Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, the awful looking-yet somehow much-anticipated (from some compromised game "journo's" at least) action role-playing game developed by A44 Games and published by Kepler Interactive, has finally hit the shelves... Hard. Like.. Crashed into them and exploded into a firey mess.
Released on July 18, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, the title was expected to make waves in the gaming community. Instead, it's making headlines for... all the wrong reasons.
Dismal Reception
Any initial buzz surrounding Flintlock has quickly dissipated, with Steam charts reflecting a stark reality: the game is not popular. Players are abandoning ship, and the numbers are dropping rapidly... With launch day peaking at... 648 players. YIKES.
Metacritic scores from reviewers paint a bleak picture as well, with the game currently sitting at a lukewarm score of around 71, a number that is steadily declining as more reviews come in.
The Sweet Baby Inc. Curse
One of the critical aspects of this unfolding disaster is the involvement of Sweet Baby Inc. This company has attached itself to several projects over the years, many of which have struggled to gain traction or outright failed. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is now another addition to this unfortunate legacy.
Sweet Baby Inc. has a history of controversial decisions that I have covered at length, and this time - is no different. Reports indicate that a character, initially described as white and also reasonably attractive, underwent a ...significant redesign that left many gamers confused. The resulting backlash has been swift and unforgiving, even further tarnishing the game's reception.
Mediocrity and Missed Opportunities
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is plagued by mediocrity. According to most reviews, the combat mechanics are described as "perfectly fine," but that's about where the praise ends. The game is riddled with small frustrations that overshadow any innovations it attempts to introduce. Movement outside of combat is often unreliable and unsatisfying, diminishing the overall experience.
The narrative, you know, that thing Sweet Baby Inc. is so heavily involved in, that whole crucial 'element' in any role-playing game, fails to engage. Despite glimpses of good ideas, none are fleshed out, leaving players with a story that feels shallow and uninspired.
The result is a game that isn't memorable in any meaningful way.
A Pattern of Failure
This isn't the first time we've seen a promising studio falter under the partnership with Sweet Baby Inc. Their track record of attaching themselves to projects destined to fail raises serious questions. When will game studios learn that partnering with Sweet Baby Inc. often leads to disappointment and financial strain?
...I guess that all depends on Blackrock and Vangard for ESG scoring in the future. So far, so bad.
A44 Games, the developers behind Flintlock, now faces an uncertain future. The game's poor reception could very well lead to significant consequences, including potential studio closure. It's a harsh reminder that a game's success isn't just about innovative gameplay or engaging storylines; it's also about making smart (and obvious) business decisions. Not being compromised by consultancy firms would be a good start.
Now What?
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn had all the makings of a successful title... but has instead become another inevitable failure in the gaming industry. The involvement of Sweet Baby Inc., coupled with poor design choices and lackluster execution, has left players and critics alike unimpressed. As the game continues to flounder, I have to wonder - how many more studios will fall prey to that Sweet Baby Inc. curse before the industry takes notice and steers clear of such partnerships.
The gaming community deserves better, and unfortunately so do the talented developers who pour their hearts into creating these worlds. It's time for a change, and it starts with recognizing the patterns that lead to failure and choosing a different path. Until then, we'll have to keep watching these car wrecks pile up.
~Smash
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