Tag: Fantasy

Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy – IS OUT!

After about a year in Early Access on Steam following its successful Kickstarter campaign, Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy is finally out! I have invested a few hours into it, but it was a while back (about a year ago). I remember being entertained in a low-level RPG way, similar to Baldur’s Gate, which I just love. Funnily enough, this was said back then too, but I’m sticking with it! I don’t think much has changed in that regard, though—except that we have a full game on our hands now. So, it’s a pure Christmas joy, as I didn’t actually know it was this close to release, yet, here we are. Make sure to take a gander over at their Steam page, if you want a cozy, grounded adventure during the winter months. And the price is not too shabby, just a bit over twenty euros, making it a steal!

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Gothic 1 Remake – Video Dev Log #4 [Video]

Despite the recent controversy regarding the uglifying of Gomez’s sex slaves, I’m still excited about the Gothic 1 Remake—at least, as much one can be for a recreation of a classic. This latest devlog goes into depth of the story, and to me, it seems clear a lot of effort has been put into maintaining what the original was, yet expanding it in parts. What’s interesting here is that they are collaborating with Mattias Filler, one of the original writers—and you can say that his role in the franchise, and Piranha Bytes (RIP) games are legendary. So this must be a good sign! Going by what he says in the video, he seems genuinely glad to be able to fix some writing inconsistencies that he missed back in the day. Check out the devlog video after the click!

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Of Ash and Steel – Seven Points of Critique

I’m far from finishing Of Ash and Steel, so this is not a review—just a critique of the game and its mechanics after about fifteen hours of playing. While I think it’s a good addition to the specific Gothic/Risen/Skyrim lineage of RPGs, I do find it falls short in places—in areas where they could have found easy inspiration. It’s not something that overly disappoints me, but thanks to these issues it will probably never reach the same level of appreciation (at least from me).

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Of Ash and Steel is OUT!

My most anticipated RPG of the year has finally, after a few delays, been released. Of Ash and Steel is currently being sold at a very favorable price at a measly 30 euros, and if that isn’t enough, it comes with a nice 20% off that lasts until the 8th of December. So, what are you waiting for—go and get it! If you are unsure, you can read my demo impressions here! For some odd reason, they have removed the demo—or at least, I can’t seem to find it anymore. However, at 24 euros, the risk is low as it is, especially with Steam refund protecting you from buying dumb things. Be sure to check out the launch trailer after the jump!

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The Blood of Dawnwalker [Gameplay video #2]

Another long-form gameplay video is out for the RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker to showcase the different paths you can take to complete quests. Just like in my comment on the first video, the similarity to Witcher 3 is still very palpable. Now, I have warmed up to it more since, and it will probably be an interesting gritty semi-grounded RPG worth playing. Yet it can’t seem to escape that “copied” legacy. If this is a negative, it all depends on how the world feels, of course. If the design is cloned from Witcher 3, it risks being an extremely static world where people don’t mind you ransacking their house for loot. Oh, a priceless heirloom from grandma—worth 2 gold coins? *yoink*.

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