Gangs of Sherwood Review: Band of Outlaws

Gangs of Sherwood is a futuristic action game inspired by the legend of Robin Hood, where you can play as one of the Merry Men and fight the armies of the Sheriff of Nottingham. It is a cooperative action game developed by Appeal Studios and published by Nacon. The game was released on November 30, 2023, on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. Presenting Gameffine’s Gangs of Sherwood review.

The Future Medieval Era

The game’s premise is that in the year 2123, the world is ruled by a tyrannical regime called the New Order, which oppresses the people with high taxes and brutal force. The only hope for freedom lies in a group of rebels called the Gangs of Sherwood, who operate from a hidden base in the Sherwood Forest. The Gangs of Sherwood are led by Robin of Locksley, a charismatic hacker who uses his skills to hack into the New Order’s systems and expose their corruption. Along with his loyal companions, Marian, Friar Tuck, and Little John, Robin aims to overthrow the New Order and restore justice to the land.

The game’s story follows the Gangs of Sherwood as they embark on various missions to sabotage the New Order’s operations, rescue prisoners, steal resources, and recruit allies. The game’s themes explore the concepts of resistance, rebellion, and revolution, as well as the moral dilemmas of fighting for a cause. The game also features a branching narrative, where the player’s choices and actions affect the outcome of the story and the fate of the characters.

Overall, the plot is merely an excuse of putting you are party through numerous maps. The narrative does feature great voice-acting with nuanced British accents, but it lacks any facial animations for its characters. The presentation is good and somewhat passable as long as you do not look too closely.

Sucks to be a Loner

The game’s gameplay is based on a combination of stealth, combat, and hacking. The player can choose to play as one of the four main characters, each with their own unique abilities and weapons. For example, Robin can hack into enemy devices and use his bow and arrow, Marian can use her charm and persuasion skills and wield a sword, Friar Tuck can heal and buff his allies and use a staff, and Little John can use his strength and size and wield a hammer. The player can also switch between the characters at any time during the game. But if you are a loner, you get none of that.

The game also features a multiplayer co-op system, where up to four players can join forces and play together online. The co-op mode allows the players to coordinate their attacks, combine their abilities, and share resources. The co-op mode also offers more challenges and rewards, as the enemies are more numerous and powerful, and the missions are more complex and varied.

Weighing the Scales

The game’s strengths lie in its visuals, voice-overs, and performance. The game boasts stunning graphics, with detailed environments, realistic lighting, and dynamic weather effects. The game also features a rich soundtrack, with original music and sound effects that create an immersive atmosphere. The game’s voice-overs are also impressive, with talented actors who bring the characters to life with their emotions and accents. The game’s performance is also smooth and stable, with no noticeable bugs or glitches.

The game’s weaknesses, however, are its empty maps and lack of character progression. The maps are large and open, but they lack diversity and interactivity. The game’s maps are mostly composed of forests, fields, and ruins, with few points of interest or secrets to discover. The game’s maps also feel empty and lifeless, with few NPCs or animals to interact with. The game’s lack of character progression also hinders the game’s replay value and challenge. The game’s characters do not have any skill trees, levels, or stats to upgrade or customize. The game’s characters also do not have any personal quests, relationships, or conflicts to explore or resolve.

Real Talk

As a co-op gang party, Gangs of Sherwood can provide you with a few hours of fun that offers a fresh and exciting take on the legend of Robin Hood. But as a Single-player experience, it is a tough sell. The game’s premise, story, and themes are captivating thanks to its visuals, voice-overs, and performance which are impressive and enjoyable. But it is bogged down by its repetitive gameplay and barren maps that lack player interactivity. On top of that, there is no level-based progression system except for a few unlockable moves and items. Overall, it’s best if you wait for a sale on this one if you don’t have a party to hang out with.

Final Rating: 65/100