E3 is always the perfect time for big game developers to reveal exciting new titles, and E3 2021 didn’t disappoint. Microsoft, for instance, delivered on some hotly anticipated games with trailers for the likes ofStarfieldandThe Outer Worlds 2.Another game it revealed comes from Bethesda and Arkane Studios, who’s stilla few months away from releasingDeathloop.Arkane’s next game – developed by Arkane Austin, the branch of Arkane responsible for great games likeDishonoredandPrey– isRedfall,a multiplayer co-op vampire hunting FPS that rings faintly of theLeft 4 Deadfranchise. Although the game is far from launch, it already looks like a fresh take on the vampire genre.
Vampires could use the kind of revival thatRedfallpromises. There was a time a few years ago where vampires were at their apex, domination action movies and showing up frequently in games. More recently, vampires have fallen off a little bit compared to other fantasy creatures. They still crop up as the stars of the show in titles likeVampyr,but they’re not leading the charge like they used to be. If the vampire genre wants to make a comeback, then creators and fans of the genre need to follow inRedfall’s wake. New takes on vampires and experimentation with the genre’s formula could result in some creative and compelling games.
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Redfall’s Perspective on Vampires
The vampire is a fantasy and horror classic. For centuries people have told stories about blood-sucking humanoids like Dracula who fear the night and boast incredible supernatural powers.Redfalldoesn’t stray away from that basic formula completely, but there’s a few major changes. For instance,inRedfall,vampires are the result of science. A botched experiment created these bloodthirsty monsters, who’ve developed remarkable abilities and are only getting stronger. There’s still supernatural forces at play inRedfall,but a healthy dose of sci-fi shakes things up a bit.
The behavior of vampires inRedfallis also pretty different from traditional depictions. Oftentimes, vampires are reclusive and mysterious, and sometimes operate alone. InRedfall,vampires work as a horde, openly marauding in the streets throughout the night. Whereas traditional vampires are looming, elusive threats,Redfall’s vampires are in the player’s face and believe in power in numbers. That makes them a much more formidable threat.Redfall’s heroes have a big task aheadof them. Hordes of vampires are sure to be much more powerful and intelligent zombies, sothere’s definitely some intense combat ahead.
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Building on Redfall’s Momentum
If the hype aroundRedfallmeans anything, there could be more vampire games coming up someday to meet demand. Fortunately, there’s already rumors aboutaLegacy of Kainremastercoming up.Legacy of Kainwas a vampire-centric franchise most active from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Rumors about aLegacy of Kainremake have been around for a while, butRedfall’s appearance is a good sign for the game’s future, and could serve as an inspiration for newKaingames. It’s worth mentioning that there’s also newVampire: The Masqueradegames on the way, which will go a long way in helpingRedfallbolster vampire media while offering a different perspective on the genre.
Bethesda and Arkane are the perfect studiosto deliver onRedfall’s ideas. It’s a combination of a few familiar genres and game styles that results in something a little experimental. Between Microsoft’s backing and the talent within Bethesda and Arkane,Redfallis already poised to be a very influential title. The tide might turn again in the favor of vampire media. Not every new vampire game needs to beRedfall,of course; in fact, rather than imitating it, other studios should get the message that there’s more than one way to handle these beings. Ideally,Redfallwill be a stepping stone that refreshes several genres at once and helps give vampires a second life.
Redfallreleases in summer 2022 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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