Before you reimagine, recognize

You've probably heard of the name Robin Hood, his famous hood and bow, but do you know the story behind the character? Come and I'll explain.

Robin Hood is a legendary figure in British literature, known for his exceptional skills as an archer and his spirit of justice, stealing from the rich to give to the poor in Sherwood Forest. His story has its roots in medieval oral tradition and was later immortalized in poems (medieval ballads), plays, and novels.

At the heart of the story is Robin Hood, a skilled archer who rebels against the tyranny of a prince regent who rules unjustly while the King is away. Robin takes refuge in Sherwood Forest with his loyal companions, making it his base of operations.

Among Robin Hood's allies is Friar Tuck, a fearless monk skilled in combat who contrasts with the ecclesiastical corruption that often permeated medieval society; Marian, often portrayed as the damsel in distress, defies the stereotypes of the time and shares Robin's commitment to justice; Little John, a cheerful outlaw skilled with the sword. His fighting prowess and jovial nature provide comic relief to the story, balancing the seriousness of the fight against oppression.

Throughout the many versions of the legend, the adventures of Robin Hood and his allies vary, but the essence of the narrative remains constant: resistance against injustice, solidarity among the oppressed, and the fight for social equality. The legend of Robin Hood has transcended generations, inspiring countless adaptations in various forms of media, as we'll see here in the game Gangs of Sherwood.



Recognizing the original story, we can now reimagine it. In Gangs of Sherwood, Robin Hood's narrative takes on a futuristic layer, where combat in the forests contrasts with technological equipment, and brings in much of the Steampunk aesthetic. This is without losing the traditional British essence, which comes through in the voice-overs and traditional folklore elements. This mixture has given rise to an original, respectful game that is very competent in its reinterpretation. 

With an air of dystopia, the game transports us to a Sherwood that is more dangerous than that of the legends but still has its moments of humor and lightness. The narrative is constructed through classic and creative puppet theater. In a simple but complete way, the player is contextualized to the history and dangers faced by the people of Sherwood. At the end of each scenario, we can also see the consequences of our actions and how they matter to the people. 

We also notice some adaptations in the background of the characters due to gameplay elements, such as in the story of Little John, who goes from being a bandit skilled with a sword to a boxer with a fist of steel (literally).



Fight and fight, until the lambs become lions

Speaking of gameplay, Gangs of Sherwood puts us in direct confrontation with the forces of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Whether in solo mode or co-op for up to four players, the game allows us to take on one of the heroes of legend to kick ass and steal from the city's poor. 

As Friar Tuck, you can protect your allies with a powerful magnetic shield and heal them with your famous drink. But that's not all... With his gigantic battle mace, the Friar becomes an unstoppable fighting force, who annihilates his opponents with great fervor.

In Marian's control, we'll be skilled assassins who use their daggers and a kind of whip to strike down enemies with a single blow. Swift and fearless, Marian makes the experience very fluid and fun.



As the famous Robin Hood, we could only have his mighty bow. But in Gangs of Sherwood, his bow is not just any bow, but a magical artifact that shoots special arrows when he charges his attacks. 

And finally, punching down the door with his iron fist, comes Little John. Our pugilist is able to accumulate enough energy in his fist to melt enemies with powerful, concentrated blows. Being a risk/reward character, playing with him is a super fun experience. 

The characters have their own abilities and can evolve as they progress through the levels and collect resources. In the game, there are also talent trees for each character, which unlock new powers or improve existing skills.

The combat experience is also very fluid and intuitive, with visual and sound resources that indicate the right moment to attack or dodge attacks. When fighting in coordination, we can see that the characters have good synergy with each other, which makes the shared experience far superior to solo gameplay.



Oh, and of course... the grappling hook! As a resource for reaching distant and/or high places, we have a powerful grappling hook that makes the gameplay super dynamic. Combined with aerial movements and blocking and dodging schemes, combat becomes very fluid and fun.

The scenarios also have features that can be unlocked by certain characters, which once again encourages group experience. Anyway, liberate Sherwood as a group, alright?

By way of comparison, Gangs of Sherwood is reminiscent of classic games such as Left for Dead and Remnant, but it has its own identity, both in terms of the narrative behind it and its gameplay and setting aspects. 

On the technical side, I noticed some frame drops and minor crashes during gameplay. On the other hand, I didn't experience any significant crashes or bugs/glitches. 

The beauty of Sherwood

The aesthetic of Gangs of Sherwood, as I mentioned earlier, is a reinterpretation of the steampunk style, which adapts to a setting that is sometimes vibrant, sometimes chaotic, but original and full of color. With a dense and well-designed forest, the game sets the scene with great skill.

The characters are very well-designed and polished. With unique identities and their own combat styles, the game conveys the originality of each of the protagonists while reinforcing the quality of the artwork. Each skill has its own mark and reinforces the identity of the characters.



What's more, the game features incredible British voice acting that transports us to the legends of Robin Hood. The sound experience is completed with an interesting soundtrack and effects that contribute to the combat and immersion in the game, making it something more.

For this review, Gangs of Sherwood was played on PC via Steam.

Thanks to Nacon who, by providing the game key, made this content possible.