# 1666: Amsterdam preview details Noa’s wave-based combat

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/1666-amsterdam-hands-on-preview-rigorously-accurate-brutally-fun/
- Published: 2026-08-10T19:32:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-11T01:47:32+00:00
- Original publisher: Destructoid
- Original article: https://www.destructoid.com/1666-amsterdam-hands-on-preview/
- Topics: Gaming

## Key points

- 1666: Amsterdam preview details its wave-based, Soulslike-style combat system
- Noa dodges, parries and swings a broom against swarming militiamen
- Cat companion Aaron aids exploration; combat stays solely with Noa

## Summary

Destructoid journalist Andrej Barovic has published a hands-on preview of 1666: Amsterdam, the latest project from Assassin's Creed co-creator Patrice Désilets, focusing largely on its combat system after an earlier preview covered exploration and historical accuracy. The piece confirms the game features a wave-based, semi-Soulslike combat system built around protagonist Noa, offering the clearest look yet at how developer Panache Digital Games is shaping combat for its historically grounded, Unreal Engine-powered title set in 17th-century Amsterdam.

In the hands-on session, which picked up immediately after the game's prologue, Noa must dodge or parry attacks from swarming militiamen before countering with broom swings, while also being able to sneak up on enemies and trigger destructible environmental hazards that kill several foes at once; bosses reportedly follow familiar Soulslike conventions. Combat rests solely with Noa, while her cat companion Aaron works alongside a witch to reach areas Noa cannot, supporting a separate traversal and exploration system that Barovic likened to Stray. The preview reinforced the developer's reputation for meticulous historical recreation, with journalists touring real Amsterdam locations, including the game's opening hotel, that feature in the story.

## Coverage

- [Destructoid: 1666: Amsterdam preview details Noa’s wave-based combat](https://www.destructoid.com/1666-amsterdam-hands-on-preview/)
- [PC Gamer: 1666: Amsterdam has the makings of something brilliant but I came away from its preview with a bad feeling as it's early access release creeps too close for comfort](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/1666-amsterdam-has-the-makings-of-something-brilliant-but-i-came-away-from-its-preview-with-a-bad-feeling-as-its-early-access-release-creeps-too-close-for-comfort/)
- [GameSpot: 1666: Amsterdam Hands-On Preview](https://www.gamespot.com/videos/1666-amsterdam-hands-on-preview/)

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.