Dust and Salt
Dust and Salt
| Genre | RPG |
| Version | 1.1.3 |
| Campaign | Yes |
| Game Length | 2-5 hours |
| Difficulty modes | 1 |
| Achievements | easy to average |
Dust and Salt is a text-based narrative mixture of adventure and RPG.
– Real player with 9.3 hrs in game
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I enjoyed playing this game, have not tried anything similar before, apart from gamebooks of course. I am really happy to see a new Bulgarian studio releasing a game of such genre, storytelling and graphics. I am thrilled to see some additions in the patches and a future game of similar type from Prime Games.
Nonetheless, I have some things on mind that I would like to propose and would be happy to see you consider them.
- I know it is about reading and making decisions but the game would definitely benefit from a more stategic-like combat. I guess you could add a magic type of troops that cast certain spells from a spellbook, you know like in Heroes of Might and Magic.
– Real player with 9.1 hrs in game
The Story Goes On
**NOTE
This review was written back in June, months before I was hired onto the staff as an official dev. Everything down below I’ve written from a non-biased, early-access perspective and will remain unchanged.**
If you like top-down hack’n’slash type games such as the original Zelda games or random maze generated gameplay like in the Binding of Isaac, then this may tickle your fancy. The Story Goes on [Although Currently in Early Access] is a fun-fast paced game with hidden secrets and unique items.
– Real player with 65.3 hrs in game
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Due to an undying love for arcade, indie, dungeon crawlers and HnS games I unashamedly asked the dev for a key so I could try this game out and review it. Nobody was hurt in the process. But here’s the thread so you know.
Check TL;DR at bottom of review if this is too long for you.
The past few days have been spent milling around inside this squeaky clean indie game with a handful of baddies and critters, all of us sort of gliding from dungeon to dungeon in a place deemed a maze and called by the rather grandiose name of, The Odyssey. Having realised there must be some sort of lore, it felt essential to plop on my deerstalker cap and produce some yummy Googley searches. The results were thankfully plump lore of where we are introduced to our main protagonist, seven year old Aidan. Of our four diversly skilled characters (three of which you unlock through hidden puzzles), Aidan is the one you’re stuck with in the beginning. A trifle “young” for my taste, I only played him a few times before moving onto my favourite and more recent addition to the team, Gambit the Void Slayer (flailing his ninja arms back in true Naruto fashion will confuse your sense of direction in the beginning, plenty of in-game references to many other delightful characters like this). But more on that later since the story goes on (couldn’t resist the chance pun). On one fateful night Aidan’s brother tells Aidan the tale of their grandfather, a man whose thirst for hidden riches takes him to a mystical place called the Odyssey where it is said treasure buried deep in the dungeon awaits those brave enough to search for it. It is a treacherous maze of the Scar, a gang of thieves operating under a dark leader Staz. Thirty years passed and to this day nobody knows what happened to their grandfather, seemingly lost forever in the depths of this strange world. In hindsight the current EA version of this game at the time of writing this review doesn’t implement this lore much and stays bromidic in-game. Where there is a story if you want it, it doesn’t suffice as a form of narrative within the game itself. Players are greeted by the trusty shopkeeper, Bob who offers hints and helpful in-game factoids to ease any progression difficulties for the newbie or aid unlocking secrets. This lessens the feeling of emptyness of hearing your own voice echo against the walls of the maze.
– Real player with 23.3 hrs in game
Helvetii
Character-action set in ancient Swiss Gaul
Around a hundred years BC, all of Gaul is far from Roman control. In the lands controlled by the Helvetii, a Roman legion was subjugated by young warchief Divico, blessed by an ancient boon brought to him from parts unknown.
However, this victory came at a great cost, as soon the result of the war chief’s pact would turn into a curse; an ever spreading rot crawling through his land, and slowly corrupting his mind and heart. Monsters and cultists start appearing throughout the land, and a shadowy figure makes his move, taking advantage of the chaos he helped create.
With the help of the trusted yet reclusive druid Nammeios and the curious half-beast Renart, Divico sets his journey to undo the source of the rot and restore what was lost inside him. Through his own martial prowess and powers conferred by the old gods, the fight ahead promises to be intense.
THREE UNIQUE CHARACTERS
A disgruntled war chief, a snarky fox or a wise druid. Three characters with their unique playstyle and special attacks that will help you dominate the legions of monsters.
Regardless of whatever items or summons you find, you will never be completely helpless in Helvetii. Regardless of power ups, your core moveset will always feel complete from the get-go.
EASY TO LEARN, HARD TO MASTER STYLISH ACTION
With a wide variety of abilities and situations, it’s not just about finishing the fight, but doing it in style!
Take your time to master each character with acrobatic combos, using the terrain at your advantage and mercilessly juggling your opponent for the highest ranks, and highest rewards.
THE GIFTS OF THE GODS AT YOUR COMMAND
Lost treasures, ancient burial mounds, curious owl shopkeepers and altars containing the essence of powerful gods await you, scattered across the land.
Harness powerful summons and obtain items that will give you even more options in a fight.
A PRECISE, VISCERAL EXPERIENCE SET IN A CAREFULLY CRAFTED WORLD
With a closed-in camera, carefully detailed 2D environments and an enchanting soundtrack composed by Dale North and sung by Emi Evans, get thrusted into intense combat scenarios that keep you close to the action
THE SECRETS OF THE GAUL
Discover the ancient Celtic world of the Gauls, mixed in with more unique legends from Swiss and Germanic folklore. Journey from yet untamed forests to abandoned villages overtaken by cultists, merciless snowy caps, underground tunnels and beyond…
We have now been working for a while on Helvetii from our humble studio here in Switzerland. Our primary goal is to share our love for precise and intense character action mechanics by making absolutely sure combat is fine-tuned and always enjoyable, mixed with the best art we can provide. This is a project we’ve been caring a lot for a long time, and we really hope our excitement will reach all the players out there!
We wish to thank anyone who shares our passion and decides to support and believe in us. Let’s all do our best!
- Hoot and Ironbell, from Team KwaKwa
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