MOONCREST: A New RPG from Former BioWare Team Knight Mayor
In recent years there has been a renaissance of sorts in the wide-reaching genre known as RPGs. Whether you’re looking for 8-bit dungeon raids, high fantasy MMOs, or sci-fi narrative-driven experiences, there is probably something out there for you. One of the best at the craft is Bioware. It turns out a small team of ex-Bioware developers have left the mothership, so to speak, and formed their own studio, Knight Mayor. The team certainly has a high pedigree, as they have worked on classics such as Jade Empire, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and the list goes on.
The games listed above are why their first title, Mooncrest, is so intriguing. At its heart, Mooncrest is a tale of two people finding their places in the world, and they require each other's help to do that. The game follows Sera, a newly minted Paladin who clings closely to her ideals but hasn’t experienced all the world has to offer. Along for the ride is Pirotase, a more than capable archer who has gotten by mostly on her street smarts and skill with a bow. While they will have to work together to uncover a plot full of conspiracy and political intrigue, that isn’t what has me so excited.
Bioware is known for crafting multilayered stories, but their character work is even more impressive; the characters are always interesting, whether you use them throughout your adventure or not. Sera and Pirotase, I imagine, will be no different. Of interest here is that those will be the only two in your party, so instead of splitting the focus amongst eight characters, the developers will be able to really home in on the relationship between just these two. I tend to not like when it is just my character alone roaming the countryside, and I’m looking forward to the lovely banter that these developers have been known for in the past.
Combat is also taking a slightly different approach. In their description of the game, they refer to it as a more Souls-like experience. Increased difficulty immediately springs to mind, but that could also just mean more moment to moment intensity brought to the battlefield. That is fine with me, and they also mention you can call shots from Pirotase, which will stagger an enemy, allowing Sera go in for the kill. Hopefully that kind of teamwork is found throughout and put to creative use. Knight Mayor is also implementing more puzzles into Mooncrest, and from the sound of it, we'll get something a bit more involved then finding the one or two switches needed to open a gate. They seem dedicated to making these puzzles an organic and important part of the game, as opposed to just an arbitrary hindrance to help pad game time.
While platforms for the game are unknown as this time, you can see a bit more about the game on their website here. Stay tuned for more information on this promising new RPG.
