Alpha tests starts today Shadow of the Road is a tactical role -the game developed by another Angle Games studio. At the same time, the publisher is Owlcat -Games – Author Pathfinder: Toorn of the righteous and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Last week we had the chance to play the project, so we share the first impressions and talk about the most interesting functions.
(Not) well -known Japan
The events of Shadow of the Road occur at the end of the 19th century. The game describes the real historical conflict between the Porecha traditionalists who followed the Shogun and the rebels that the emperor led to the power of Japan. It is true that it is still not recommended to teach history with the help of Shadow of the Road: the authors take real events as a basis, but complement them with elements of science fiction. So the emperor supporters have access to advanced technologies such as exoskeletons and flames, while some Samurai use magic.
Shadow of the Road focuses on two Ronins – Sator and Akira, Samurai left without overlord. During one of the most brutal battles against the servants of the emperor, their Lord fell into battle. To restore the honor, they decide to fulfill the order of the Tokugawa Shogun – to find a little boy and to protect it with an impressive magical potential.
Despite the fact that the game is characterized by Steampunk Technologies, mythological perfumes and demons, the shadow of the road that has a certain degree of landing through a miracle retains. Perhaps because magic or advanced gadgets are not found here at every step, but stay something mysterious and rare. There is no feeling like for example Divinity: Original Sin 2, which every oncoming NPC is able to create miracles of the archma. In Shadow of the Road is an unusual striking because it contrasts with ordinary.
Are you not tired games about Samurai?
A modest scope
From the point of view of the structure of the shadow of the road is a linear RPG, where the player passes one level, then the following and so on. You shouldn’t wait for an open world or his parable. Moreover, the developers evaluate that it will take approximately 20 hours to pass the plot.
On the one hand you can understand that gamers are spoiled by large rolling adventures if they are disappointed about the compact size of the shade of the road. On the other hand, it is important not to forget that the game makes a small studio. It is better to let the authors enter into two dozen hours of linear RPG, which makes a common mistake of starting companies that dream of overly ambitious projects.
Moreover, do not write off the accounts of Reiglabiness. In Shadow of the Road, secrets are hidden on some levels that can be easily missed for the first time, and the decisions of the decision change the plot and influence the ends. Adventures can always start again to catch up. Moreover, in the case of a relatively short plot campaign this is simply easier to do.
With the return, commander
Whatever the case, the most important focus of Shadow of the Road is stepping through -step battles. At first glance, they look like the fighting of the latest parts of XCOM, the Games of the Wasteland series or the same Rogue Trader from Owlcat. There are hiding places to a variety of reliability, partial destruction of the level and well -known strokes. The designers of Shadow of the Road, however, not only borrow mechanics, but also try to bring new ideas to a well -known system.
For example, another Angle Games wants to smooth out the factor of an annoying random random projects as possible, not completely leaving a coincidence. That is why all the hits are guaranteed in Shadow of the Road – nobody will ever miss. In this random it is still present, but only determines the final damage.
Another interesting mechanics is the order of a stroke. Every hunter in Shadow of the Road has an indicator that determines how often he can act during the fight. The initiative is of course not innovation in such games. However, the project of another Angle Games is striking by the fact that the series can change well during a fight, depending on the actions of the hunters. For example, a dangerous mini-boss can use a special attack that later postpones the course of its target. An alternative of his skills in the game, so that someone’s queue could, on the contrary, closer.
It is also important to note that in Shadow of the Road units fight with the help of combat skills that consume an action glass. However, powerful skills in particular require extra time to implement. For example, the shooter cannot release his most destructive shot in one movement – he needs two. But if he gets damage at that time, the attack is interrupted.
The problem is that this technician creates a certain imbalance. Armed with Akira, Akira, seems much more effective in battle than the master of Katana Satorer: in one movement he is able to disturb various attacking enemy attacks at the same time without having to enter into a close fight.
In fact, to correct the balance and make other improvements, and Alfa tests are performed. Owlcat Games uses proven tactics – attracting fans at the early stage of development. Ideally, this benefits the shadow of the road. The game has a potential in the form of an interesting setting and a rather fresh combat system. Now the most important thing is to open it.
What do you think of the idea of ​​CRPG about Samurai? Tell us in the comments.
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Source: VG Times
Christina Moncayo is a contributing writer for “Social Bites”. Her focus is on the gaming industry and she provides in-depth coverage of the latest news and trends in the world of gaming.