Hellbound: the Awakening is a dark fantasy, 2D dungeon crawler with some fantastic creative and innovative features that turn the genre on its head. Miki Manojlovic, the creator and one-man team developing the title, showed off a demo of the game at the recent Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo in Toronto in October, and he had a lot to say about the game.
As a nameless hero, players find themselves trapped in a mysterious mining village overrun by a black plaque. The only chance for salvation lies in a descent into the forsaken mine, which will eventually lead you to Hell itself. During the adventure, players will encounter many dark and twisted creatures inspired from both European folklore and Dante’s Divine Comedy.
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” That is the principle message Manojlovic relayed to visitors who stopped by to give the demo for Hellbound: the Awakening a try. What makes the game unique is the tarot-card reading that a player receives upon beginning a new game.
There is nothing one can do to control the outcome of these cards, and they will have a significant impact on your gameplay. Some readings provide an easy start to the game, and the progression will be simple. Other readings, meanwhile, force players into harder, less fair situations. The idea is that, much like in real life, people are born into entirely different circumstances. Some will have it easy, and others much harder, so players must do their best with what they have.
As a player descends into Hell, they will become more powerful based on their readings. The good news is that the worst tarot conditions will lead to powerful effects in the deepest parts of Hell, but one must struggle to make it that far. Different pathways, puzzles, abilities, areas, and bosses will be available depending on the cards that you receive, which should allow for some distinct replayability.
Get three of the worst cards at the same time, and your character will become terminally ill. With terminal illness, you will suddenly see a constant countdown timer until the player dies. Players will be able to extend their life for a short while, but death is inevitable. Once a player dies with terminal illness, the game will be over. With terminal illness, which will only occur in rare occasions, the player will be extremely strong, have the best and most unique abilities, and certain areas and bosses will be modified to be easier.
Hellbound: the Awakening will be releasing for PC on Steam, and Manojlovic expressed a desire to see the game on other consoles as well, though that has not yet been confirmed. The concept looks fantastic, and the game looks to be a great addition to any player’s library.
Source: hellboundtheawakening.com