It’s been a while since I’ve played a Western RPG I could sink my teeth into. This is mostly due to the fact that Bioware doesn’t release these types of games with the frequency they once did. Thankfully, developer Spiders is here with an RPG that hearkens back to the glory days of Bioware with Greedfall. While it lacks the polish and AAA presentation of high-profile Western RPGs, Greedfall is an excellent game that fans of the genre will love.
From the beginning, Greedfall distinguishes itself from similar RPGs through its setting. Instead of a medieval world, you inhabit a land inspired by the 17th-century European Age of Discovery. The world looks close enough to standard Western RPGs to feel familiar while also having its own visual flair. You begin in a nation resembling France before venturing out to a mysterious island called Teer Fradee where the bulk of the game takes place. Your main goal is searching for a cure to a plague ravaging your country. However, this will not be an easy task as various opposing factions seek control over the island.
Greedfall’s primary gameplay focuses on combat, dialogue choices, and character customization. Though gameplay doesn’t deliver anything wholly original, all of its aspects work in perfect harmony. You’ll feel a true sense of progression as your character becomes more adept at combat or diplomacy. You’ll also see the world change around you as your decisions affect the island. Customizing a character to suit your specific playstyle is also richly rewarding.
Combat occurs in real-time within large open areas. You attack with light and hard attacks using weapons like swords and clubs. The former is great for cutting through flesh and bone while the latter is best for destroying armor. You can also use bombs, set up traps, and of course, use magical attacks. You can pause the action at any time in order to queue attacks against enemies in a specific order. This gives combat a great sense of strategy for those who don’t just want to hack and slash the entire time. It’s a mechanic designed for more strategically-minded gamers. Of course, you’re free to play the entire game in real-time if you wish.
Customization is another central pillar. While you can certainly build a powerful character capable of wiping out foes with next to no effort, there’s something satisfying about building one that focuses on stealth and diplomacy. If you pump points into charisma, you can persuade NPCs to do what you want. You can also dump points into dexterity so you can pick locks. You can complete most missions in a variety of ways. Things don’t always have to end in bloodshed. Greedfall locks you down to a character class at first but lets you branch out later. The game actively encourages players to experiment to find their ideal playstyle.
Teer Fradee is large and expansive. It contains many different biomes like lush forests, dense swamps, and rocky plains. Instead of being an open world, the island contains large open areas. Going from one location to another requires loading. The world has monsters to fight, loot to discover, and inhabitants to either befriend or wipe out. Spiders did an amazing job of making Teer Fradee appear truly wild and untamed. Its design invites players to explore the world thoroughly to see what secrets lie within.
There are three main factions vying for power over the island. The most powerful are the theistic Theleme and the science-focused Bridge Alliance. The nature-worshipping island natives oppose both factions. As you progress, you’ll gain allies belonging to the different factions. This makes dialogue scenes interesting as certain party members can either help or hinder your attempts at diplomacy. You can choose a side or oppose everyone.
Aside from main quests, players can partake in a number of side objectives. These almost always serve to enrich your understanding of the world by having you interact with many different characters. Unlike, say, Dragon Age: Inquisition which overdid it with extraneous side quests, Greedfall has just the right amount of optional content. The best side quests involve doing missions for your party members. These help you form stronger bonds that prove beneficial later in the game. They’re also the main way to form romantic ties with party members. Side quests are almost like small mini-stories within the larger narrative.
Greedfall’s art design is easily my favorite part of the game. The baroque architecture found in the old world and many island settlements is simultaneously similar and different from other Western RPGs. Each of the costumes is a work of art with their long flowing capes, belts, and brimmed hats. The weapons are equally as elegant as the clothing. It helps that the game’s graphics are well above those of other independent games. At a glance, Greedfall looks very much like a AAA title. I’d love to get my hands on an artbook for Greedfall. That’s how much I love the game’s art style.
I can safely say Greedfall caught me completely by surprise. While it contained a fair bit of bugs and glitches, they weren’t enough to ruin my overall enjoyment. The combat system is robust and allows players a high degree of strategic planning. Each mission helps bring the world to life and players can complete them in a variety of ways. Greedfall is everything you could want from a Western RPG. It is an entertaining game that serves as a great base for future installments to build upon.
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