Shadow of the Road - turn-based RPG set in feudal Japan invaded by British steampunk machines

[LESS T_T]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1173980/announcements/detail/2199389555909581023

Development Update #2
Yokai dimension, Oni & stealth


Hey guys,

As you can see, we're not slowing down! Here's another update for your viewing pleasure. We're incredibly excited to share some more news with you!

Yokai dimension

Combat is not just a straightforward mechanic in Shadow of the Road. We're working on some features that will only apply while fighting in the yokai dimension. A small preview can be found below. We're still experimenting with those ideas, but we really like the way this is going!

Spoiler

Oni - Ishida's yokai version

We have already shown you the yokai versions of Satoru and Asuke. Today we would like to show you Ishida's yokai form. We chose the name Oni and even though it is usually associated wth regular demons, we wanted to add our own spin to it and make it relate to Ishida both in the way of looks and in the way of character. We can't share too much information about Ishida because we don't want to spoil the story, but you can be sure that the connection between Ishida and Oni is indeed a very interesting one.




Stealth mechanics

We have not mentioned before that free exploration will not just be limited to travelling from point A to point B. While travelling you will have to make sure to keep a low profile in some locations as sneaking past your enemies could prove essential and sometimes even save your life. Sometimes being cautious is the best way to avoid unsuspecting enemies that would normally destroy you in an uneven match.



Join our discord server & see what will happen next!

Your insights are invaluable for us and it helps us to deliver something extraordinary.

 

[LESS T_T]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1173980/announcements/detail/4397153242214937366

New locations, quests & team management
Development Update #3

The last ten weeks have been incredibly hard on us. We have been working on an update that is going to concern exploration and the narrative.

## Narrative updates

We have successfully managed to complete our first gameplay that is over an hour long and consists not only of enemy encounters and skirmishes, but is also heavily focused on the story.

We have added a dialogue system that gives us different options on how to progress on multiple levels. The aspect that we are especially proud of is the fact that any member of your team can take part in a conversation - not just Satoru, the protagonist. As mentioned before, the choices you make will influence different aspects of the story - including relationships between characters and the narrative in general.

We have also designed alternative paths that can be taken by the player and these actually influence much more than just dialogues. The mechanics we use in combat, the enemies we encounter, and the way the story unfolds are all going to depend on which path we decide to follow.

Spoiler

## Barks

We want to make sure that all characters are aware of their surroundings and that they're not indifferent to everything happening around them. Barks are something that we want to use to cover this aspect in Shadow of the Road. The characters are going to make comments on different events, locations etc. in real-time, helping us understand their views and personalities.

## New locations - sneak peek

Beautiful hills

Graveyard and a shrine

Caves

## Inventory etc.

Here's our first ever look at the inventory. What's important is that weapons can be enchanted to add some new features, a crafting system is also going to be in place and every character is going to have a separate equipment stash that is going to be manageable outside of combat.

## New Mechanics

# resurrection

It's better to stay alive if you have the choice. Luckily not everything is lost - as long as at least one of your team members is alive during combat, you should mostly be fine. Of course the characters that have been knocked out get brought back after the battle, but we have a very special revive mechanic that we're planning to share with you in the next update.

# occasional attack

This is a passive skill called Occasional Attack. Exiting any of the red fields will result in the opponent performing an extra free attack. This is a penalty for disengaging from combat with some of the melee foes. The visual info & feedback from such actions is still in development.

Join our discord server & see what will happen next!
Your insights are invaluable for us and it helps us to deliver something extraordinary.

 

[Thonius]

Game about killing anglos? Added to wishlist.

 

[Darth Canoli]

I just noticed the 2 AP system...

 

[Abu Antar]

I was thinking to myself; that's an attack of opportunity. I read the second tweet, and now they know.

 

[Abu Antar]

 

[Siveon]

I wonder if they knew what an Attack of Oppurtunity was but just didn't know the English name. Or, none of the team playee D&D or games with this rule in place and came with it on their own. Both cases are fascinating, especially the latter if they just came up with that in a relative vacuum.

It could also be something boring like, they just forgot it had a name and made one up. I like to think there's more evidence for accidentally designing attack of oppurtunity though.

 

[Abu Antar]

 

[cyborgboy95]

 

[Major_Blackhart]

I'm gonna watch this with interest.

