Game News New indie game - Eschalon: Book I

[Vault Dweller]

Tags: Eschalon: Book I

There is a new indie game in development, called <a href=http://www.basiliskgames.com/games.htm>Eschalon: Book I</a>. Apparently, it's the first part of an epic trilogy, aimed to uncover the mystery of who - or what - you are". Hopefully, not a child of Bhaal this time.
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<blockquote> Basilisk Games is very pleased to announce our first title Eschalon: Book I, the start of an epic trilogy of computer RPGs created in the spirit of the great role-playing games of the past. Eschalon: Book I will take you across massive outdoor environments and deep into dozens of sprawling dungeons as you seek to uncover the mystery of who - or what - you are.
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Hundreds of items and dozens creatures to discover. A combination of randomly generated treasure and carefully hidden goodies.
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An non-linear storyline that can be played at your pace. As you struggle to uncover the secrets of your past, you must decide where to go and who to trust. The game world is yours to discover- just be careful not to get yourself in too deep, too soon!
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Unlimited character development style...Choose from 25 unique skills to make the character you want and 8 base attributes that affect your character's every action throughout the game.
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A turn-based yet fluid combat system keeps the action feeling near real-time. Strategy is key in Eschalon- careful skill management, weapon choice and magic usage will win your fights, not rapid button clicking. We are very pleased to say this is not another "action RPG".
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An epic adventure that you face alone...a single-player RPG carefully designed to feel like the great RPGs of the past such as Ultima®, Might & Magic®, and Wizardry®.
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Basilisk Games is an independent game developer based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Our mission is to produce compelling old-school computer role-playing games for gamers who still remember what great computer RPGs used to be about...
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Single player. Turn based. Stat heavy. Story driven.
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Ever played the Ultima series? Might & Magic? Wizardry? Fallout?
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If so, you get the idea of the types of games we're working on.</blockquote>
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There are no screenshots to confirm or deny those claims, but since most of you have already played the Ultima, M&M, Wizardry, and Fallout games, you got the idea.
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Thanks to <a href=http://www.rpgdot.com>RPG Dot</a>

 

[Nicolai]

Only two "epic"s? Hmmm

 

[Whipporowill]

Dhruin or whomever posted it over at RPGDot managed to sneak up a screenshot. Surprised you didn't notice it in their post, VD.

 

[Jason]

I want to be Revan this time.

 

[Hamster]

http://www.ag.ru/screenshots/eschalon_book_1/153455
P.S. Enter at your own risk. It can be illegal sceens there!

 

[bryce777]

How can you know what a gladius is, but mispell category???

I do like the press release. Much less pretentious and idiotic than anythign else I have seen, including indie stuff.

 

[FrancoTAU]

Ah, too bad it isn't a party based game. It looks to have some potential. Supposedly it's already in alpha and will be released Q206.

 

[Whipporowill]

http://www.ag.ru/screenshots/eschalon_book_1/153455
P.S. Enter at your own risk. It can be illegal sceens there!

Oh noes, is it from an unoptimized translation beta of Eschalon? Great find either way...

 

[S4ur0n27]

Looks awesome, and sounds awesome.

 

[Mefi]

I'm intrigued by this.

Interview with the developers please codex. I want to hear more about this one. Seems like it might be a very decent indie title to watch out for.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Interview with the developers please codex.

I've just emailed them.

 

[Volourn]

"Hopefully, not a child of Bhaal this time."

Hoepfully for the creators too as they'd be sued for all thweir worth and wouldn't be able to afford to release even indy games anymore.

R00fles!

P.S. Only one upcoming indy game is worth my time. Period.

 

[Section8]

Well, the feature list sounds promising, and the screens look simple, but well polished with quite nice artwork. And "Spring 2006" isn't too far off, so I'm really looking forward to hearing more about this one.

 

[Nicolai]

Looks pretty rocko to me. I'll have to keep an eye on this one.

 

[Micmu]

I'm hyped up, too.

 

[obediah]

Not that knocking bethesda and bioware isn't a good time, but it's about time the codex had a game to spooge over for a few months. Maybe some positive talk about an rpg game will allow some of our less dimwitted invaders to discover other interpretations of the genre other than uber-hyped akshun rpg for joe sixpack.

 

[Drain]

Looks very promising, although experience bar reminds me of Diablo.

 

[ExMonk]

Basilisk is in Indianapolis, and I'll be there this weekend. I wonder where in Indy?

Their web page says that they are planning on offering a demo on the day that the game is released.

Looks good! In fact, it looks like the devs studied at the Codex Academy of RPG's before designing the game. Has many of the gameplay features that codexers have been pining for.

 

[RuySan]

it looks very good and polished. i'll keep an eye for this one.

 

[Volourn]

"single-player RPG carefully designed to feel like the great RPGs of the past such as Ultima®, Might & Magic®, and Wizardry®."

Outside of Ultima, these games wouldn't know what role-playing was even if it hit them square in the face. Not to mention they are party based dungeon crawl levelers.

The game also has fuckin' mana. That's fuckin' dumb!

R00fles!

 

[Shagnak]

Looking and sounding good.
(Hopefully not another case of "too good to be true")

Another indie to add to my "watch" list (along with Ashes, AoD, and free-and-improved PtD)

 

[RGE]

It looks kind of cozy. Smart decision to have small people and images, since the less they show the worse it can look without me noticing it. Might be worth looking into once I'm done with the NWN campaigns. (I finally made it to Chapter 3, though the much hyped Trial quest wasn't all that. Perhaps because I'm not playing a divine caster of ultra-high wisdom.)

 

[Schmoozer]

Very promising. I cannot recall the last game I played that gave experience for something other than killing another demon spawn. I hope they expand on the "look" feature as well. Adds a more cerebral element to the graphics if there is text to further enhance the object under observation. Any screens of dialogue to be found?

 

[Human Shield]

Looks pretty. Hope their gameplay comes through.

 

[corvax]

Hopefully the specs will be low enough for my crappy laptop. Looks promising. And since I've totally given up on the Genefoge series, hopefully this game will be out by spring. Seriously besides it and VD's venture there's nothing even worth considering out there.