Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Review (Steam)

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden boasts awesome graphics and a full 3D game world with 360-degree camera control, which together create visually stunning and gorgeous locations. It has a substantial download size of 51.27GB, indicative of its detailed graphics and extensive content. The game offers Steam achievements and full controller support, enhancing the overall gaming experience. It also provides comprehensive graphics settings and subtitle options, allowing players to customize their experience to their preferences. The game features five difficulty levels and full photo mode support, catering to a wide range of player skills and interests. The in-game cutscenes and character interactions, backed by strong voice work, add depth to the narrative. The game’s action-adventure gameplay is engaging, with third-person action combat that includes block, banish, and heavy/light attacks. The ability to remap the controls for the keyboard is a thoughtful addition. The game also features a unique mechanic where you can fill your banish bar to instantly banish and kill an enemy. The game world is rich with materials and resources for players to find, and the memorable set pieces add to the game’s appeal. The game’s Insight feature and Investigations add an interesting layer to the gameplay, encouraging exploration and problem-solving.

The Bad: Despite its many strengths, the game does have a few drawbacks. The shader’s pre-compilation can take a while, which may test some players’ patience. The game doesn’t show a way to see and remap controller buttons, which could be a limitation for some players. The inability to always skip or fast-forward interactions and cutscenes can slow down the pace of the game. The game has brought back the walk-and-talk sections, which may not appeal to all players. The facial expressions in the game are inconsistent, ranging from good to bad, and sometimes nonexistent. There are a few robotic-looking animations that detract from the otherwise high-quality graphics. The requirement to be very precise in lining up the cursor to interact/pick up items can be frustrating. Lastly, when someone is talking, you cannot interact with anything else, which can limit player agency.

Overall, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a visually stunning game with a rich and immersive world. Its strengths lie in its graphics, gameplay mechanics, and customization options. However, it does have a few areas that could be improved, such as the shader pre-compilation time, control remapping options, and interaction limitations during dialogue. Despite these issues, the game offers a compelling action-adventure experience that is one that will be for you or not for you but luckily you will know in a short time.