 

[Abu Antar]

 

[LESS T_T]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1173980/announcements/detail/2923360320132488565

FAQ
We decided to upload a FAQ answering all the questions we receive most often.

Q: Are you planning to release Shadow of the Road on platforms other than PC?
*A:* There are indeed some plans related to console versions of SotR, but for now our top priority is the PC version.

Q: What is the price of the game going to be?
*A:* It will be decided later on, but we think that the base price will be somewhere around $30.

Q: Is there going to be a multiplayer option?
*A:* Probably not, for sure not at the time of the initial release. We have done some tests and even made a playable multiplayer prototype but for now we are focusing on a single-player campaign.

Q: Are you working on macOS and Linux versions?
*A:* Due to some technical limitations and performance issues on those platforms it is very unlikely that SotR will appear on macOS and/or Linux, although we have prepared a MacOS version for internal testing purposes. If we notice high user demand for those versions we will however take it into consideration.

Q: Are you planning any open/closed tests?
*A:* Yes, definitely. We are unable to handle all the QA by ourselves so we will rely heavily on the support of our community.

Q: Are you planning to release a demo?
*A:* Yes, but we don't know at what phase it’s going to happen. It can be tied to various events that depend on Steam.

Q: Is the game going to be available in Early Access?
*A:* We haven't decided yet if will it be hard launched or put into Early Access. There is plenty of work to be done before even considering release in any form.

Q: Who is working on this? / Who are you, guys?
*A:* We are a small independent studio Another Angle Games based in Warsaw. This is our first big title so we rely heavily on our community. We hope that our players will have a significant impact on the development process.

Q: I have a suggestion. How can I pass it on to the dev team?
*A:* If it is a game related suggestion you can submit it to a channel on our Discord server and let others put it to vote. Once in a while we dig through the suggestions and select those with positive feedback from our community and put them onto our roadmap.

Q: Where can I find the latest updates?
*A:* We post the important updates to the Steam Community but you can find more internal content on our Discord server. We also run SotR profiles on various social media platforms:
• on Twitter:
@sotr_game

• on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadowoftheroad/
• on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sotr_game/

Q: Is there any official knowledge base available for Shadow of the Road?
*A:* Yes, we recently set up a Fandom wiki that is available here https://shadowoftheroad.fandom.com/wiki/Shadow_of_the_Road

Q: Why is the release date so distant?
*A:* You haven't seen all our ideas yet! Jokes aside though - we have to expand our team a bit more, and we would like to make SotR not only content-rich but also (and primarily) fun to play so that takes time. A lot of it.

 

[Abu Antar]

 

[Infinitron]

https://steamdb.info/app/1173980/history/?changeid=U:20886678

Changed Store Release Date – 2022 › TBD

 

[Chippy]

Looks awesome. Hopefully it will have an in-depth attribute, skill, and talent/feat system. As well as spells and tentacles.

I'd bother to look but...2022 release date.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Yep. That gives them plenty of time to either fuck things up or improve on them magnificently.

 

[LESS T_T]

This will be published by Super.com, the UK publisher behind Broken Lines: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pres..._Set_In_AltHistory_Steampunk_Feudal_Japan.php

Super.com Partnering with Studio Another Angle to Release Tactical RPG Set In Alt-History Steampunk Feudal Japan

The Studio, Composed of Former Outriders and Witcher III Developers, Will Receive Assistance and Funding from the Indie Specialist Investment to Launch Their First Title

London, UK (June 24, 2021) — Prolific publisher of indie titles and investment company Super.com today announced a partnership with the independent studio Another Angle Games to assist with the company’s upcoming tactical role-playing game Shadow of the Road. Headed by Lead Developer Marek Oleksiak, Another Angle Games is composed of industry veterans that have previously worked on AAA titles including The Witcher III and Outriders. Super.com will work closely with the studio to assist with both the development and publishing of the title, providing their industry knowledge and expertise in the realm of independent video games. Super.com sees great potential in the budding studio, and their passion and love for the medium is evident in their dedication to creating rich, deep, and engaging experiences for players via their debut title.

“We see a very strong lore and setting in the project. That, combined with an impressive development background and focused attitude from the team, makes this an exciting partnership,” said Anna Grigoreva, Publishing Director, Super.com. “The guys are true fans of the game they are making and we see that their ideas are unique and fresh already by looking at early builds. Their projects will enrich the RPG genre.”

