Carlsev Saga by Deckiller

 

Carlsev Saga's story centers on the small, isolated monarchy of Carlsev. This nation boasts a formidable army and advanced middle-age technology; a power called the "Essence" fuels the magic-like abilities used by many of Carlsev's inhabitants. However, the paranoid king has been withholding progress in every aspect of human endeavor. Some of Carlsev's elite figures, such as General Saito of East Carlsev, have grown impatient with the monarchy and have taken bold action. With support from his closest aide, Youngwood, the charismatic Saito leads the East into a massive revolt. A bitter civil war ensues, partitioning Carlsev into East and West. The story unfolds during the first major battle of this civil war, though what will ensue is beyond everyone's imagination. 

Carlsev Saga is a fantasy game that is focused on the political thriller, like Game of Throne. For this reason do not expect a simple clash between the forces of good and evil, as most of the cast operates in shades of grey. The game is also interesting because includes stealth missions, alchemy and there is emphasis on the use of special items and finding and exploiting weaknesses rather than grinding. Mapping is also particularly well made. This game was supposed to be the first part of a trilogy, and while this was the first and only episode that was fully completed, a new chapter is also in the works, a prequel to this game called Carlsev Zero. It is going to be set thirteen years before the events of this game.

Download Link

Internet Archive

Rmarchiv.de

 

Random Fact: although the second episode of the Carlsev Saga was not completed, a three hours demo was released. See below for it.

  

Final Verdict: an epic low-fantasy adventure that for once it's focused on the political intrigues rather than on moster slaying. Unique for sure and with a finely tuned old-styled gameplay.

 

 

EXTRA - Carlsev Saga - Episode 2: the story begins about two days after part one. This episode doesn't feature as many radical plot twists as part one, but it is still far from dull and predictable. This episode is definitely more character-centered: if part one was all about a thorny, unpredictable plot, then part two is all about equally thorny conflicts between characters, as well as the consequences of a few difficult decisions.

Download Link

Internet Archive

Rmarchiv.de 

Rpgmaker.net 

 

Diary of a Madman by Dreaded

 

Ganthithor is a necromancer whom is a victim of unfortunate circumstances. He works for a higher power, and his mission is to escort the monarch of the land, Irvine, to meet his master in the Land of the Dead. 

Of course no one trusts Ganthitho, but Irvine accepts to go with him. Through his journey, you will meet allies and foes alike, and unveal Ganthithor's past and how he came to be what he is; as well as what the future holds for him.

 

 

Diary of a Madman is a dark fantasy rpg about an anti-hero: this time the playable protagonist is someone who can raise zombies and use dark magic in combat. In any case combat is pretty challenging in the beginning, since the two characters aren't very strong, but most battles are avoidable. Moreover there are puzzles and optional dungeons, to collect loot or souls. Souls in fact are a currency used with the "praying the dark gods" abilities that enable the possibility to get useful gear in exchange for souls, but no, the dark gods will not buy items from Ganthithor, of course. The game features many original abilities as well as being one of the few dark/horror fantasy adventure games.

 

Download Link (2011 version with additions)

Download Link (2004 version)

Rpgmaker.net

Rmarchiv.de 

Random Fact: the game takes a lot of inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons. Not only some or the portraits come from the Baldur's Gate games, but some spells have the same names of those present in the tabletop rpg (Mirror Image, Magic Missiles, etc.) and the main god Heironeus is taken directly from the Greyhawk setting.

 

 

Final Verdict: it's really unfortunate that this game wasn't completed since it has a great atmosphere, and Ganthitho's laugh makes the character a memorable protagonist. Surely this is my favourite game among those released from Dreaded, for its unique atmosphere and characters.

Dream Catcher - Emergence by Mateui

 

Quaden is a rather shy, young adult living at home with his parents in Zoasis, a peaceful city known for the art of "dream catching" - the process of entering people's dreams to cure them of physical or psychological ailments, while at other times being used as reconnaissance in military operations. He hopes to become a Dream Catcher himself, but this in itself will be no easy task.  Events unfold and what starts out as a rather serene and ordinary quiet life becomes something quite different - a life unexpected with tough decisions to make; decisions that will test Quaden's morality and judgment, and allow him to ultimately grow as a person. 

