Stygian: Outer Gods looks like it’ll have that special HP (Lovecraft) sauce

2019’s Stygian: Reign of the Outdated Gods was a promising CRPG that featured some neat insanity mechanics and a tone and environment that completely suited its Lovecraftian influences. It did, nevertheless, endure from some issue spikes and some horrible bugs which have by no means been mounted. I used to be due to this fact shocked to see one other sport within the sequence seem, particularly on condition that it comes from a totally totally different developer and takes on a completely new gameplay type and perspective. The old-school prime down strategy has been changed in Stygian: Outer Gods by a first-person view that gives a extra immersive and, dare I say, trendy expertise.

My time with the demo – which will probably be accessible as a part of Steam Subsequent Fest from Monday twenty fourth February – started with a mysterious imaginative and prescient in an odd otherworldly atmosphere earlier than reverting to the acquainted setting of an workplace stacked with esoteric objects. That is textbook Lovecraft and jogged my memory of the likes of Call of Cthulhu and The Sinking City. Just like these titles you quickly end up stranded in a coastal city with a thriller to unravel and risks to beat.

Earlier than you set out in your investigation, nevertheless, you may customise your character by interacting with the mirror in your toilet. A sequence of questions are posed and your solutions have an effect on varied character stats, out of your occult data to your lockpicking expertise. The latter proved somewhat unhelpful in my playthrough as each try to select a lock failed, regardless of that being my chosen talent. Hopefully these elements will probably be refined for the ultimate construct though I fairly appreciated how the results of the dialogue selections weren’t spelled out for you.

The environment of Stygian: Outer Gods is on level with derelict buildings and a stark shoreline setting the scene and objects which can be clearly seen for probably the most half. There wasn’t a variety of selection in enemy design on this, however this isn’t shocking for what quantities to the sport’s prologue. Audio design can be good and the otherworldly noises disturb and unsettle you.

The part contained on this construct featured a combination of stealth and fight, however it’s clear that the ultimate sport just isn’t going to be all-out motion. Even single enemies will rapidly kill you for those who attempt to take them on toe to toe. Sneaking round them or utilizing thrown bottles to distract them is much simpler, while manipulating the surroundings is essential to outlive any unavoidable fights. Luckily the AI is fairly simple to abuse, with knee excessive fences coming in clutch to guard you from injury. The demo options just a few totally different melee weapons, with firearms being seen in preview footage of later areas.

Exploring the city is made vital as you could discover three panels for a locked gate with a view to acquire entry a big mansion which appears to be the supply of the thriller. It is a commonplace survival horror puzzle however really feel considerably misplaced right here given the sport’s adoption of some immersive sim components. While exploring the city you’ll be blocked by a sequence of fences, however stacking bins towards them can create steps that assist you to bypass them. I used to be by no means totally certain how intentional these moments have been, though extra conventional space blocking is achieved by way of boards which you can solely break as soon as you discover an axe. The query stays, why couldn’t I simply prop some bins up towards the gate and climb over it?

That sort of inside logic breaking apart, Stygian: Outer Gods is a promising stealth horror title that confirmed sufficient within the demo to each pique my curiosity and go away me questioning what different gameplay components it’ll introduce. If Lovecraftian horrors are your bag of tentacles then be certain to wishlist this explicit cosmic horror prepared for its launch – first with PC early entry this yr, and a full launch in 2026.