Shadow of the Road – Demo Impressions

The demon fears the samurai, like most other living things that are allergic to katana strikes aimed at the gut. Shadow of the Road is another unexpectedly fun RPG demo with turn-based gameplay, set in an intriguing medieval Japanese setting—local mythology and demons included. The only thing that had me confused was how the turn order worked, as it constantly shifted around during play. But I think I got the hang of it (somewhat) nearing the end of the demo.

Continue reading →

NORSE: Oath of Blood – Demo Impressions

I'm somewhat of a fjord guy myself, you know

NORSE: Oath of Blood I have followed for a while, so this demo didn’t take me by surprise like Of Ash and Steel. However, the demo by itself is a surprise in how entertaining it felt, especially going by the atmosphere, writing, and the satisfying turn-based combat. A prerequisite is that you must like Vikings, as the setting is supposed to be as authentic as possible to them, according to the developers. No monsters, dragons, or zombies this time around, yet murderous slavers, and lunatic forest hermits can be unsettling enough!

Continue reading →

Of Ash and Steel – Demo Impressions

It’s rare, but sometimes it happens. That rare stumble upon a game that both has a fantastic demo, and a release date not set in the far future of 2035. Of Ash and Steel is this game, and after giving it three hours, I couldn’t help but give it two thumbs up! It’s an old-school RPG in the form of Risen—and trust me, I did the test. I swung my sword at the back of my host as thanks for nursing me back from death, and he promptly kicked my ass. But see, he didn’t kill me, he just knocked me out, called me something foul and took my bow as compensation. If that isn’t old-school “living-world” mechanics, I don’t know what is!

Continue reading →

Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown [Gameplay Trailer]

The publisher Daedalic Entertainment just released a gameplay trailer for their new upcoming game: Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown. And what can be said? The trailer is short and only shows us snippets of the gameplay and mechanics. As it stands right now, taken from what has been shown, it seems to mostly be a management game with story based decisions, which you make in a menu.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, I must admit it comes off a little flat to me. No tactical teams to send and fight with, beyond CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure) picks when on expeditions. Yet, it all could provide an interesting experience, since space combat seems to be a thing, and getting to decide the fate of Voyager could provide some “alternative history” fun. Maybe you can let Tuvix live now, instead of putting him to sleep like an old sick dog.

Not to be a negative Nancy, the game still has potential. I was just expecting something extra, and usually, I’m not the biggest fan of rehashing old plot-lines. But it’s the good Star Trek, so it will probably be fun regardless. Trailer after the click!

Continue reading →

Sword Hero demo – Success and future

It seems the Sword Hero demo was met with a lot of positivity by the public, which makes me happy, as the potential here for a solid action/rpg is huge. The developer has some interesting plans for the future. I thought the Kickstarter would be next on the list, but it isn’t. Work on the Alpha build takes priority, to have something more substantial for the Alpha backers when it releases. This means that the Kickstarter won’t launch until next year, January. Some time until then, in other words.

It makes sense, though, but I was sure the demo was the one showcase for Kickstarter. However, it doesn’t matter that much to me, beyond that it was a success. It would have been a waste to see all that potential run out into the sand. If you want to see his roadmap for the future, I have linked a picture after the jump!

Continue reading →