Summary
Arkane’s upcomingBladegame was just announced at The Game Awards, based on Marvel’s iconic vampire-hunting superhero. With the memory of Arkane’sRedfall(also a title focused on fighting vampires) still fresh in players' minds, there’s a lot the upcomingBladecan do to learn from its predecessor.
Redfallreleased in May 2023, and it was already weighed down by the pressure of Arkane’s spotless record and its need to carry Xbox’s AAA first-party output. Disappointing on both counts,Redfallwas review-bombedby players and panned by critics. Players and critics were outspoken against the title’s monotonous gameplay and the sheer quantity of bugs found within. Its unexceptional graphics and lack of Arkane’s typical innovation only further cementedRedfallas a disappointment for gamers, and among the various features it came with, there’s one thatBladeshould sidestep.
Blade Needs To Ditch Redfall’s Staking System
How Staking Works in Redfall
ThoughBladeis being developed by Arkane Lyons rather than Arkane Austin, the reputation ofRedfallwill inevitably follow the studio’s next vampire venture. If there’s going to be any hope ofBladeredeeming Arkane afterRedfall, the game will have to take some lessons onboard. One of these lessons surrounds the mechanics of killing vampires, namely thatBladeshould skipRedfall’s staking system. Despite allowing the player to fell vampires with a great deal of flair, the staking mechanic (and the combat tied to it) makes the game far easier than it ought to be, leading players to wonder how these creatures of the night ever took over in the first place.
Staking inRedfallis a simple system. After reducing a vampire’s health low enough, they’ll stop still and jerk wildly in place. Their flaming heart will expose itself, allowing the player to drive a staked weapon into the creature—reducing their mark to a torrent of brimstone on the wind. It’s certainly a stylish way to kill a child of the night, providing a great deal of satisfaction with a brutal finishing move. This will likely be how a player feels after staking their first vampire, but the effect produces diminishing returns. Players have to use this same technique to kill just aboutevery vampire inRedfall.Since the island town of Redfall is overrun with these monsters, the method is prone to getting old fast.
Staking’s not the only way to finish off vampires in Redfall. UV light weaponry can also do the trick for many of them. In addition, stake launchers do the same job as melee staking, only from a distance,
Staking’s dramatic presentation (engulfing its target in fire before disintegrating them, their bones and shrieks on full display) gives the impression that it ought to be a special glory kill. Instead, it becomes indicative ofRedfall’s boring arsenal; the lack of variety in arms and enemy weaknesses makes these flashy stake finishers the norm. This takes away any thrill that could’ve come from slaying monsters that the intro cinematic hyped up to be nigh unstoppable. Of course,Bladewill likely not have the average vampire be too much of a threat, given that the titular character fights them in multitudes, but there should at least be some more resistant variants that require unique strategies.
On the subject of threat, staking also impedes the ability for vampires to challenge the player much. One of the reasons forRedfall’s lackluster reviewsis the ease by which its systems can be exploited. This is not only down to glitches, but the staking mechanic as well. Vampires become completely vulnerable before they reach zero health, as this is the window within which they can be staked.
The game’s core enemy essentially waiting to die after a few shots gives the impression that they’re more hapless than the average cultist. There’s a great deal of pressure onBladeto redeem Arkane. It will likely be along period beforeMarvel’s Bladeis released, so there’s a lot of time for Arkane to regroup and reflect.
