The game blends isometric party-based action with action role-playing game char builds

Mar 29, 2014 21:24 GMT  ·  By

Serpent in the Staglands is an upcoming entry in the isometric real time with pause party-based role-playing game genre, that is currently undergoing a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.

In Serpent in the Staglands, players will take control of a trapped god and his companions and will embark on a perilous adventure in the frozen Staglands, mixing action role-playing games’ build customization with the party management mechanics of games such as Baldur’s Gate and Darklands.

The game will offer significant replayability and personalization options, with skills, spells and abilities to be individually customized for up to five party members, aside from your character, the mortal avatar of an ancient god.

The time-tested system of real time action with the possibility to pause and assess the situation on the battlefield as well as issue orders allow ample strategic options during engagements, but the combat system is designed in such a manner as to always pose a challenge and always have some inherent risk to every choice.

The game comes in a beautiful hand-drawn pixel art rendering, in a high resolution that permits to convey the world in a lot of detail and to keep characters and environments unique. All the menus and all the art has been designed meticulously to be as interesting and thematic as possible.

The developers at Whalenought Studios have already completed implementing all the core gameplay mechanics, with all main system components being currently complete and are now at the stage where they are working on creating the levels, dialogue, enemies and artwork.

Necholai, the moon lord, finds himself trapped in the Staglands in mysterious circumstances, and starts a desperate quest for answers to find out how he can return to his sanctuary and who dares imprison a god. Being far away from the source of his power, he is forced to take a mortal form and navigate the world in disguise looking for information.

The studio declares its openness to suggestions from the gaming community and cRPG enthusiasts in particular, acknowledging Kickstarter’s potential to hear and implement ideas from an invested community. They point out to their two previous titles, Isle of Bxnes and Bridge to the Moon, both of which greatly benefitted from the feedback the community offered during their development process.

Serpent in the Staglands is currently in development for PC and Mac, and the team aims to release the game sometime during Winter 2014, relying on raising funds through Kickstarter in order to dedicate their full attention to completing the project.