Away: Journey To The Unexpected is a preposterously cute game. Launching on February 13th (or earlier from GOG), it’s a first-person motion RPG by Aurélien Regard (The Next Penelope), and as a lot about making bizarre new buddies as bopping monsters on the pinnacle. I’ve had the prospect to mess around with an early construct, and it looks like an uncommon mix of inspirations. Part PSX-era dungeon crawler, half Earthbound, a little bit little bit of roguelike to spice issues up and all the time cute as a button. Below, a trailer and ten minutes of friend-making, dungeon-crawling enjoyable.
Away feels a bit like a first-person Earthbound game. The participant character is a younger child dwelling together with his grandparents after his mother and father left on a mysterious mission. After delving into the basement to analyze a wierd noise, you discover a community of tunnels resulting in unusual new lands, all of which appear to have a little bit of a monster drawback. Being a child, the hero doesn’t have a lot well being or assault energy. Smaller enemies might be whacked with a stick or blown up with a small inventory of firecrackers, however you’ll need some buddies to do the heavy lifting for you.
In every hub space, there are some NPCs that may be befriended. Some want one thing finished for them, whereas others should be charmed by multiple-choice dialogue bushes. Want a large missile-spewing robotic to affix you? Convince it that you just’re a superior mannequin by doing math involving actually lengthy numbers. Once recruited, you possibly can swap to controlling any of your buddies so you should use their assaults and talents. You get some neat first-person results, too – a frazzled wizard sees the world by cracked, bleary glasses, whereas the missile mech has a flickering HUD overlay.
While buddies ultimately go away as soon as their stamina (mixed ammo/well being) is drained, they’ll stay unlocked. If you die and begin a brand new run, that buddy shall be completely happy to affix once more, with no hoops to leap by. While I used to be not sure if the roguelike parts gelled too properly with the story, my impressions are from poking round a pre-release model. We’ll have a full overview construct to discover quickly. In the meantime, watch that ten minute walkthrough above for a correct take a look at Away’s vivid, bouncy and troubled world. I’m positive that mutation will clear proper up, Mr Manager.
Away: Journey To The Unexpected launches on Steam on February 13th for £11.09/€13.99/$13.99, although due to the magic of behind-the-scenes exclusivity offers, GOG customers will be capable to decide it up every week early, beginning February fifth. It’s printed by Playdius.
