I love a game with a unique look and style. I love it even more if it’s in a genre that I enjoy playing. In the case of Backdrop, it looks like a sort of hybrid between adventure game and RPG, both styles of play that I like. The asking price for the game itself is a bit steep, but don’t let that deter you from checking it out.

Backdrop

Play Play

What I like most about Backdrop is the use of narrative both as a story element and in the combat as well. The game uses the idea of a play as the focus for the tale they’re trying to convey. As such, words can be as harmful as a sword swing. Anything you say in combat can hurt or heal. Of course, traditional weapons are also used to good effect.

Speaking of plays, even the artwork is heavily influenced by this medium. Everything is made out of paper, wood, cloth, and the like. This is another area that I really like about Backdrop as it strays from the norm of most other games. The developers even promise a fully destructible environment. You can, for instance, slice through the scenery with a sword.

Backdrop

If there is one thing I have issue with is the lack of a “game only” tier. I don’t necessarily want all the extras that come in the $25 ($20 early bird) tier. Some people just want the game and nothing else. I did bring this up when previewing the campaign, so hopefully we’ll see one added before the time runs out. Maybe then I’ll consider backing Backdrop.

(Ed. We’ve added the promising Backdrop to our Kickstarter Curator page, check it out at Kickstarter.com/cliqist.)

About the Author

Serena Nelson

Serena has been a gamer since an early age and was brought up with the classic adventure games by Sierra On-Line, LucasArts, and Infocom. She's been an active member on Kickstarter since early 2012 and has backed a large number of crowdfunded games, mostly adventures. You can also find her writing for Kickstart Ventures and evn.moe.

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