We all know that Don’t Nod games have the potential to tug hard at the heartstrings with well-realized characters who are easy to empathize with. Banishers Ghosts of New Eden is “a hauntingly beautiful tale of two lovers embarking on a treacherous journey that tests their relationship through tragedy”.
While the more recent Don’t Nod games have relied on the player solving puzzles and talking their way out of predicaments, Banishers is more action-orientated as you control both characters at once with slick combat mechanics and powerful spirit-purging abilities. According to our Banishers Ghosts of New Eden review, you will be kept on your toes by constantly switching weaknesses between your two protagonists, with Elite enemies acting as end-of-chapter guardians. There are a few issues here and there, but if you want a decent action-adventure that happens to have sublime writing, Banishers is one to keep an eye on
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a love story. The primary antagonist and instigator of the game’s inciting incident is a ghost known as The Nightmare, who is spreading a curse across 17th century New Eden, but the narrative’s true driving force is the relationship between the two ‘banishers’ sent to rid the land of this undead evil. Don’t Nod’s latest rarely missteps, immersing you emotionally with phenomenal worldbuilding, expertly written characters, and dialogue where each word hits harder than the last.
You control both protagonists: Ruaidhrigh “Red” mac Raith, a Scotsman who sorely misses his homeland, and Antea Duarte, a Londoner who dies within the RPG game‘s first hour. However, thanks to this being a world where “the dead linger,” as you’ll hear mentioned many times throughout the 30-hour runtime, it’s as if Antea never died at all. She accompanies Red from start to finish in an ethereal form, bringing a host of new spectral powers to the table, all of which are required to discover everything New Eden has to offer.
Throughout New Eden, you’ll encounter many types of people. Lots of them are haunted by ghosts of those they knew and oftentimes did wrong by, or vice versa. Away from the main objective of reaching and defeating The Nightmare to lift the curse, Red and Antea can solve these haunting cases, which are reminiscent of side quests and contracts in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Talk to the people involved, both living and dead, investigate their belongings, and oftentimes venture into the wilderness to hunt for objects of supernatural power tying each ghost to the land of the living.
Unlocking all the trophies in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a rewarding experience that enhances your journey through its beautifully crafted world. By following this guide, you should be well on your way to earning that coveted Platinum trophy.