“This is our first title, but our team is built by extremely talented industry professionals and veterans that have launched renowned titles in the past,” said Marek Oleksiak, head of Another Angle Games. “Shadow of the Road is our first title as a studio and we’ve poured our heart and soul into the game. Bringing Super.com as a publishing partner, with their vast experience, is a blessing and we cannot wait to see what this relationship is capable of.”

Shadow of the Road is the company’s first title and features a rich setting based on real history, a deep cast of believable and interesting characters, and riveting, calculated combat. Strategy and tactics work hand in hand as players will need to manage the interpersonal relationships and goals of each team member while also engaging in turn-based, tactical combat. In a world filled with rogue samurai, evil corporations, and mystical demons, only the most cunning of battlefield commanders will emerge victoriously.

Set in the Boshin War era of Feudal Japan, Shadow of the Road drops players into a land torn apart by war. The forces of the Tokugawa Shogunate clash with Imperial armies throughout the land, with mass losses of life plaguing both sides. However, this battle isn’t as simple as one side against the other, as the mythical demons known as Yokai coupled with the Steampunk machinations of the dastardly East Nippon Company make the battlefield a far deadlier and more complex arena. It’s Samurai vs. Soldier, Demon vs. Spider-mech in a battle for control of the Japanese islands!

Shadow of the Road will be released for Windows PC via Steam. For the latest news and updates, follow Another Angle Games on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Keep up to date with Super.com by following them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or by visiting the official website.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

I really want this to be good.

 

[LESS T_T]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1173980/announcements/detail/3093413060070015770

Shadow of the Road Status Check

You may be wondering where we’ve been all this time?

Were we led astray by the cries of Kawa akago, the red children of the streams? Did the invisible wall Nurikabe block the entrance to the office? Have several of our keyboards come to life as Tsukumogami and tried to bite our fingers?

Well, no. The truth isn’t nearly that mysterious, so let us tell you why we’ve actually been quiet for a while!

Shadow of the Road is an ambitious project, and the scale of the work done for it is appropriately large. The entire team worked restlessly to bring it to fruition and our silent period comes with all sorts of cool milestones and achievements to show for it.

We have completed character dialogues for the entire first half of the game. We have diversified the game with levels set in gloomy underground passages and treacherous uncharted forests. And of course, put significant work into the characters you will encounter as you play Shadow of the Road!

Let’s put a number to some of the things we’ve wrapped up as of late:
- Wrote roughly 50k words of dialogues and other in-game texts;
- Finished modeling over 30 different characters and enemies;
- Finished 4 levels with 13 more in the pipeline and waiting to be braved.

There is much to look forward to, so stay tuned!
You can also join our Discord server to keep up with everything that is going on with the project!
See you there -> https://discord.gg/MADNsptA

 

[Infinitron]

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1173980/view/3100169727352389431

See the Kenjiro's Residence location!

Shadow of the Road will lead you to many different areas and environments! Among the first is the residence belonging to aging nobleman Sugiyama Kenjiro. Kenjiro's Residence will introduce you to some of the most significant combat challenges that await your party in the game! Take a look at how it came to life from the ground up! More on the game coming soon

Join our Discord to ask us curious questions and just chat about the game -> https://bit.ly/3BIHhR0

 

[cyborgboy95]

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1173980/view/3189119630563305902

Welcome to Herbalist's Solitude location!​

Welcome to another location showcase for Shadow of the Road! Herbalist's Solitude stands waiting for the heroes to brave the perilous path to find a coveted cure. Here the road splits. Think well before choosing which direction to go in.

Monks point at the path
But its peace is falsehood
Man and Yokai wait

 

[agris]

Generic-Giant-Spider

 

[Generic-Giant-Spider]

Wish it showed full on body horror of her erupting into arachnid form instead of vanishing and rematerializing.

 

[agris]

Wish it showed full on body horror of her erupting into arachnid form instead of vanishing and rematerializing.

i just assumed you'd appreciate a spider with tiddies, but la-de-da we got ourselves a connoisseur!

 

[Generic-Giant-Spider]

I WANNA FEEL IT, DAMMIT.