on harder difficulties, but some players feel that it can turn into a chore rather than an engaging challenge. Overall, while grinding exists, it is not deemed strictly necessary for progression, especially on normal difficulty.

    • “This game has fun combat but the grindy achievements are boring.”
    • “I really liked the first 3/4 of the game, but starting with the Dukmar boss, the end feels kind of rushed and therefore the later bosses are very grindy (lots of hit points) and not fun for me.”
    • “For reference, I completed Elden Ring and found it thoroughly enjoyable, but this game felt more like a tedious chore rather than having fun.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere in Flintlock is characterized by a blend of engaging combat and dynamic environments, reminiscent of titles like Atlas Fallen and God of War. While it sacrifices some of the darker, more haunting elements typical of souls-like games, it successfully creates an eerie beauty through its setting and narrative, which enhances the overall experience without being intrusive. The music and sound effects contribute positively, though they are not particularly remarkable.

    • “The music is dynamic and atmospheric (although not remarkable) and the sound effects are also good.”
    • “I was having a good time; the combat feels like God of War/Banishers and the atmosphere feels like Atlas Fallen, which is a compliment because I like the environments.”
    • “Flintlock offers way more engaging combat with the axe and guns combo, verticality and platforming centered around in-air maneuvering, and world interactions, at the expense of some of the pure, drippingly dark atmosphere of Ashen's dungeon crawling.”
    • “Souls-like principles inevitably create a timeless artificiality to their environments, which can make for a weird, haunting atmosphere, but that requires a particular type of liminal narrative (like in a FromSoftware game), and Flintlock is trying to tell a story more upfront, about a civilization desperately trying to hold off against a divine onslaught.”
    • “The game's setting – a door left open to the afterlife – sets the stage for eerie beauty.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, with some expressing deep feelings such as crying during gameplay due to its humorous character movements. The intricate exploration and unique mechanics contribute to an engaging experience, though some frustrations with gameplay elements are noted. Overall, the emotional impact is significant, enhancing the player's journey through the game.

    • “The execution... I cried from the first seconds of gameplay; the movements of the main character are hilarious.”
    • “I decided to stick with the default more soulslike controls as that's what the over-the-shoulder camera made me feel more comfortable playing like.”
    • “Which is not to say there aren't virtues to the moment-to-moment play: exploration is nice and intricate, especially with the rift traversal mechanic.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Flintlock features a solid single-player campaign with no microtransactions or predatory monetization practices, providing a straightforward gaming experience without misleading advertising.

    • “Flintlock is a really solid single-player campaign with zero microtransactions or predatory content.”
    • “The advertising is lying to you.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers around 13 hours of gameplay but suffers from low replayability, as players find little incentive to revisit it beyond completing the main objectives. Many reviewers express a desire for more content and variety to enhance its longevity.

    • “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With multiple endings and diverse character paths, I find myself coming back to explore every possible scenario.”
    • “The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay experience unique, encouraging me to replay it time and again.”
    • “All in all, about 13 hours of gameplay to complete, and an exceptionally low degree of replayability due to the lack of incentive beyond pure completionism for completionism's sake.”
    • “The game is not bad, but I wish the developers had put more effort into making it more playable and longer.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

61% average critic score

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Play time

12hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
8-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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