High fantasy meets 1920s upheaval in episodic journey Pendula Swing, out now

While others (like Arcanum) have performed with the concept of excessive fantasy shifting into the trendy period, point-and-click episodic journey Pendula Swing is likely to be probably the most dedicated to the idea but. Described by its builders as “Tolkien meets The Great Gatsby”, it’s the story of a long-retired dwarven heroine pressured to go away her secluded island residence in the hunt for a stolen magic axe. Lots has occurred over 4 hundred years of seclusion, and town is now buzzing with cars, trade and jazz. The preliminary two episodes (of seven) are out in the present day, with the primary being free.

While I’ve solely performed a bit of the primary episode (and located myself very grateful for a hotspot indicator), it looks like Pendula Swing’s builders, Valiant, goal to deal with some thorny material. Prejudice, social upheaval, prohibition and girls’s suffrage are all on the playing cards. We’ve seen others fumble this specific angle throughout a number of mediums (want I point out Bright?), however Pendula Swing might be able to deal with issues with a bit extra delicacy. Although it’s nonetheless a cautious balancing act, and the promise of a number of options to issues provides one other layer of complexity.

Pendula Swing does appear to lean a bit extra into its magical world. Being a whole bunch of years outdated, protagonist Brialynne Donu Tenúm has a moderately completely different outlook on the passing of time than most, particularly as her human spouse died 300 years prior. While a number of the elves she knew should be round, a dozen generations of people have been and gone since she final regarded. It’s an fascinating mix of ideas, and I’ll hopefully be taking part in a bit extra on the weekend.

Pendula Swing’s pilot episode, Tired and Retired, is out now and free on Steam. The second episode – The Old Hero’s New Journey – prices £5/$5/$5, with the remaining 5 coming later.