Hello everyone! I hope you guys and gals are enjoying your October! I know I am! Here is a quick and not random question: Are you all aware of an author by the name of H.P. Lovecraft? I’m sure many of you are. Why did I ask this question? Well, the game I am going to go into has plenty of elements seen in his works.
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones has you facing off against eldritch abominations that you would see in Lovecraftian literature.
Of course, before I dive further in, let’s look at the developer(s) and publisher(s) of the game. Also, here’s a MATURE CONTENT WARNING: Extreme Violence and Gore
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is developed by Cultic Games. Just like other companies I looked into, they too have developed only one game so far, which is what I am reviewing right now. There is no other information about them, save for that they are based in Istanbul, Turkey.
The publisher is 1C Entertainment. They are a company that has published several games, ranging from Action and Adventure, to Indie and MMORPGs.
In Stygian, you play as a character who must venture from the doomed Arkham (a fictional city in Massachusetts, an integral part of Lovecraftian literature) to the darkest depths of the Abyss.
One of the best features of this game is the ability to create your very own character, based off of the Archetypes from the Roaring 20s (1920s). There are 8 main Archetypes to choose from, with each of them having a unique origin and special attributes. Additionally, each of them have differing levels of Belief.
In Stygian, there is the Belief System. It is a mechanic that determines how your character(s) would cope with the horrid reality of Arkham. It also determines the rate that the characters regain their lost sanity.
Speaking of sanity, it is also a mechanic in the game. Just like the Belief System, it can also influence the dialogue options your character(s) will have. Of course, we all know that Mental Illness is a huge hindrance, but in the insane world of Arkham, it actually has its advantages too. There was a quote floating around from somewhere that I can’t remember, but it fits with the idea of Insanity on the Steam page for Stygian: Sometimes, in a world that has gone insane, the only sane thing to do is to be insane.
One thing I forgot to mention, Stygian is not only a Lovecraftian horror RPG, it also has turn-based combat based on magic.
Taking inspiration from the Heroes of Might and Magic games, the characters in Stygian must strategize with a spell system that has more cons than pros. Casting spells can affect your sanity, your character’s health and many other things that will make your struggles even more difficult. The reason for this is because the magic used in Stygian is Black Magic.
As for the struggles, as this is Lovecraft that the game is talking about, the world has already been devastated (hence why the plot said ‘doomed’ in the first place). Instead, you will be given your own goals to pursue, be it salvation, vengeance or something even darker than that!
Now, despite all of the mixed feelings that many on the Steam page have shown, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones has a lot of growing potential. Sure, there have been complaints about the bugs, but Cultic Games had revealed an Improvement Roadmap, updating us on all of the things that have been fixed.
With all that in mind, ignoring all of the minor issues, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones earns a 10/10 from me! See you all in the next review!
Check Out the Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones Trailer:
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is available for PC, Mac, and Linux for $29.99 via Steam.
Steam Review
I'm the kind of guy who LOVES games with rich storytelling elements, but still finds enjoyment in the other games that don't have those. I am always intrigued by how new and upcoming game developers either bring something new to the table or take something existing and bring an exhilarating twist to it.
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