Dream Catcher is a story driven rpg heavy on dialogues, but that also includes some minigames like mining and a battle system with some neat additions. There are also puzzles, and one even right in the beginning, after the impressive intro. Graphics are pretty good, pity for the enemies that do not match the style of the rest of the game.

Download Link

Rpgmaker.net

Rmarchiv.de 

 

Random Fact: the game is about 3 hours and 30 minutes long and it's complete, however this was supposed to be the first installment of a series that, like often happens, was never realized. On the other hand Matui realized and completed a little fun game called Pengui! But this is another game for another day.

Final Verdict: a pretty good introductive adventure focused on telling a story, and that's where it shines, for the rest there are only minor issues. Pity that it ends a little too early, leaving the player yearning for more.

Pilgrim's Road by Sidewinder

 

Seventy five years have passed since the great atomic fires nearly scoured all life from the planet. Mutants, twisted by radiation and disease lurk in the shadows of mankind's once great buildings, while gangs rummage through the wastelands, preying on anyone weaker than them.

 

You play as a junker; a drifter with no place left to call home, wandering from ruin to ruin, salvaging anything of value. A passing merchant told you of a great iron tower in the middle of the New Mexican desert, where clean water and electricity can still be found, and who's denizens pay handsomely for any salvaged technology. With nowhere else to go, you've resolved to find this strange city.

 

Will you be able to solve the mysteries of the post-apocalyptic wasteland? Or will you die alone and forgotten in the desert?

 

 

Pilgrim's Road is an adventure with visual novel and rpg elements that is inspired by old CRPGs: half of the game is played in first person, after from a top down visual, the first is used during dialogues and battles, the second during exploration of both dungeons and settlements. The game borrows the style from the Fallout series with its retro talking heads and the custom interface. There are no experience levels, all upgrades are bought or earned, so there is no option to grind for experience.

Download Link

Rmarchiv.de

Rpgmaker.net Archive 

 

Random Fact: Pilgrim's Road is an event game that was created for the Abrupt Ending Party Event at RMK, and this is the reason why it's pretty short and simple. Anyway the game has TWO endings: the abrupt ending that was required for the event AND a true ending that requires four skills (to earn it you have to start with Int 17 and the needed skills, but I think it's pretty easy to understand whose skills are).

 

 

Final Verdict: this is a short but good game, the plot is simple but I liked that some things are mentioned but never clearly explained, leaving a lot of mystery about the setting and the characters that live in this bleak world. I liked these details, the foreshadowing, the narrative, but the main and best aspect is probably the style and graphics.

Slay the Lizard of Lunenberg and other thankless sidequests by psy_wombats

 

Chelsea is the princess of the (definitely real) kingdom of Lemuria. After journeying to the hamlet of Lunenberg and learning about the (definitely real) lizard terrorizing the local peasantry, she and her retinue take it upon themselves to end this menace for once and for all! 

Lunenberg is a deceptively active town. Despite being positioned well away from anything important, it still sports the all-important amenities such as the Inn, Shop, Castle, and Underground Dungeon. While there aren't too many monsters to fight (apart from the titular lizard), there are plenty of residents to talk to and sideplots to discover.

Explore the town, talk to its inhabitants, unravel the plots of its various factions, complete menial errands, retrieve cut-rate treasure... This game's got it all!! (it's shortish, dumbish, and hopefully funny -- you should play it) 

 

 

Slay the Lizard of Lunenberg (and other thankless sidequests) is a game made for 1-Dungeon RPG Game Jam by Psy Wombats. This is a lighthearted fantasy adventure with no battles nor action minigames, but rather a humorous game of fetch quests and exploration. There are also a couple of puzzles, but it's not a very long game, in any case it's also a pretty good looking game due to the use if the White Screw assets.

