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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UnderRail 2: Infusion [Lands on Steam]

UnderRail 2: Infusion finally gets a Steam page, which I assume means a release is imminent. With imminent, I mean, five to ten years. Because if it’s something the developer, Stygian Software, are not known for: It’s speed. Jokes aside, the game is looking great. Just check out that juicy trailer (is that ragdoll effects?), and the GIFs presented on the store page. The crafting system looks like something else, both visually and mechanically. I know I’m going to spend a lot of time on that, tweaking my gun until perfect killing potential is achieved. 

What I noticed is that the title got “2” now. I might be behind on the lore here, but I thought Infusion was going to be a spin-off, and not a true sequel. This is new information to me. A sequel comes with somewhat bigger expectations, but I don’t doubt that Stygian is up to the task! Release date is set to “to be announced”, so probably a while out. Yet, it certainly feels closer than before!

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.

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Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown – Demo Impressions

My first impression of the Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown demo wasn’t too great, as it felt more like a proof of concept, than an actual slice of the game. No voice-acting, and everything seemed to have a cheap “visual novel” kind of design, with very little input from you required to do anything. But after the tutorial let go of my hand, I started to see the potential of this title. Now, for the decision-making, and story it never really leaves the visual novel phase, but as a complete package, I’m captivated regardless. And that is largely thanks to the ship management, exploration mechanics and how crew skills play into your judgments, and success.

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NORSE: Oath of Blood – Demo Impressions

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!

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