[Hands-On Preview] Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Satisfying fans of ARPG and souls-like games is no easy task. Most games in this genre feel quite similar, and it takes something unique to immediately grab your attention. However, Flintlock stands out as an intriguing game and a major project for a single studio. It has enormous potential, and the demo we played genuinely impressed me, making me think: “Oh yes, this is really good.” Despite all its potential, the game is not without flaws. Still, something deep inside me kept repeating — I need more of this.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, developed by the New Zealand–based studio Aurora44, is an impressive addition to the action RPG genre and will be released on July 18 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, introducing players to a fantasy world where guns and magic coexist with equal power.

Set in the lands of Kianah, the story begins with the catastrophic opening of the gates that once kept the gods sealed away, unleashing various horrors upon the world. You play as Nor Vanek, a member of the Coalition’s elite forces. Separated from her group, Nor encounters Enki, a fox-like god who becomes her partner in stopping Uru, a god who seeks to end humanity. This partnership drives the narrative, and I was impressed by the character performances in the game. Although I encountered issues with inconsistent volume and occasional voice cut-outs, it was a joy listening to Enki’s voice.

Flintlock’s combat system is its standout feature, combining elements from other souls-like games and action RPGs. Gameplay feels like a dance, requiring precise timing of pistol shots, parries, dodges, and melee attacks. Nor’s pistol is crucial to this system, primarily used to interrupt enemy attacks, adding a strategic layer to combat and making the game even more enjoyable.

Armored enemies present additional challenges, requiring perfect counterattacks to break their defenses. As you progress, you unlock more ranged weapons, such as the musket, which allows for critical headshots and adds variety to your combat strategies. Enki’s abilities further enhance the experience, allowing you to curse enemies and perform powerful critical attacks through the priming system.

I’m usually easy to please when it comes to combat. If it works well and isn’t too difficult to learn, I can spend hours playing a game like this. However, it took me some time to get used to blocking, which occasionally felt clunky. The timing was challenging because our protagonist stays in her attack animation a bit too long before she can block again, requiring careful planning of your strikes.

Additionally, most enemies have predictable attack patterns, which makes things easier once you learn them. Whether it’s a standard attack, an unblockable red attack, or a dodge, there’s plenty to grasp and master. The most annoying enemies were the ranged ones, like those throwing grenades or using muskets. They can deal significant damage, but the AI generally wasn’t very smart. They often shot at walls or rocks if you were hiding, giving you enough time to react and counterattack correctly.

Exploration is a key component of Flintlock, with an open-world design inspired by games like Elden Ring. You’re encouraged to explore off the beaten path, discovering new areas and secrets. Enki’s abilities allow Nor to perform Rift Travel, which lets her reach previously inaccessible areas and adds a light platforming element to exploration. You can also collect Enki’s feathers to strengthen his powers or liberate settlements from enemy control, unlocking new side quests and rewards.

I spent around three hours on the demo (even though it doesn’t actually take that long to complete). I was eager to explore every corner of the game, making sure I didn’t miss anything. One feature I found particularly interesting was the ability to gather resources like wood, iron, stone, and fabric, which you can use to upgrade your weapon. The in-game map is easy to navigate, helping you identify your next objective and the hidden areas waiting to be discovered. With the addition of fast travel, Flintlock provides a very rounded experience.

Flintlock follows the familiar souls-like progression system. You earn Reputation by defeating enemies, which you use to unlock skills and upgrade weapons at camps and fast travel points called Lodestones. The Reputation system includes a multiplier that rewards extended success without taking damage, but resets when you get hit. While this risk-reward mechanic adds depth, I wasn’t particularly thrilled about it. You can retrieve your items by reaching your death spot, but if you die again, there’s a chance you’ll lose everything. Still, it added a certain challenge that made me carefully consider when to fight and when to run.

The game’s visuals are inspired by New Zealand landscapes, featuring native plants and wildlife. Powered by Unreal Engine 4, Flintlock presents an appealing world with advanced graphical options, including NVIDIA DLSS and Intel XeSS. However, some performance issues, such as stuttering, are present in the demo and will hopefully be resolved before launch.

That said, the world does feel visually somewhat empty. There aren’t many striking fantasy elements beyond some large aggressive birds, and most locations are sandy fortresses. Vanek’s character design is also not very inspiring, though there are outfits you can buy from various spirit merchants in certain settlements, which may improve things later. Usually, you need to clear these settlements by defeating the army of the dead, which typically includes several zombies and a stronger commander. When you defeat them, the fog clears, and the villagers return, allowing you to progress further.

There are skill trees focused on Steel, Magic, and Powder, which overlap at various points, suggesting potential for deeper character builds later in the game. Indeed, each upgrade offers something different, and I’m excited to see how things develop in the later stages.

My favorite moment was defeating a side boss guarding a chest with a new axe. It was incredibly satisfying to block, outsmart him, and finally learn his patterns after dying more than 50 times. Every death was a lesson, and the joy of finally winning was worth it. Was I frustrated? Not really. I was simply making silly mistakes, but those mistakes motivated me until I finally succeeded.

Ultimately, I have high hopes for Flintlock. I’m not usually a passionate souls-like fan, but this one intrigued me with its approach, gameplay, and fantasy elements. Although a demo can’t fully represent the final game, I truly hope it won’t disappoint and that we’ll be able to spend plenty of time with it. For now, what we’ve seen in the demo looks promising, but whether the full game will live up to that remains to be seen a month from now.