We know it’s a little ways out still, but we just cannot wait for the Redfall release date to arrive. Arkane Austin is moving on from the time-warping gameplay of Deathloop’s Blackreef to the quaint middle-American town of Redfall – which also happens to be packed to the brim with vampires. This upcoming co-op FPS is going to give players a lot of ways to bash some blood-suckers – and some of them are a little more resourceful than others. In a behind-the-scenes look at some of Redfall’s weapons, it was revealed that players will be able to use a garden gnome to kill vampires.
Yep, you’re reading that right. One of the weapons available in the Redfall arsenal of vampire-killing is an inconspicuous garden gnome. If you’re wondering how this is going to work exactly, it seems like the gnome is just going to be one of a selection of Stakes that players can find and use in-game; basically, it’s a melee weapon. If you’re into your vampires, you’ll know that traditionally stabbing a vampire in the heart with a wooden stake is one of the only ways to dispose of them.
We’re not sure Arkane is going to force players into pinpoint surgical accuracy when it comes to melee attacks, but it’s nice to know that this isn’t going to exactly be your traditional co-op shooter. Arkane has made it clear that players are going to see a wide selection of traditional weapons, though – so don’t worry if that’s what you’re looking for.
However, the developer has also made it clear that there’s going to be an array of hand-crafted makeshift armaments and vampire-specific tools at your disposal. There’s even going to be a found-ammunition Stake Launcher – which, if you watch the video below from the 15:30 mark, sounds like it will use general junk like broken pool cues and mop handles.
Combat in Redfall sounds like it’s going to be a little bit more complex than what we see in comparable games like Back 4 Blood, though, despite the selection of traditional-looking shotguns and assault rifles.
The one thing we learnt from the aforementioned video that suggests this, aside from the special abilities the Redfall characters will offer, is the UV light petrification system. Using UV light, it sounds like players will be able to effectively freeze vampires in place before stabbing them with a stake. This, as you might imagine, opens up a whole new level of strategy when it comes to tackling the hordes.
Do you petrify the strongest enemy first, then deal with the rest? Or, do you just petrify as you go and hope you don’t get overwhelmed?
This is going to be an experience with more strategy than we first thought, and we can’t wait to learn more. Want to know who you’ll be going toe-to-toe with? You can find out more about the Redfall vampires right here. Want something to play in the meantime, though? Well, you can find out a list of some of the best Xbox Game Pass games here and the best co-op games right here.