For years, we’ve played the hero trying to save a dying world in video games. Some games, however, decide to take a more apocalyptic approach: what can you do with a world that has already died? Shattered: Tale of the Forgotten King centers around that mystery, and you can back it on Kickstarter now.
In Shattered, you play The Wanderer. They’ll traverse the world of Hypnos and try to piece together what exactly has happened. Along the way, they’ll fight twelve Demiurges, ancient gods who have risen in the place of the missing King to rule over Hypnos. They’ll also encounter several other beings, their alliances shrouded in mystery.
Visually, the game presents a dreary, oppressive atmosphere. The world around you is empty, but detailed backgrounds hint at a once great kingdom. A lot of effort has gone into the environment-design in this game, and it shows.
Mixing 2D and 3D Gameplay
Gameplay will be a mix of 2D platforming and 3D combat. Players will double-jump, wall-jump, and wall-climb their way through a world full of puzzles searching for clues about what happened in Hypnos. The Demiurges serve as the game’s boss fights, each with their own patterns and challenges to overcome.
Dark Souls fans will recognize the combat system. Players must time dodges, dashes, light and heavy attacks and feinting attacks to defeat their foes. The narrative style is similar as well: you’ll find scrolls and items in the world that help build it up, as well as vaguely-friendly NPCs that appear throughout your journey.
Topping all of this is a classic RPG leveling system with a unique aspect. You’ll have standard skill trees and crafting, but some skill trees are hidden until you discover secrets in the world. Enemies will drop Limbo Essences, which can heal you or add unique traits and buffs to your weapons.
Ultimately, it looks like fans of various genres will find something to enjoy here. The game looks like a mix of 2D Metroidvania exploration and combat with a dash of Dark Souls. If that sounds like your jam, check out the Kickstarter page for more information.
Worth also noting that Square Enix are helping to promote the Kickstarter (it was originally featured in the Square Collective) so all that free marketing will probably ensure that it’ll reach its goal.