Everything I played, I played for you

I’m old enough to remember 1991 and when we got Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Sure, this was a Robin Hood movie but man did Alan Rickman’s Sheriff steal the show and who can forget that Bryan Adams song, Everything I Do. That feels like the last time that the legend of Robin Hood was last really hot, fast forward to 2023 and we see a new video game based on the archer and his gang. In Gangs of Sherwood, players take control of Robin, Maid Marion, Little John and Frier Tuck as they fight against the evil Sheriff of Nottignahm in a steampunk and magical retelling of the classic tale.

Gangs of Sherwood is a four-player co-op action-adventure game that can be played single player with no bots. Each of the 4 gang members have a different playstyle and ability, Robin of course is an archer and his trait allows him to summon spectral arrows that can hone in on their targets. Maid Marion whose entire character has been altered in this version of the story, is an assassin type, who attacks with a rapier which can combo into a chain whip. Frier Tuck uses his hammer for ground pounds and provides heals while Little John throws hands while powering up his metal fist. Combat in the game isn’t horrible, it just plays out like a messier version of Devil May Cry right down to the DCBAS rating system that can be earned for more flashier combos.

MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed),PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99

The problem with combat is that while each character has a skill tree, there isn’t any real synergy between the gang to be found. Oh, yea the potential is there, but the combat isn’t really precise enough to feel enjoyable. Instead, players just feel like they are mashing buttons and swinging emptily at minions. Each of the gang can juggle an opponent into the air, but then there isn’t a command for a combo attack. Players just have to mash buttons and hope the timing works out, and for all the talk of teamwork just ends up being extremely disappointing.

Enemies will swarm players from all sides and the controls just aren’t up to the task of making it fun to take them down. Gangs of Sherwood will inform players at the onset that it can be played single player, but what it doesn’t explain is that it is really difficult to do so. Gold is earned thru combat and banked at checkpoints and upon finishing missions used to upgrade attacks and albitites. While playing alone if players fall in combat, they will have to play half of their earnings to revive; but if you play in co-op with others you fall into a downed state and can be revived. Clearly this is meant to be a co-op game but to penalize players like this, especially when the game hits a spike in difficulty is messed up and I hope they correct it with a patch.

In this version of Sherwood, the Sheriff of Nottingham is an evil tyrannically overload who is hellbent on taking over Britan. The game tries to smash two styles together with the classical weapons like swords, bows and arrows being used but then there are flying dropships that deploy troops and magical arrows and daggers. It’s a lot like Final Fantasy games merging the classical with the magical, it largely works and makes for a very different Robin Hood story.

There is fun to be had in Gangs of Sherwood but it is really only found playing multiplayer either with friends or strangers. Not only does this make each act not feel as long, since there will be more people to pummel enemies but when players fall in combat it is better to have a friend pick you up than lose half your gold that you need to upgrade your character’s attributes. The entire game just feels like a mix-mash of ideas and things and while some things work, others are done better in other games.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.