It’s been too long since we hid in the shadows of a fantastical world, aiming an arrow at our mark and waiting for the right moment to strike. The Dishonored series has stuttered to a stop, it seems, and that leaves a gap wide enough for a new challenger to skulk in. And that challenger is Winter Ember.
There is a bit of an asterisk here. While Dishonored was a first-person opus, this is an isometric action game. But wait! While it might not be as AAA as that fantastic series, it still captures a lot of what makes it so special.
The story pits you as a noble who was long thought dead. That’s useful, as it means you can take to the streets and collapse several different tyrannical factions without them knowing who you are. Your city is Anargal, which has a proud history that has recently been dragged through the mud. It suffers under the auspices of Greater Heaven, a zealous religious faction who want to purge the world of darkness. But as these organisations often are, they have a dark underbelly, and you want to stick a dagger in it.
Luckily, you have a hefty skillset. You can lurk in shadows and alleyways, remaining unnoticed. You can make use of your trusty bow, with a quiver full of arrows that you have crafted yourself – tipped with elemental fire, no less. Like a certain bald hitman, you can distract, shock, infiltrate via ziplines and all manner of other incursion opportunities. It seems that you’re only limited by your imagination.
Aside from some top quality visuals that belie the budget of Winter Ember, we’re most taken with the focus on exploration. There is an open-world here to explore, full of nooks, passageways and bookcases with that one book that will open up to a musty alley. The city of Anargal has secrets, and they’re yours if you can find them.
Key game features include:
Winter Ember is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 and PC. You can expect a review from TheXboxHub as soon as we stop altering guards. It starts at £18.99 from the Xbox Store.
Game Description:
You are Arthur Artorias – the sole survivor of a massacre that devastated your family’s legacy and tore them out of the history books. Thought to be dead, you emerge from exile 8 years later, the faceless man kindled by the flame and seeking vengeance. Embark on an adventure unravelling a dark tale filled with twisted characters, centered around a militant religion hell bent on keeping control.
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Thank you! I think stealth is a really important part of any AC game, so I really missed it in…
I agree with this, especially the annual release schedule. Annual releases, I believe, are the killer of franchises. Look at…
If that’s your opinion, that’s fair enough! I agree that the freedom is nice, and I do agree that the…
I love this game I have on Playstation 2 and Xbox one
Yes i totally agree to your article. I also felt same about the ac valhalla .It doesnt have any stealth…
