Polish developer Rebel Wolves, comprised of many talents behind The Witcher 3, is aiming high with its upcoming vampire RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker. Initial showings promised a lavishly grim medieval open world and a score to match, suggesting the game would contend with CD Projekt Red's acclaimed titles. A recent four-hour hands-on demonstration has largely confirmed these expectations, revealing a game that harnesses The Witcher's magic while forging its own distinct identity.
A World Ruled by Vampires
The game opens in the Carpathian valley of Vale Sangora, a region where vampires have established a symbiotic rule. In exchange for freedom from plague and taxes, the human populace offers a monthly blood tithe. The prologue introduces protagonist Coen and his small-town life, immediately presenting the game's unique approach to time management. A system representing available time as a currency dictates how many objectives can be completed before the critical Blood Mass event, forcing players to make difficult choices about how to spend their limited hours.
Detective Work and Difficult Choices
Early quests demonstrate Coen's role as a detective, reminiscent of Geralt's investigations. One such quest involves the theft of a ceremonial banner, leading players through interrogations and clue-gathering. The resolution of this quest highlights the game's commitment to moral ambiguity. Recovering the banner to maintain peace with the vampire overlords, despite sympathizing with the thief's act of rebellion, raises questions about heroism and complicity.
The game also features romanceable characters, with Anca, a local witch, serving as a focal point for Coen's burgeoning affections. Dialogue with Anca is noted for its natural affection and subtle worldbuilding, hinting at the harsh realities of life in Vale Sangora where longevity is rare. Players can choose to spend precious time with Anca studying her books, a decision that impacts the available time for other tasks and quests, illustrating how personal relationships and narrative progression are intertwined with the core time-as-a-resource mechanic.
Embracing the Dawnwalker Persona
Upon completing the prologue, Coen becomes the titular Dawnwalker, a figure who is human by day and a vampire by night. The transition into Vale Sangora's open world reveals a landscape that is expansive but not overwhelming. Movement is facilitated by an increased run speed during the day or by transforming into a wolf after sunset.
The open world offers a blend of quest-driven content and environmental storytelling, with activities like exploring crumbling towers to survey the area, discovering the aftermath of a lovers' dispute, or disrupting supply lines for vampire overlords. A swamp encounter with a projectile-firing undead creature demonstrates the variety of challenges players can expect.
A Challenging Combat System
The Blood of Dawnwalker features a fully directional combat system, akin to games like For Honor and Kingdom Come: Deliverance, requiring players to parry and attack based on enemy movements. While initially challenging, the system allows for a gradual learning curve, starting with simpler button inputs and progressing to precise directional attacks and perfect parries. Duels can be rhythmic and satisfying, but the introduction of additional enemies or unexpected attacks can quickly disrupt this flow. Healing mid-combat is difficult, with vampire abilities offering only marginal recovery and lengthy cooldowns. The game's combat encounters, particularly with multiple foes, can become arduous due to enemy health pools, suggesting a need for potential balancing adjustments before launch.
Despite the combat's demanding nature, Rebel Wolves has included options for players to mitigate direct confrontation. While not a stealth game, opportunities for alternative entry into fortified areas or the possibility of day shift guards being more lenient present strategic choices. The developers have indicated that a backdoor allows for quiet entry into encampments, and returning during the day might offer a more peaceful resolution with guards.
Even with potential issues in combat balancing, the strength of The Blood of Dawnwalker lies in its quest design, writing, and innovative time-as-a-resource system. These elements, combined with the game's rich atmosphere and narrative depth, suggest it is an RPG worth close attention upon its release.