A44 is a bit of an unusual studio. The New Zealand developer first burst onto the scene in 2018 with Ashen, a Souls-like action RPG with a distinct, stripped-down art style. One look at Ashen and you knew exactly what it is, but spending time with it is what ultimately reveals a much deeper game than it first appears.
A44 is back with Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, a major new project for the small team. Flintlock is everything Ashen was, and everything it wasn’t. It too is an action RPG, with demanding combat inspired by Souls games. Between missions, you’ll go back to a hub area that you’ll get to see grow and evolve over the course of the campaign, shaped by the people you come across in your travels and those you bring back.
But it doesn’t look anything like Ashen. Flintlock has the look of an expensive, AAA game with stunning – but more traditional – visuals. It’s set in an open world where you get to explore multiple locations inspired by the studio’s native New Zealand, and you’ll be doing it alongside an AI companion who’s with you all the way. Flintlock has a more realised narrative, with believable character animations, and a story more clearly told.
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