 

Download Link

Itch.io

Rpgmaker.net 

Rmarchiv.de

 

Random Fact: if you need help to complete the game you may visit the seer, or helper, that will give some hints about what you are supposed to do. The old guy you meet in the beginning will immediately direct to her so you will never have to wander aimlessly. 

Final Verdict: Slay the Lizard of Lunenberg is a fun game, an adventure and a collection of stories of quirky and memorable characters: the Xp-hungry adventurers, the emo pianist, the rebel rabbits, the guy with the... uhm curvaceous statue, the Slime Prince, the clever cats, the goth girl, and so on. 

The game is big and you've to do a lot of walking, some fetch quests aren't also very intuitive (the bodyguard one for example. Others like the emo pianist or the hotel owner ones were easier), but that's why the helpful seer is there. 

Fun fun fun! I really liked this game and I cannot believe it's an event game.  

Saint-EX by DyA Producciones (spanish)

 

A redhead girl is trapped inside an underground complex, looking for her father, a man in a lab coat. When she founds him he turns and he has red eyes and e metal mask... then the screen fades to black.

It turns out this was just a recurring nightmare of  a redhead young woman, a killer for hire called Crimson Blade. Her new job is very well payed, and she fears it will be really risky, but she accepts anyway.

Unfortunately, as she feared, she is ambushed at the subway station. Being an experienced hired killer, she's good with swords and guns 

 

Saint-EX is an action adventure with custom graphics: the game uses original portraits and tilesets, some CG cutscenes and the final result is excellent, the world looks like a dark metropolitan city, and it's reach of details. The gameplay consists in classical exploration and interactions, plus some real-time battles against multiple enemies: Z and X are used to attack with sword and gun, while Shift lets Crimson Blase use a special move, when possible. All works smoothly and the characters are well animated.

 

AlianzaRTP.es

Hellsoft.net

Rmarchiv.de

 

 

Random Fact: the game begins with a maze with crates that have to be pushed, and a gate that has to be unlocked. Unfortunately in  this part it's highly probable to get stuck if you do not pay attention. And this means restarting the game, since there is no save point nor reset button, but at least this happens in the beginning. I am not sure if there was another way to avoid this situation.

 

Final Verdict: Saint-Ex is the demo of a very ambitious project that was unfortunately cancelled, but if it had been completed it would have been one of the best video games in the RPG maker Hispanic community. But even though it was just a demo and one of the first projects of D&A Producciones, you could see the talent that these developers have when creating video games.

Mystic Legends - Symphony of the Goddess & Rebirth by Skie Fortress

 

Seven years ago a couple of siblings, Renai and Ellis, were hunted by spectres after their parents were killed... then they met a strange creature of darkness that cursed them. Anyway it seems that after seven years they grown up as members of the church... but their traumatic experience with the occult forces will surely have some dire consequences.

Enters our hero (Leon) or heroine (Mai): Leon starts his adventuring days hunting monsters that are a menace for the travelling merchants, helped by Rod, Mai is instead a ninja that is exploring the forest with a junior ninja called Naru. However both heroes will be soon destined to face the forces of darkness...

Mystic Legends is 2006 fantasy rpg: it consists in explorations, battles and puzzles, but the game also offers a choice of the protagonist between two different heroes. The plot is also slightly different depending on this choice, but this won't really change the gameplay or the rest of the adventure. Aside from the prologue in the beginning that's linear, the rest of the game doesn't gives lots of guidance or indications to the player, leaving the freedom to explore and progress.

 

Download Link

Rmarchiv.de 

 

Random Fact: the last version, is the demo version nr. 4, but Title folder of the game contains also the old title screens of the previous versions of the game. These show a different title, Death Bring Angelix, surely the previous title of the game.

 

 

Final Verdict: a classic jrpg adventure game and unfortunately one of these that were never completed. Nice maps and pleasant graphics, includes some puzzles and many battles.