With the launch of the new franchise, Godfall, this past month, the looter genre has expanded once more. Released on PlayStation 5 and PC, players have yet another experience centered around the desire to acquire reputable loot.
Though Godfall does offer a satisfying gameplay loop for players to master as they hunt for legendary gear, it suffers from some serious issues that mar the game from seeing its full potential. Godfall is still ailed by a lack of coverage on basic gameplay mechanics and the omission of key narrative aspects that make the base game pale in comparison to other games of the genre.
11 Pre-Order Bonuses
Because of a severe lack of marketing on the part of Gearbox and Sony, many with interested in this title were unaware of pre-order bonuses. Players could receive several permanent items such as a legendary weapon and a handful of augments that will help them in the early fazes of the game. Several exclusive skins can alter Valorplate appearance. The types of skins included in each preorder vary depending on which platform the game is purchased on. Because the game is already out, many users will miss out on these key items.
10 Customizable Valorplates
One piece of information omitted from players is the knowledge on how to alter the look of each Valorplate. Although one of the preorder bonuses includes customization for the game’s armor sets, there is no mention of how to do so over the course of the game. Highlighting the Valorplate name will open up the customization menu, but many are unaware of this due to the display of the menu. With a layout that leads players to believe that there is nothing of importance in the menu, this is one feature in the game that often goes unnoticed.
9 Aperion Lore
While there is a story in Godfall, it is a very loose and incoherent one. Most of the information about the world of Aperion is left in the loot caches scattered throughout the overworld, even being dolled out as rewards for boss encounters. There is information that can easily be overlooked within the menus after pickup, not even spawning a notification after being acquired. When given so little information up front, Godfall asks its players to instead remove themselves from the experience and delegate attention to info dumps rather than showing this information throughout the game itself, which leads to few users even giving this world a second thought.
8 Leadup To The Conflict
One glaring issue with the presentation of Godfall and its story is the pacing. Within seconds of starting the game, key exposition is immediately dolled out. This gives players no time to acclimate to the setting. Not only this, but there is an entire war that transpires without letting players take control of the action. This makes the integral information being given about the importance of Orin and Macros ring hollow to players. While the story could have been interesting, it ultimately ends up being a footnote in this loot centric experience.
7 Boss Story Relevance
One of the best parts of Godfall would the boss encounters. These moments in the game offer intense combat where player skills are tested, each story boss brings with it a new and varied challenge that is a visual spectacle to behold. One misstep of Godfall sees that these fights, while exciting, hold no emotional weight. These bosses are the generals of Macros, the main antagonist of the game. They’re his last line of defense against the one person who can stop him from realizing his goal. It just seems odd that most of these antagonists don’t even speak, let alone exchange dialogue with Orin.
6 Ascended Tower Of Trials
Lackluster story aside, there is some content worth exploring in Godfall that owners could miss out on. One piece of content that lies locked away in Godfall is the Ascended Tower of Trials. These towers serve to challenge the most dedicated players of Godfall. The only way to gain access to these towers, however, is to complete each of the 18 Dreamstone in the game, and Dreamstones can only be accessed once the campaign is complete. Godfall’s most skilled will want to attempt these trials, as they have a level 50 recommendation, often containing some of the most difficult fights in the game.
5 The Main Antagonist’s Motivation
Even the most devout fans of Godfall can’t be faulted for missing the main reason for the conflict in Godfall. Macros may look intimidating, but his motivations are poorly shown throughout the game.
Macros aims to become a god, and his men believe he is worthy of this rite. Orin and his forces oppose his aspirations and a conflict breaks out between the once united factions. Suffering from a god complex and believing even his own family to be beneath him, Macros descends into madness. The story glosses over this, and because there are only several cutscenes with Macros, players aren’t able to get a good grasp of who the character really is.
4 Relationship Between Orin and Macros
While Godfall features invigorating combat with responsive controls, a key detail within the story that should have been explored further is the relationship between Orin and Macros. The two are brothers, in arms and blood. This family is torn apart by the lust for power Macros exhibits. Orin can’t stand by and allow Macros to take the power of a god for himself, and the two turn on one another. Godfall doesn’t do this story justice, prioritizing the gear grind over this familial tale. What could have been a heartwrenching battle between brothers ultimately boils down to just another hack and slash loot grind.
3 State of The World
Upon Orin’s return after the prologue, Seventh Sanctum, his aid, warns that Macros could destroy the world should he become a god. What’s more, she claims his attempt could fail, and he could instead destroy massive parts of the planet. What players arent’ told is what life is left on the planet of Aperion. The only interactions Godfall owners have are with enemies and two isolated figures inside The Sanctum hub world. The stakes of the battle are never really shown and what has become of Aperion is left up to speculation.
2 All Loot Can Be Earned In-Game
Counterplay Games revealed to players that all loot and gear can be earned in-game. This is something that has become increasingly sparse within games of the same genre. It isn’t unreasonable to expect these types of games to omit content in hopes of upselling players later on with the state of microtransactions in games today. For all Godfall’s faults, it does offer a breath of fresh air in regards to monetization, and this is one aspect of the game that should be praised, as it allows players to fully experience the game for a single purchase.
1 Each Valorplate Comes With A Unique Ability
One thing that is very loosely explained in this hack and slash looter is Valorplates. The Seventh Sanctum shows Orin the 12 Valorplates briefly, but it is up to Aperions to figure out what each is capable of. Some sets can shock enemies while others mitigate incoming damage. All of these armor sets can be crafted from materials in the overworld, and each sports a unique special ability in the Archon Fury. Experimenting with what set best suits a given situation is a key to thriving in the world of Aperion and surmounting the challenges it presents.
NEXT: 10 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Godfall
