At its own showcase, publisher THQ announced a brand-new fantasy role-playing game that could make fans of Dark Messiah sit up and take notice.
Fantasy role-playing games have been popular for decades, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. However, while millions of players eagerly await a new Elder Scrolls, the next Baldur’s Gate or Fable, lesser-known titles are also trying to steal their hearts.
One brand new addition is Fatekeeper. The first-person role-playing game was just unveiled at a showcase by publisher THQ, impressing with its great graphics, and is being developed in Germany.
What makes Fatekeeper special?
Fatekeeper aims to combine the old and the new in role-playing games. You can expect deep role-playing systems
, battles reminiscent of Dark Messiah, and, for a change, no open world. The development team consists of only 10 people and is based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, right next to the Bavarian Alps. But pictures say more than words, so here’s the trailer:
However, the trailer doesn’t show everything the developers told us, so here are the most important facts about the mechanics and features:
- Weapons: We defend ourselves against monsters and other enemies with swords, axes, and similar medieval weapons. In the trailer, we see the familiar combination of attacking, blocking, and dodging, with each action costing stamina. However, we should also be able to perform a range of special attacks and other actions. Weapons can also be poisoned.
- Magic: We can cast spells at any time, all of which have a
physical
component. For example, we can throw objects or enemies with telekinesis, push them off a cliff with a gust of wind, or freeze the surface of water and then thaw it with a fireball. We can also create our own spells. - World: Although there is no open world, you don’t have to worry about pure tube levels. Instead, you can search the areas for hidden loot or alternative routes. There will also be puzzles that require us to look around carefully and inspect collected items to reveal hidden functions.
- Skills: There is also supposed to be a deep skill system, but the developers haven’t shown anything about it yet. Among other things, the skills could relate to the use of weapons, armor, magic, or alchemy.
- Story and setting: The developers have not yet revealed what Fatekeeper is actually about. However, the story is obviously supposed to be dark and, according to the developers, important for the role-playing game.
There is no exact release date for Fatekeeper yet. However, the gameplay shown already looks quite polished and does not reveal any shortcomings that could indicate an early stage of development. So we may be able to play Fatekeeper quite soon, certainly before the release of The Elder Scrolls 6.
