Summary
Developer Spiders’GreedFallwas an action RPG released in 2019, and the studio’s most ambitious and successful project at the time, selling over 2 million copies since.GreedFallwas a spiritual successor to older BioWare games in the vein ofDragon Agebut with a lower budget, closer to the AA sphere of the industry. It may have lacked a bit of polish in some areas, especially compared to classic AAA contemporaries. However, its setting of European-influenced expansionism reminiscent of the Age of Exploration, combined with a fantasy-flavored world, a tale of political intrigue during a deadly epidemic, and solid mechanics all made for an engaging experience.
After shipping a Soulslike title next,Steelrising, in 2022, which proved popular enough but didn’t matchGreedFall’s numbers, Spiders then announced a follow-up toGreedFall.GreedFall 2: The Dying Worldwill be set three years prior to the events of the original, and thus serves as a prequel. As such, this allows for the possibility for the original main character, De Sardet, to return. There are various positives and negatives if it goes in that narrative direction, though.
GreedFall 2currently has a 2024 release window, though no official date attached yet.
The Debate Over Whether De Sardet Should Return in GreedFall 2
De Sardet’s Role in GreedFall
In the first title,De Sardet was the customizable player protagonist. However, they were not a blank slate, and had an established background and personality. De Sardet was raised as a member of the wealthy nobles of the Congregation of Merchants onGreedFall’s Old Continent. As an ambassador for the Congregation, De Sardet is sent to the newly discovered island of Teer Fradee in the hopes of finding a cure for the plague ravaging the Continent. During the plot, De Sardet discovers they are originally a native of the island themselves, and players can choose to either stop the exploitation of Teer Fradee at De Sardet’s personal expense or ascend to rule over it as a corrupt god-monarch.
Pros of De Sardet Being Included in GreedFall 2
GreedFall 2’s official summary states that fans will, “play as a native of Teer Fradee, uprooted by force…and taken to the continent where the colonists are from.” This is almost a mirror ofGF1, and along with the time frame, opens up an easy path to see De Sardet again. AsGreedFall’s Malichor plaguewas the catalyst for De Sardet’s mission, showing them and the state of the world prior could depict their growth into their position at the start ofGF1. De Sardet could act as an NPC, allowing their return in a more background manner without intruding too much into the new plot. It would also be an interesting twist if De Sardet was a companion character this time around, and might also be a good way of including them while bridging the stories.
Cons of De Sardet Appearing in GreedFall 2
GivenGreedFall 2’s framework, players are likely to visit De Sardet’s home, the major port of New Serene, where it would be natural to encounter De Sardet. However, giving De Sardet too much of a presence risks them overshadowing the narrative as well as relying on the previous setup too much. If De Sardet is too stiffly or differently characterized, it may end up feeling disjointed and undermine the new elements. There are valid arguments to be had on either side over whether De Sardet should return inGF2. If Spiders does decide to have De Sardet present in the prequel, though, it will have to be balanced to feel fresh but not step on the toes of its predecessor by making any unecessary retcons or creating other disconnects to keep the overall story and characters seamlessly intact.
