Publisher Digerati and developer Igor Sandman have officially revealed a brand-new project: a cinematic, side-scrolling adventure titled Guild of Darksteel. The game is set to be released for the PS4, Switch and PC via Steam in the first quarter of 2021, and interested players can check it out now for themselves through a demo made available on PC.
Guild of Darksteel is unique in its approach to several archetypes of the sidescrolling genre, and after playing through the demo for about an hour, I can honestly say that with a bit of polish this is definitely a title to watch for if you’re a big fan of pixel art sidescrollers. The announcement of Guild of Darksteel came with a trailer, which you can check out below.
As first explained by the trailer, Guild of Darksteel revolves its story around the Darksteel, a mysterious material with which one can craft armor. This Darksteel armor is legendary, as it renders its user immortal – however, the same immortality that makes one powerful is also a curse in its own right, as those who wear it can never take it off. As such, Darksteel mercenaries are considered important, becoming paid warriors in a world that shuns them constantly. It is a commendable twist on the explanation as to how the in-game protagonist – the Sellsword – can come back to life constantly, as he seeks his purpose for eternal life by joining the eponymous Guild of Darksteel.
Gameplaywise, after trying out the demo, I can say that it presents a unique combat mechanic that differs from most of the sidescrollers we have right now. Combat in Guild of Darksteel plays out in real-time, yet it is turn-based, resulting in this oddly satisfying rhythmic challenge that relies more on precise timing and button inputs rather than anything else. There are no random encounters either, as you get to choose your enemies wisely, with success in battle slowly filling a bar that gives out points to improve your combos that also require precise button presses.
Guild of Darksteel is set to be released on the PS4, Switch and PC via Steam in Q1 2021.
