The Blood of Dawnwalker: PS5 Review

Developed by Rebel Wolves
Published by Bandai Namco
Platform: PS5

RPGs have largely felt like they've had stale mechanics for a while - and in terms of storytelling, the narratives have all began to drift into each other, all a variation on a theme.

So it's refreshing to say that The Blood of Dawnwalker takes the mechanics and the staid narrative and drives some new ambition and idea into it.

Set in the 14th Century Carpathian mountains, in a world riddled by plague and also with famine nipping at the door, it's the story of Coen, a peasant whose life is changed when he encounters some local vampires known as the Vhrakhiri. With the creatures offering the humans an escape from a world that's on the edge of extinction, Coen soon finds himself converted to their ilk and driven by a desire for revenge, as well as blood.

After a fairly exciting prologue which hints at what's ahead for Coen, and introduces some of the combat, The Blood of Dawnwalker settles into familiar tropes and mechanics of the RPG world. From chopping wood for the family at night to various fetch quests, the game breeds a kind of familiarity for anyone who's ever had cursory interactions with their ilk.

It's no surprise you'll likely recall The Witcher 3, given the fact Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the former game director for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is in charge of proceedings. (And the fact Coen looks like kind of Alan Wake Geralt cross won't exactly harm that perception either.)

But make no mistake, The Blood of Dawnwalker is no lazy ripoff or addition to the genre, thanks to a 30 day and night timer that clicks down for Coen. With time ticking against him as he races to save his loved ones, the game bestows on players both a sense of foreboding and urgency as it plays out.

Whether it's making every decision feel like it truly counts or adding pressure to any side-quests you may choose to indulge in, this mechanic shakes up the gameplay and even brings a level of poignancy to the idea of a Dawnwalker, a vampire who can exist in night and day.  

Graphically, the game occasionally dips below its frame rate and there are a few moments when it feels like interacting with the world around Coen doesn't quite gel as it should. But the pull of the time deadline, which is split into 8 parts during the day and 8 parts at night means you're willing to forego some of the occasional drops.

The sharp focus of the gameplay means that every moment feels like it's dripping with potential and also opportunity. It also means no two players will have the same experience as priorities will differ over each mission and every twist and turn.

Combat deals with striking and blocking, with every move feeling like it's more urgent than just button-mashing as the time ticks away in the background. Whether it's draining blood from his enemies to regain health or scrapping away, there's a feral nature to Coen that befits the transformation he is undergoing and the life that has befallen him.

Coen himself benefits from a feeling of tragedy when his world falls apart and he's gifted the curse that will aid his quest and fuels his desire to defeat those who've oppressed his land, his family and his own future. It's here Rebel Wolves' writing comes to the fore and while interactions usually lead to further questions and dialogue options, it's worth noting that none of it ever feels surplus to requirements or like padding in any form.

There's a subtlety at play in The Blood of Dawnwalker that proves to be engaging for even casual fans of the RPG genre and the idea of adding in vampires to the mix is a potent one that the developers have used to their advantage.

What works most about The Blood of Dawnwalker is the fact the game feels like a real world. It's full of people who are suffering, who have a story and who have a say in the ultimate dispatching of those oppressing them - consequently, Coen feels of the people, rather than just a lone wolf who works for the people 

It may have plenty of familiar elements wrapped up in its gameplay, but The Blood of Dawnwalker:benefits from adding a burst of bloody freshness and ambition to a genre that's become tired and stale and less appealing as time goes on.