Gods Will Fall is a hack-and-slash dungeon crawler that gives you control over a band of warriors dead set on killing the gods. Digital Trends was given a behind-the-scenes demonstration of the game in action, and we think it has a good chance of being a surprise hit when it releases in early 2021 .
An indie, top-down Souls-like game
Comparing new titles to the Souls series and games of that ilk might inspire a few eyeballs to roll, but for Gods Will Fall, its a key part of the game’s hook. This game will test players’ patience and force them to think up new strategies to overcome their adversaries.
Published by Deep Silver and developed by Clever Beans, a studio that recently worked on the Wipeout Omega Collection, Gods Will Fall gives the player control of eight Celtic warriors who are angry with their deities. They no longer wish to pray at the gods’ alter when they ask for blind worship and do nothing to stop the suffering of the world.
A compelling and thought-provoking premise pushes the band of soldiers throughout the land to raid dungeons, with a new god awaiting at the end. Each warrior has different perks and stats. Some will have devastating attacks, but might be too slow to avoid incoming damage. Others might be quick on their feet, hitting lightly but fast.
Players choose one of the eight to enter the tombs, with the seven remaining warriors awaiting their glorious return. Inside the dungeon, the chosen character will hack and slash their way toward the god at the end, and if they should perish, the player will choose their next combatant until the god is vanquished or the party is depleted.
Defeating the vain immortal will rescue all the previous warriors that entered the dungeon, with improved stats earned duting to their arduous journey. Should the player lose all of their characters, they must start from the beginning of the game.
It’s an intriguing set-p that will entice anyone looking for a demanding action game, but maybe something not quite as involved as the Demon’s Souls remake that launched with the PlayStation 5.
Combat during the presentation appears to be varied, and facing off against the various gods, of which we saw two — a giant bird and a skeleton spider — looks to be challenging. One of the most interesting aspects of the gameplay is that defeating henchmen in a dungeon will whittle away at the god’s health before you confront them. So, while actively hunting down as many enemies as possible puts the player at risk of taking more damage or perhaps even dying, it will give them better odds in the final fight.
Different choices enhance replay value
Much like indie darling Hades, the dungeons in Gods Will Fall are procedurally generated. Each gods’ den is also randomly assigned a difficulty, so a raid on a specific deity may feel easy on one run and more daunting the next.
Actions will also change the stories of each of the warriors. One might have a particular affection for another, becoming enraged should they perish in a dungeon. That results in them receiving an attack boost. Another could have a vendetta against a specific god that fuels them, marking them as the best choice to slay the divine being.
These elements will evolve the story and the characters within them as the player progresses, so Gods Will Fall should have a decent amount of replay value. Combined with the fun combat and impressive visuals, Gods Will Fall could be the surprise indie hit of next year.
The title releases on January 21 2021, across consoles, including the Switch, and PC, so gamers won’t have too long to find out.
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