Retribution is such a steal right now, so if you’re looking for an action/horror game, this is it. I will be separating and labeling my review into four sections to share my experience and opinions thoroughly. (POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD) (Developers. Please optimize this game, it is amazing) • What Retribution Has to Offer Retribution is an incredibly packed action game, offering new, powerful weapons such as rifles, pistols, shotguns, SMGs, and bows. In addition, the game introduces new consumables, including Smelling Salts, Energy Drinks, and Creatine, which can significantly impact combat and stamina management. The developers also implemented a new glove melee system, along with additional weapon attachments and flare mechanics, providing a wide variety of strategies to dispatch walkers and human enemies alike. The game is challenging as the story progresses, but the arsenal and consumables make each encounter dynamic and rewarding. Retribution also introduces Exile Orders, which are optional missions you can complete during or after the main story. There are nine locations throughout New Orleans, each with unique mission requirements. Completing these missions grants massive rewards that can be collected in the respective towns, adding a rewarding layer of exploration and replayability. Overall, Retribution excels in variety of items, weapon mechanics, and story-driven action, making it a thrilling and immersive experience. • Story The story in Retribution is equally compelling, introducing new enemies, large herds of walkers, and tense human conflicts. You, as the Tourist, are caught in a volatile war between the Tower and the Exiles, while the Reclaimed faction’s leadership is absent, leaving their members scattered and vulnerable. Throughout the story, you encounter the Axeman, a relentless figure whose motives toward you gradually unfold. The narrative places a heavy weight on your choices, culminating in a morally charged decision at the end of the game: will you be a Saint or a Sinner? The story in between is chaotic and complex, reflecting the fractured nature of New Orleans after society’s collapse. It leaves players questioning their decisions and anticipating what might come next, providing a mixture of tension, horror, and strategy. • Comparison Between Saints & Sinners (Chapter 1) and Retribution There are three primary aspects to consider when comparing the original Saints & Sinners with Retribution: Action, Story, and Experience. 1. Action – Retribution clearly takes the lead. Combat is more fluid, the weapon variety is staggering, and there are numerous challenges both during and after the story. The addition of SMGs, rifles, new bows, and melee glove systems makes combat feel fresh and dynamic, while the Exile Orders and side missions add layers of replayability and challenge. 2. Story – The original Saints & Sinners excels in narrative depth. Chapter 1 introduced the Tower and Reclaimed conflict in a deeply emotional way, highlighting the suffering and moral dilemmas faced by both sides. Missions were thoughtfully structured to immerse the player in these struggles, making each choice meaningful and impactful. Retribution continues the story and adds tension, but it lacks some of the emotional gravity and intimacy of the first game’s narrative. 3. Experience – For me, the first game still provides the richer overall experience. The ambience, NPC interactions, and carefully crafted missions made the world feel alive and immersive. Retribution, while expansive and action-packed, sometimes prioritizes quantity over depth, leaving certain story moments feeling less personal. The first game feels like a complete journey, while Retribution is more of a continuation with branching choices and new mechanics. I love both games, but it’s easy to notice where the sequel struggled to replicate the emotional and immersive storytelling of the original. • The Future of Saints & Sinners (SPOILER ALERT) In Retribution, players are faced with the monumental choice of whether to allow all the towns in New Orleans to burn down due to corruption and sin, or to preserve them in the hope of rebuilding society. Personally, here is the direction I hope future Saints & Sinners content could explore: I would love to see New Orleans experience complete collapse, even after stopping the bells and momentarily saving it. Society could crash entirely, allowing hordes of zombies to reclaim the city while only a few survivors with faith and perseverance attempt to rebuild. The Tourist would then need to leave their temporary base, start over, and gradually return stronger, helping to rebuild society from the ground up. During this process, a new clan could arrive, seeking to take over the city, forcing the Tourist to confront them while also aiding the group striving to restore New Orleans. Players could be left with moral choices once again: govern New Orleans selfishly and destroy those who oppose when rebuilding (Sinner), or commit to protecting and rebuilding the city against these threats (Saint). A potential secret ending could even involve activating the bells left behind by Mama, emphasizing the cyclical nature of corruption and survival in New Orleans. Future expansions could introduce an updated boat for transporting more items, a belt system for additional at-hand weapons, optional headlamp, or even a system with NPC trading and optional side missions involving family or community rebuilding. Players could explore new story-rich locations, sniper vantage points, weapons shops with custom accessories, and other mechanics that further immerse them in the post-apocalyptic world. While this is my personal vision for the series, I believe it captures the spirit of what Saints & Sinners could turn into and it’s potential. (This took me quite a bit, if you see this plz like) inst:Drezid7