Godfall (6)

Every console generation kicks off with that one game, that feels like a justification for curing technolust with an injection of cash. The Xbox One had Ryse: Son of Rome, The PlayStation 4 had Killzone: Shadowfall, and now its successor has Godfall. On the surface, it’s a face-melting explosion of next-gen graphical features. Towering buildings shimmering in ray-traced lights, the clash of steel on steel producing a thousand particle effects and character models boasting impossibly-rendered details.

Beneath that surface though? There’s not a whole lot to scratch away at. Godfall has a few solid ideas at its core, but it’s also the kind of game that you’d see on episode of CSI: MIami when a forensics team investigates a video game studio for murder. All style and very little substance. It’s a shame because there’s a lot to like about the game.

Godfall (1)

It bills itself as a revolutionary loot ‘n slasher while conveniently forgetting that games such as Darksiders and Diablo were perfecting that formula long before it hit the scene, looking like the bastard child of those two franchises after they spent a night forming the armoured knight with two backs. You’re thrust into a hunt for the dread villain of the tale named Macros the Betrayer, a number of his trusted lieutenants stand in your way and something something else about the lore, I can’t really say. I pretty much lost focus because I was having my eyes stabbed out with the aforementioned gorgeous visuals.

Godfall (4)

What Godfall does get right though, is its action focus. As the armoured lion of the game, you’re able to hack ‘n slash through a variety of enemies, juggle overt offense with subtle parries, and dip into your inner Captain America by hurling your shield between opponents when you’re not using it to defend yourself at the very last second.

Godfall (3)

There’s a lot to like here, with the combat feeling as decadent as the décor around you and experimenting with styles of play through your acquired skills, Valorplates, and arsenal of weapons that can reduce enemies into a pile of bloody giblets is a fantastic foundation on which to which to do some trial and terror in your old-school journey.

Godfall (2)

Unfortunately what’s built on top of that foundation isn’t nearly as well-thought out as the action setpieces that define Godfall. For starters there’s a clumsy user interface pulled straight from the early 2000s, regularly disrupting the flow of gameplay with a myriad of sub-menus that are haphazardly thrown together.

Godfall (5)

And for a game which has you grinding away for more weapons, armour sets with a zoo animal theme, and more skills, Godfall’s focus on mindless push-forward action leaves little room for digging into the stats of its gear and working out the perfect min-max setup for an encounter. It all comes together to form a game’s just frightfully dull after the first hour has rolled by and the vacuous appeal has outstayed its welcome.

Last Updated: November 16, 2020

Godfall
Godfall hits the nail on the next-gen launch game head: All style, very little substance. Granted there’s some fun to be had but once the next-generation glitz wears off what’s left is a repetitive slog through levels that quickly get old.
6.0
Godfall was reviewed on PlayStation 5
61 / 100

14 Comments

  1. Was hoping this would be the next big thing had high hopes. Unfortunately on ps5…

    A) no 120 FPS
    B) no ray Tracing
    C) The Price

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      November 16, 2020 at 11:18

      I’m struggling to understand why 120FPS is necessary.

      Reply

      • Morne Nell

        November 16, 2020 at 11:28

        4K 120FPS is a sweet spot, Also remember Sony was punting 4K, 8K and 120 FPS.

        This could have been a nice show case as to what next gen are capable off.

        From what I see it seems we can see the following on next GEN

        4K 60FPS (With Ray Tracing)
        4K 120 FPS (without Ray Tracing)
        8K 60 FPS (Without Ray Tracing)

        Reply

      • Morne Nell

        November 16, 2020 at 11:28

        4K 120FPS is a sweet spot, Also remember Sony was punting 4K, 8K and 120 FPS.

        This could have been a nice show case as to what next gen are capable off.

        From what I see it seems we can see the following on next GEN

        4K 60FPS (With Ray Tracing)
        4K 120 FPS (without Ray Tracing)
        8K 60 FPS (Without Ray Tracing)

        Reply

        • Original Heretic

          November 16, 2020 at 13:18

          I don’t have a 4K TV, and doubt I’ll be getting one any time soon.
          So, that 4K/8K doesn’t really affect me.

          That being said, it will come down to the game as to what is supported. I’m sure the PS5 can handle those numbers you throw out.

          Reply

          • Morne Nell

            November 16, 2020 at 13:34

            I would personally suggest investing in a display first before getting a next gen console. Most games will be released on both PS4 and PS5

            PC gamers usually game at 1440p but 120 FPS, that is the reasons why 4K 120 fps is such a big leap for consoles and TV’s.

            The display is actually the biggest investment not the console.

          • Original Heretic

            November 16, 2020 at 14:19

            If the game plays, I’ll be happy.
            I’m really not fussed about 4K or 120FPS.
            That kind of thing appeals to quite a niche group.

          • Plague Doctor Who

            November 16, 2020 at 15:02

            Despite what you believe about 2160p- 120fps is extremely important to achieve if your monitor is capable of pushing above 60hz. The jump in framerate is very important and not something a you would understand unless you had the hardware to experience the difference.

            It’s quite ignorant of you to say it’s for a niche group of people when it’s what everyone wants as a “standard” these days.

          • Original Heretic

            November 16, 2020 at 15:03

            Not ignorant by any means.
            The majority of people that I speak to just wanna play the games. They don’t care about FPS and resolution.
            Hells, I spoke to guy this weekend who loves gaming, but can’t even name the that he’s playing. “Some war thing,” was all he knew.
            That’s the majority of the gaming market, especially on the console side. People just wanna play the game and they want them to work properly.

          • Plague Doctor Who

            November 16, 2020 at 18:07

            Sounds like you’re hanging around the wrong people, because any normal gamer knows the difference between frame rate, and resolution.. even console players aren’t that daft. For a console player it’s ALL about their achievable frame rate otherwise their experience is not going to be a good one.. similar to why cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed a 3rd time.. the older gen hardware can’t sustain something as simple as 30fps.

            The only people who have a valid excuse for not knowing their resolution or frame rates are people who game on their smartphones.

        • Plague Doctor Who

          November 16, 2020 at 18:07

          Wish you guys would stop using that horrible marketing term it’s not true 4k, it’s literally 2k, and 4k. Cause no one cares about the width of the pixels until it’s been extended with a ultra or super wide monitor. At which point you can call those idiotic marketing terms 12k monitors or 24k LOL

          -But I have to say I find the whole 2k 120fps very sus, especially for a console.. unless they’re running very specific settings *highly doubt these games are running on ultra/max settings*.

          Reply

  2. Du4098

    November 16, 2020 at 11:23

    You could say it’s… God Awe-fall.

    Reply

  3. CrAiGiSh

    November 17, 2020 at 08:55

    Games looks nice but the repetitive nature of the game is what kills it.

    Reply

  4. HairyEwok

    November 17, 2020 at 12:43

    I did say back when they just teased this game it will not be that great, seems I was right.

    Reply

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