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Death's Gambit: Afterlife
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gothic re-release is bulked up but rough around the edges.
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Death's Gambit: Afterlife
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What’s It About?
Return once again to the battle for immortality in DEATH'S GAMBIT: AFTERLIFE, the expanded re-release of the original 2018 action platform game, Death's Gambit. Legend has it that at the heart of the realm of Siradon lies the source of immortality. For generations, armies have been sent out as part of a "Great Expedition" to secure this power. On the most recent Expedition, a young warrior named Solun lies defeated on the battlefield with the last moments of his life slipping away when he's approached by the embodiment of Death. Death offers to return Solun to life and even to grant him a taste of immortality. In exchange, Solun must act as his agent, fighting his way deep into the realm, defeating the powerful forces standing in his way and destroying the source of immortality once and for all. Death's Gambit: Afterlife offers players an arsenal of unique weapons and skills to take the fight to the Immortals and their mythical minions. Players will choose from seven different classes for Solun, or mix and match talents to create a multi-class suited to any style of play. Will you fulfill your contract and grant the Immortals a final end? Or will you learn the hard way that there are truly fates worse than Death?
Is It Any Good?
When the original game debuted back in 2018, it might not have been a huge splash, but it did manage to make a few waves with a group of gamers. Now, much like the protagonist, the game has been brought back from the brink and given a new lease on life with Death's Gambit: Afterlife. This "re-imagining" of the original game adds new levels, new weapons and talent, new features, and even new endings, alongside some gameplay tweaks the developer say were requested by fans. But is even this enough to keep the title from slipping one foot back into the gaming graveyard?
The good news, especially for those that played the original, is that Afterlife's added content does breathe new life into the game. There's a lot more to do than before, and some of the new features are appreciated. The in-game map is almost essential when it comes to exploring and not missing any hidden secrets. Unfortunately, while the new additions are appreciated, the gameplay still feels clunky and unresponsive. Attacks, especially follow up movements, are slow, and the defensive dodge sometimes doesn't move fast or far enough away to avoid taking damage. Some weapons and their associated attacks are more guilty of this than others, and the player's timing can adapt over time. But until that happens, the game's stuck in an imperfect balance that teeters between frustration and fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Death's Gambit: Afterlife affected by the amount of blood and gore shown? Would it have the same impact if it wasn't as graphic? What sort of impact can blood and gore in games have on younger audiences? How does that impact change based on the artistic style of the game?
What are some of the ways that movies, games, etc., create a sense of fear in their audiences? What are some reasons we like to be scared when being entertained?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Serenity Forge
- Release date: September 30, 2021
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: T for Blood and Gore, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Last updated: September 30, 2021
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