Announced in March 2022 already, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is finally available after more than two years of waiting. Having offered numerous trailers in recent months, the title has managed to attract the curiosity of many players. If you are one of them and you are still hesitant about the idea of buying it or simply downloading it in the Xbox Game Pass or the PC Game Pass, that's good because the first tests of the game have been published. On Metacritic, the average of the press scores is currently capped at 70/100 on PlayStation 5, 71/100 on PC and 76/100 on Xbox Series X|S. You will find below some summaries.
The first tests of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Shakenews – 8/10
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a breath of fresh air in the Souls-lite genre. The challenging combat, unusual story, and well-designed environments blend the new and the old in a unique way. While the gameplay could use some polish, the game manages to make the genre more accessible. The story is rather fast-paced at the beginning and abruptly cuts off at the end, but the relationship between Nor and Enki is enough to carry the bulk of the narrative. As a first game, Flintlock is off to a strong start, and I look forward to more adventures with this unlikely duo.
Wccftech – 8/10
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an enjoyable and very accessible Soulslite. A44 has created a great entry point for the genre, not to mention an exciting fantasy setting that mixes gunpowder, magic, and influences beyond the usual European medieval style. The combat is fun and won't make you break any controllers. The story is also worth following, though the game ends perhaps too early, leaving narrative and gameplay possibilities to be explored in a sequel.
TheGamer – 3.5/5
The story is well-crafted enough to keep you interested until the end, and while some of the twists and turns don't quite hit the mark, Flintlock is definitely worth playing for its combat and focus on exploration. I had a good time, and while it's not as polished as other Soulslikes, it deserves to be ranked alongside Nioh and Lies of P as valiant attempts that don't quite hold a candle to FromSoftware's masterpieces.
Digital Trends – 3/5
After 25 hours of playing Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, I'm of two minds about whether it's a run-of-the-mill Souls-like. Ideas like the combo system bring a fresh feel to a well-worn genre, showing a spark of creativity in the design. These ideas are just held back by other underdeveloped ideas that don't necessarily excel in any particular area. […]. Whether you consider Flintlock a true Soulslike or a Soulslite, as its developer calls it, it's still lacking in both departments.
Video Games – 5/10
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn just isn't memorable. The combat is perfectly fine, but it's filled with minor frustrations that bury the few innovations that work. Movement outside of combat is often unreliable and unsatisfying, and it's all supported by a story that failed to keep me hooked at every turn. There are glimpses of good ideas, but none of them are ever fleshed out.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a game that receives mixed but generally positive reviews for its bold attempts at the Souls-lite genre. According to Shakenews and Wccftech, the game offers a refreshing experience with challenging combat and an interesting setting that mixes magic and gunpowder. Both reviewers point out that while the gameplay could be more refined and the story is too fast-paced and ends abruptly, the relationship between the main characters, Nor and Enki, as well as the game's accessibility, make it recommendable.
However, other critics are more reserved. TheGamer appreciates the story and exploration, but notes that Flintlock falls short of FromSoftware's masterpieces. Digital Trends and Video Games are more harsh, mentioning that despite some innovative ideas, the game suffers from gameplay issues and an uninspiring story. Digital Trends calls the game a game that doesn't excel in any particular area, while Video Games finds the game overall frustrating and unmemorable, with underdeveloped ideas.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, and on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.