The increasingly busy soulslike genre is becoming a more and more difficult space for up-and-coming indie studios to leave a mark on, but Trialforge Studio’s Deathbound might just have one of those fantastic ideas that set games apart from the competition.
Described as “a one-of-a-kind party-based soulslike set in a callous world where Faith and Science clash,” Deathbound presents a familiar challenge with stylized visuals and, as teased by the devs, a four-hero party system that blends the variety of other types of RPG with the moment-to-moment brutality of FromSoftware and its followers’ real-time combat. That idea alone should be enough to sell many on Deathbound, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg of awesomeness that Trialforge is promising.
The game’s focus is put on “individual characters with their own unique skill sets, combat styles, and rich history.” This means that “absorbing them” translates into earning more combat possibilities and synergies. Moreover, the relationships that connect these characters “must be balanced” as well; such synergies may even impact the most difficult encounters as much-needed buffs. When combat hits its peak, the player can also unleash “a devastating Morphstrike using the combined power of the bound fallen warriors.” Gotta catch them all, right?
The developers have also added much of their homeland of Brazil’s DNA to the mix, resulting in a vibrant world, sweeping music, and rhythmic combat which should help separate it from some of the more interchangeable soulslikes that keeping popping up almost every month. The latest ‘overview trailer’ presents a much clearer picture of what to expect should you choose to jump into the world of Ziêminal.
The current plan is to release Deathbound later in 2024 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store. A brutal demo is available right now to grab and play on Steam.
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