Fairies with firearms, goblins with glockenspiels, legumes with lightning powers and a meat-based financial system. That’s Shadows Over Loathing in a nutshell, and it’s one of the crucial hilariously distinctive RPGs I’ve performed in an extended whereas.
Developed by Uneven Publications, Shadows Over Loathing was initially launched for PC and Mac late final 12 months and now hits the Change. The sport is a sequel to 2017’s West of Loathing, which was, in flip, a spin-off of the browser-based multiplayer RPG Kingdom of Loathing, first launched by Uneven in 2003. Shadows Over Loathing options the identical hand-drawn stick-figure type and zany sense of humour that led to the collection’ cult following however as a standalone journey it’s truthful recreation for followers and newcomers alike.
After being summoned by your uncle to Ocean Metropolis, a run-down, hobo-stricken city in prohibition-era America, you’ll be thrown head-first into some humorous enterprise and have to resolve some doggone mysteries. There’s not-so-organised crime, a race of fishmen, and a home of tentacles and that’s simply within the first chapter. And by jove, there’s an entire lot extra to see!
Gameplay-wise, Shadows Over Loathing doesn’t reinvent the RPG, however does the whole lot proper. I’m speaking lessons, perks, talent checks, gear, random encounters, and all that jazz. Regardless of a little bit little bit of problem in earlier fight conditions, I’ve acquired nothing unhealthy to say (and even then, in the event you die in an encounter you’ll respawn simply earlier than it). And there’s additionally a little bit little bit of point-and-click and text-based journey video games tossed in for good measure. Really a whole lot of textual content so I hope you’re within the temper to learn!
However its the writing, worldbuilding and a focus to element that actually make Shadows Over Loathing stand tall. The humour is top-notch, continually poking enjoyable on the style’s tropes, breaking the fourth-wall and simply being usually goofy. The humour doesn’t stand in the best way of the ambiance both – regardless of how zany the sport is there’s a whole lot of story in a world that actually feels lived in.
The locals and the locales are all nice and all add a little bit one thing to the sport, be it a quest or only a convo. And like I stated, the eye to element is wonderful. Throughout one puzzle I attempted to get by a poisonous fuel cloud sporting a fuel masks then a diver’s helmet, each to no avail. After I went again to talk to the character whose quest had led me there he talked about the very headgear I’d simply tried and identified the dumb online game logic as to why that resolution wouldn’t work. Nice stuff.
Shadows Over Loathing is sensible. The journey RPG stuff works effectively, the comedy is true up my alley and there’s a lot to see and do. I actually stored pondering it was so good that it had have a brief runtime however nope, the chapters simply hold rolling in. Ocean Metropolis is the place to be!
Ranking 5/5
