Scarlet Deer Inn has Kevin curious with its charming medieval look. However he didn’t anticipate a darkish story twist.
I simply wished to ship cake! I wish to shout on the man who’s menacingly approaching me along with his sword drawn. However as a substitute, my character Elise slowly backs away, out of the blue stumbles and falls down a darkish shaft. This escalated shortly!
However it began so harmlessly. I found Scarlet Deer Inn as a free demo on the Steam Subsequent Fest and was instantly enchanted by the screenshots.
They promised an idyllic medieval village populated by hand-stitched (!) folks and animals. And an emotional story with fascinating characters. None of that was a lie, however I nonetheless hadn’t anticipated the sudden flip the story took.
A misleading medieval idyll
Firstly, my impression appears to be confirmed. As a tavern proprietor and mom, I deal with some on a regular basis duties, discuss to villagers and the native priest, get aggravated with a cussed donkey and deal with my daughter. The meanest right here is the granny, who makes everybody run errands.
Within the first couple of minutes, I notably benefit from the well-executed medieval ambiance. I stroll via the alleys of my small village, which thankfully will not be stuffed with grime, because the cliché would have it, and take a look at the half-timbered and wood homes.
I’m not simply out right here sightseeing, although, as a result of Grandma desires me to ship some truffles to her pals and acquaintances. I even have to consider issues like ensuring I ship the baked items with out a crispy crust to the correct neighbor – he’s an alcoholic and, on prime of that, an simply irritated fellow.
That is the place it turns into clear that not all the pieces is okay in my village. However I don’t assume something of it. That’s simply how life is typically.
A grisly discovery
When the cussed donkey lastly cleared the best way, I enterprise out of the village, as a result of the following cake is for the beekeeper. After I don’t meet him at his farmstead, however I hear noises from the cellar, I determine to take a look – in any case, Granny ought to be glad.
Unsuspecting, I stroll into the vault, which is surprisingly massive, and hold strolling. Slowly, an oppressive feeling creeps up on me. I step right into a room stuffed with blocks of ice – and on the finish, on a sort of altar, lies a baby, immobile and with closed eyes. Earlier than I can take into consideration what is occurring right here, I hear a sword being drawn behind me…
A Witcher sport from the angle of a tavern landlady?
From that second on, Scarlet Deer Inn actually does remind me a variety of The Witcher. That is because of the mixture of an Japanese European medieval setting and an apparently very darkish story, by which monsters from Slavic folklore additionally lurk. The songs on the soundtrack, performed on conventional devices (by the 2 builders themselves), reinforce this impression.
After my encounter with the murderous beekeeper,my idyllic morning shortly turns right into a struggle for survival Within the corridors of an outdated mine, I hurry from fireplace bowl to fireside bowl – as a result of lethal creatures await within the darkness. My solely assistance is a awful torch that hardly burns for half a minute earlier than I’ve to relight it.
So I search for hidden passages and levers to slowly make my manner ahead. The little puzzles don’t get too arduous, I simply need to work together with objects round me. Utilizing sure gadgets from the stock in the correct place, then again, doesn’t appear to be an choice. It’s questionable whether or not the gameplay will turn into way more assorted.
However, Scarlet Deer Inn is already thrilling with the start of its story, which leaves many questions unanswered. Who is aware of what darkish secret lurks within the mountains awaiting discovery?
The editorial workforce’s conclusion
Like the opposite 20 or so demos I wished to check out at Steam Subsequent Fest, I didn’t take an in depth take a look at Scarlet Deer Inn earlier than enjoying it. However I’m glad I attempted it and I’m already wanting ahead to the completed sport, which doesn’t but have a launch date.
As a result of the journey simply feels very very similar to The Witcher to me, which I additionally love for its nice and distinctive ambiance. Scarlet Deer Inn additionally combines a sober and gloomy medieval world with eerie tales and Slavic myths.
In fact, the query stays as to how lengthy and the way nicely the journey can inform its story and keep the good ambiance of the start. Because the sport is being developed by solely a two-person growth workforce, you in all probability shouldn’t anticipate an excessive amount of scope. However Scarlet Deer Inn may make up for that with how lovingly it’s designed.
