14 DAY TRIAL // Guild of Darksteel is an upcoming dark fantasy adventure game developed by artist and one-man studio Igor Sandman. The game will launch in Q1 2021 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, but a free demo is now available for download via Steam.
The free demo will remain live throughout the upcoming PAX Online X EGX Digital festival, which ends on September 20, so those who want to check it out should do it before the deadline.
As per the developer's announcement, Guild of Darksteel is a cinematic, side-scrolling adventure set in a lush, layered dark fantasy world. Although you play as an immortal character, you can be easily killed by the denizens living underneath the cities of Ravenrock.
“The world of Guild of Daksteel is unforgiving: the rich exploit the poor, the strong trample the weak. It's a world not unlike our own and ultimately, that is the story I need to tell. Guild of Darksteel is a work of passion that took me years to complete, yet it will only be truly completed once you play it,” Sandman says about his debut game.
The game follows the adventures of the Sellsword, an immortal, as he seeks a purpose in eternal life by joining the Guild of Darksteel. Players will step into the shoes of one of the guild's immortal mercenaries and investigate the mysterious tunnels underneath the cities of Ravenrock.
One of the most enticing aspects about Guild of Darksteel is the refined combat system, which seems to be easy to understand, yet hard to master. Throughout your playthrough, you'll be able to unlock combos and level them up to your liking. More importantly, you'll have to chain your attacks together and determine a personal attack strategy that will guarantee your victory.
The developer emphasizes that each character in the game carries a deep story, breathing life into the world of Guild of Darksteel. The game is inspired by classics like Flashback and Vagrant Story and tells a gripping story of power struggle and soul searching.
As far as the visuals go, it's obvious from the announcement trailer that the world of Guild of Darksteel is comprised of dark, yet evocatively detailed pixel art. But Sandman promises “a foreboding and thought-provoking soundtrack” as well, the more reason to check this one out when it arrives early next year.
