Dreamate with New Arc Line brings a CRPG with a Steampunk flavor to early access. A promising and ambitious title with many lights but also several shadows.
New Arc Line is an early access project that focuses on the RPG genre. It was the 2000s when Baldur’s Gate 2 changed the gaming lives of many players. An incredible number of characters, the interactions with them and with the world, the importance of the choices made and the consequences. All with combat that follow the rules of the D&D manuals.
With this I don’t mean to say that New Arc Line is the spiritual heir of the old BioWare, but it certainly draws a lot of inspiration.
Trying this game brought to mind some classics of the genre, both in style and gameplay ideas.
Let’s see how New Arc Line presents itself, net of the defects mostly due to the early access condition.
Aesthetic References and Narrative Context
The stylistic approach of New Arc Line clearly refers to the Steampunk universe. Imagine a Victorian era metropolis where technology is developed in an anachronistic way. In this context, magic and technology collide. Sorcerers once ruled the planet, but now the industrial revolution is coming. New Arc is the capital and bastion of the technological revolution and the redemption of the human being.
It will be up to us to choose which side we take and tip the scales towards magic or technology.
As our avatar we arrive in New Arc with the hope of finding a cure for the disease that afflicts our family. We will soon discover that something else is hidden under the light of the human and industrial revolution. Corruption, racism, hypocrisy, we will have to get our hands dirty and make uncomfortable decisions to survive this new world. I felt the same feeling as when I saw Columbia, the flying city in Bioshock Infinite.
Characters, Classes and Traits
In the character creation screen we can choose for now between human or elf, male or female.
There are 2 classes: the Voodoo Shaman and the Diesel Engineer. They represent the dichotomy present between the two factions of the game.
Each class is then expanded with traits. Traits affect both statistics and the distribution of ability scores. As in any role-playing game, it is up to us to add the remaining stat and skill points as we wish. Fortunately, the game explains statistics well and their function in terms of gameplay. Just hover over the skill or statistic and the window with the explanation will appear.
The Voodoo Shaman currently has 8 traits to choose from, while the Diesel Engineer only has 6.
Game Design and Interactions
New Arc Line looks like a classic CRPG with turn-based combat. The choice between two game modes is interesting: the classic one or the narrative one.
Aesthetically it recalls titles like Baldur’s Gate 2, especially in the stylistic choice and management of the characters. From the first steps we understand how fundamental our character’s skills are. Like a game of D&D we can use skills with a roll of the dice.
We can decide to deceive, intimidate, or charm those in front of us to complete the quests. In fact, problems are not solved only with violence, we can often find alternative solutions. The well-structured dialogues give us various solutions, all we need to do is roll the dice and add the score of the chosen skill. If the result is equal to or less than the pre-established check, we have passed the test. There are also ability checks, lifting or forcing a door, or evaluating a situation with wisdom.
The Narrator and Dialogues
The figure of the narrator is interesting, a voice-over who describes and narrates the story. Sometimes it will start “observe checks” which, if passed, will indicate the areas of interest on the map. Even if the check fails, it doesn’t seem to compromise anything, just an extra facility.
Obviously the dialogues, remembering the choices made and consistency are rewarded. Our actions can increase or decrease the bond and respect that our allies feel for us. Reading carefully helps to find creative solutions, it is also worth bribing someone. In fact, the game does not take the player by the hand even if there is a diary where the quests are very clear.
Looking to loot around rewards in these genres, you can find very interesting and strong items. The map is well designed and the part of the city that can be explored at the beginning can make you lost. Don’t worry because you get used to it and the secondary quests also help you orient yourself.
Combat, Crafting and Inventory
Obviously turn-based combat is one of the fundamental elements of the game. Each character controlled by the player has his own turn depending on the initiative he has. We have the movement and the actions to take. The actions that can be used in battle mainly depend on the weapon you equip. Each weapon, like equipment, is not wearable by everyone. Depending on the class and traits there are weapons and equipment that we will not be able to use. The positioning and management of the party plays a fundamental role. In fact, you can choose different formations and whether to put some members in the front line or in the back. Moving or moving away from the opponent’s threat area generates an attack of opportunity. Ranged players can also do a similar thing but for ranged attacks.
In addition to loot, being in a steampunk world, we can craft our own equipment. With the right materials and blueprints, we can create weapons and equipment for ourselves and our companions.
But be careful! I crafted a pair of boots only to find out they weren’t wearable by any of my characters.
The inventory is managed by the player and it is up to us to decide who to entrust the objects and equipment to. Unfortunately this is one of the critical points because it has several bugs. In these games it is very important to manage the inventory well because you spend a lot of time managing items and equipment. Usually we tend to collect a lot of material and its management must be simple. