Summary
The month of December is usually an action-packed time for gamers, as The Game Awards rewards some of the most popular releases of a calendar year with well-deserved accolades. For 2023,games likeBaldur’s Gate 3andThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomunderstandably stole headlines with their dazzling performances amid a stacked lineup of outstanding releases, but trailers of upcoming titles at the event have generated healthy chatter in the gaming community in the days since. The preview ofBanishers: Ghosts of New Edenis among the snippets with sizable fanfare, and the focus of Focus Entertainment and Don’t Nod’s upcoming project is drawing early comparisons toThe Witcherthanks to a few similarities in its plot.
In its life cycle beginning from its star-studded inception in 2007,The Witcherhas grown into one of the most internationally recognizable brands in storytelling, transcending the confines of console and PC gameplay to a highly successful Netflix series. Given the franchise’s enviable levels of success, it’s no surprise that newer fantasy games take some inspiration from the journeys of Geralt of Rivia and the iconic characters in The Continent at large.Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden’s previewat The Game Awards 2023 inspires hope of replicating some ofThe Witcher’s far-reaching success; taking gamers on a compelling journey into the lives of two ghost hunters in a storyline rife with tough personal decisions that threaten to derail sacred oaths.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and The Witcher May Have a Lot in Common
Banishers' Monster Hunting Theme Lines Up with The Witcher’s Storytelling
Monster hunting is a popular component ofmodern-day action RPGs, and Geralt’s amnesia-riddled hunt-for-hire dynamic inThe Witcher 1was at the forefront of the gimmick’s rise to prominence. The franchise hasn’t strayed from its core element of hunting unnatural creatures in the years since its debut, andBanishersshares a similar fixation from glimpses sighted in its official trailer. With a catchy “Life to the living, Death to the dead” mantra, gamers are clued into what to expect from the upcoming title. The main characters, Antea and Red, are lovers who have sworn to keep the worlds of ghosts and the living separate in their role as Banishers. However,Ghosts of New Eden’s focus on a partnership united against the forces of the dead becomes murky when Antea becomes a ghost herself.
Red must choose between honoring his Banisher oath – expunging the memory of his lover in the process – or sacrificing the living to bring back his lost love from the clutches of death. This detail all but confirms a choice system is in play inBanishers: Ghosts of New Eden; which was a staple inThe Witcher, especially in theWild Hunttitle. CD Projekt Red has a reputation for incorporating detailed choice systems in its franchises, andThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntis its shining example in this regard, featuring up to 36 different endings based on player choices throughout the game.
Magical Elements Could Be a Bridge Between Banishers and The Witcher
Apart from a shared plot focus of monster hunting,Banishersalso mirrors some elements ofThe Witcher’s gameplay. Geralt can cast spells called Signs, and from theBanisherstrailer,Don’t Nodappears to incorporate magic in some of the teased combat. Most fighting scenes depict Red using two flaming swords to carry out normal parry and attack movements, but there are glimpses of supernatural forces in Antea’s ethereal appearance and Red seemingly setting a ghoul ablaze with a touch of his hand in the trailer.
With traditional fighting methods getting extended limelight in the brief reveal at The Game Awards,Banishers: Ghosts of New Edenmay toe the same line asThe Witcherif the protagonist’s magical elements aren’t the main draw. Slated for a 2024 release after anunexpected delay,Banishers’similarities withThe Witchercould set the game up to take the mantle of the next big fantasy franchise.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
WHERE TO PLAY
You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRETrained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLDBuilt for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.
