Streets of Fortuna [Trailer]

Now, Streets of Fortuna is an interesting one. It’s a sandbox RPG set in ancient times that is heavily based on systems (and the interaction of them) much like Rimworld and Dwarf Fortress—to simulate life in a city. The main difference here, though, is that you play as a single character instead of a whole colony. A fascinating spin is that the madman Tarn who created Dwarf Fortress has an advisory role on the system design, which tells me a lot about the project.

This game could turn out to be a complete dud, but from the information provided in the trailer and their Steam page, it looks to hold promise for something unique. However, my main issue is this: it needs to be difficult, much like real life, to actually feel rewarding. It would suck if you could become rich fast by stealing things for example, if it doesn’t come with heavy repercussions. But that’s for the future to tell. Make sure to request access to the playtest on Steam if you are curious. Trailer and dev comment after the jump!

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Knights of the Chalice – Fireball, My Only Friend [Field Report]

Welcome to this report on Knights of the Chalice. This is not a true review, since I’m far from the ending, as the game seemingly looks to be huge, with plenty of monsters and evildoers needing vanquishing. Treat this more as an ongoing field report in appreciation of what this title offers. The way I’m playing it, it fits better as an audiobook companion (don’t judge me!) than a full RPG experience that requires your complete attention—even if it does need it for success in the hairiest situations.

You see, this is a Dungeons and Dragons fighting simulator where the story only serves to take you from one challenging battle to the next. Knowledge of the DnD 3.5 ruleset is mandatory, or the orcs will make sheesh kebab out of your heroic group of adventurers before you even have time to unsheathe your sword.

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Ardenfall – Demo Impressions

I decided to try the Ardenfall demo, which is an Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind-inspired RPG, set in a fantasy world that can best be likened to Vvardenfell—strange wildlife and all. The oddity of the place, just like Morrowind, comes from the familiar, mixed with the unfamiliar—and while I’m not entirely sold on the visual style, it does play a huge part in its oddness. So, if you love to explore bizarre alien worlds with an oriental cultural flavor, this will feel tailor‑made for you.

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History of Dungeon-Master Clones 1987-2012 [Video]

Here is a great video by a fellow Swede, called JemyM on YouTube. He goes through every real-time blobber from 1987 to 2012 with a surprisingly deep review for each title. If you care about RPGs, and see value in gaming history—this is a top-notch video to watch that avoids meme overload and feels more “academic”. Unexpectedly, a project of this magnitude will produce a lengthy video, hence the runtime clocking in at nearly 4.5 hours. In my opinion, this just means more of a good thing. However, I recommend bringing a large thermos with strong coffee if you are going to tackle the video in one go. Watch the video after the jump!

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Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy – Side-quests or Die! [Review]

Prepare your sword, and not the one in the pants!

Welcome to AtomTeam’s third RPG: Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy. If you have played any of their former projects, like ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game, or ATOM RPG Trudograd, you know what to expect here. It’s essentially the same type of roleplaying experience—created in the same engine, following the established structure, and gameplay mechanics they created. However, this time they are ditching the radiated wasteland for a lush low-fantasy medieval world, where the sword rules instead of the rifle.

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