Is Banishers: Ghost of New Eden a Souls-Like Game? Combat System Explained

Don't Nod's new action RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden features a combat system that seems heavily inspired by Dark Souls games. However, people have been discussing if the game is actually souls-like or not. Let's find out if Banishers: Ghost of New Eden is a souls-like game or not in this article.

Is Banishers: Ghost of New Eden Souls-like?

The combat in Banishers uses some familiar mechanics like stamina management and dodge rolling.

• Enemies telegraph their attacks, and players must carefully time their dodges and watch their stamina.
• This gives the combat a methodical, high-risk feel reminiscent of Dark Souls.

However, Banishers differs from the Souls formula in other areas. Exploration seems more open, and the world design isn’t as intricately interconnected. The game also has a greater emphasis on narrative and character choices. Overall, it's more in line with Don't Nod's signature style. 

So, to answer the main question, NO, Banisher: Ghost of New Eden is not quite a souls-like game. While it combines the high-risk feel of combat with an open-world design, it's not a souls-like game.

More Focus on Storytelling and Exploration

While souls-like games tend to be light on story, Banishers puts narrative at the forefront. Don't Nod has stated their intent to blend combat with their trademark choice-driven narrative gameplay.

The world also appears more openly explorable than the tightly crafted Souls maps. Don't Nod has cited games like The Witcher 3 as inspirations for the more open areas.

Evolution of Vampyr's Flawed Combat

Banishers can be seen as an evolution of Don't Nod's previous attempt at real-time combat in Vampyr. That game featured stiff, uneven combat that failed to impress some players.

Banishers looks far more polished and responsive. The animations and effects have a more visceral impact, and the dodging and stamina management should provide more tactical depth.

Summary

• Banishers features Souls-inspired, stamina-based melee combat with rolling and timed dodges.
• However, it diverges from Souls with more open exploration and a greater emphasis on narrative.
• It refines Vampyr's clumsy real-time combat into something more polished.
• While not a true Souls-like, fans of those games may enjoy the measured, high-risk combat.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden seems to blend FromSoftware's combat with Don't Nod's signature storytelling. The result looks to be a fresh take on action RPGs when it launches on February 13, 2024. Souls fans may find the strategic combat satisfying, even if the overall experience differs from From's titles.