Earlier last month, I entered The Stygian Abyss. Fraught with danger, despicable skeletons, and dastardly traps, I dared to dive deeper into its deadly depths. Today, you can follow a similar path, as Underworld Ascendant, the newest addition to the Underworld video game series, is now available on Steam.
I was recently given a hands-on extended demo of the game, along with a peek at advanced character and story progressions to see the level and experience boosts I would unlock further within the game. From the creative minds behind the System Shock, Thief, and Underworld series, the world was rich and engaging. I was able to test my hand at combat, stealth, and magic skills to develop my own delightful and surprising experience.
As the story unfolds, you are “summoned by a mysterious figure to The Stygian Abyss, a dangerous and constantly evolving dungeon world imperiled by the looming threat of the beast Typhon. To save this world, and yours – you must overcome complex challenges, uncover lost secrets and gain favor with factions to maximize your knowledge and strength. Utilize your environment to stack the odds in your favor. Devise the ideal plan to overcome the challenges you face or dive in and think on your feet.”
One of the most exciting game elements for me was skill development. Of the three classes presented, I chose to test out magic. A more advanced system of magic customization than I have experienced before had me mixing and matching runes to create spells. Blasting phantom fists into enemies, tossing spheres of flames, and teleporting through caverns had me hooked.
Others playing next to me chose the combat and stealth trees, and it sounded like they had an equally exciting time, as I heard them yell out as they were bashing through enemies and running up walls parkour-style. We each had our own unique experiences, interactions, and solutions to what was presented to us during the demo.
At each turn, a world full of objects and items allowed me to uniquely approach my quests. A varied armory of weapons and equipment could be combined with other items, such as light crystals and elemental arrows, to keep me well-armed. As I fatally stumbled forward, explosives and acid flasks could be picked up to deal with enemies at a distance. A word of fair warning: treat these as if you’ve stumbled across a precious fragile egg and be well aware not to accidentally knock your sword into them unless you’re looking to test their potency on your own skin... Immediately I thought of playing along with my friends and discussing how we each would choose to proceed. The thought of this openness and interactivity is extremely exciting.
For those who have played the earlier Underworld games, characters like Cabirus and the lizard men are back. Get ready for creative quick click uses of The Silver Seed and the Silver Sapling to get you back into the fight after a lost battle. As OtherSide Entertainment studio director Warren Spector and I discussed, “More than any specific object or character, one of the things that sets Underworld apart was that the world felt like a character. It felt like a believable place, and this game has the feeling of that same place, but after a disaster has befallen it. So you can see the transition, and this space that you're playing in now was once this thriving community of lizard men, knights, and dwarves. You can see how this world came to be if you know what the old world was like.”
The pursuit of the art of the immersive sim is a mantra etched in stone for the team at OtherSide Entertainment. Warren Spector said it well: “The magic of our media is that we're the first medium in human history that lets non-creative people or creative people be the authors of their own tales.” Their unflagging commitment to craft was very apparent at the demo experience, and I am very excited for gamers to experience Underworld Ascendant for themselves.
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Right now, there is a limited time purchase offer, so it’s best to get on over to Steam right away:
BUY WEEK 1 & RECEIVE BONUS ITEMS*:
2 Quest Companion Creatures:
- Vorpa: A herbivore that appears mild-mannered, but will launch itself at those nearby who are at extremely low health
- Mana Leech: It absorbs Mana in the world and when the player is low, it "fires" its reserve amount at the player
Map of The Stygian Abyss:
Digital map of the iconic Stygian Abyss that you'll be exploring in-game.
*Offer Valid 11/15/18 - 11/21/18
You can get a look at the immersive world of Underworld Ascendant in the screenshot gallery below. In case you missed it, check out our interview with legendary game designer and producer Warren Spector, read on for the Underworld Ascendant synopsis and trailer, and visit the game's official website for more information!
"From the creative minds behind the acclaimed Ultima Underworld®, System Shock and Thiefseries, in Underworld Ascendant®, Paul Neurath and Warren Spector’s OtherSide Entertainment challenges you to think creatively in an interactive sandbox environment.
You are summoned by a mysterious figure to The Stygian Abyss, a dangerous and constantly evolving dungeon world imperiled by the looming threat of the beast Typhon. To save this world, and yours – you must overcome complex challenges, uncover lost secrets and gain favor with factions to maximize your knowledge and strength. Utilize your environment to stack the odds in your favor. Devise the ideal plan to overcome the challenges you face or dive in and think on your feet.
Each decision holds great opportunity and grave consequence. What you leave behind will be engraved on the lives of others. Assuming you survive…"
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