Coming soon, a new Irish adventure by husband and wife team Gulbrandr studio.
Going to do something a little different with this - not all indie game devs make demo's. A demo often represents extra costs that they simply can't afford, whether that be in money or in time. It feels unfortunate that they, and we, could miss out on a potentially great game because of that. So let's take a quick look at the available information.
LOOP intends to be a visual novel with puzzles, 5 endings and a HEAVY Irish fairytale feel and setting. The writing looks like it'll be quite something, as Ann Grá has some pretty impressive writing chops - a multiple times Hugo finalist as co-editor of Journey Planet, a poet and author, as well as Irish cinema festival organiser and lecturer, she knows her stuff and I'm hoping to see the same diligence in LOOP. Irish folklore is a fertile ground for creation and with her background, there should be a fair bit of depth and layering.
Built in Unity by Roman Gerkin, long-time game maker, if it's anything like his most recent offerings we should get a smooth, functional experience with a focus on functionality and in-game comfort rather than bells and whistles. This isn't an insult - there's no point in having a fancy looking game if you can't play it without having a migraine, a seizure, or growing an extra set of thumbs.
That's not to say it won't look good and have interesting mechanics and effects - but we'll have to wait for release before we know for certain.
In regard to the story, you play as Deirdre, a young woman whose husband has disappeared. Ruari seems to have been claimed by the fae to be king, and so she travels deeply into the forest looking for him and answers.
The artwork is beautiful, really captures the feel of the mythology whilst having that manga look that helps visual novels to attract their audience and to be very appealing. Simple lines, basic eye design, makes a human (or fairy) facsimile that is bright, and able to display emotion in a way that is both fast to read and understandable. The background art is very charming with the heavier lines and colours helping to make the characters stand out whilst making the sense of the envirnment nice and cohesive. You know what you are looking at and what to expect in that area.
That's it. Not much else to say at the moment, but if this sounds like it may be something you'd enjoy, you can find LOOP on Steam HERE.
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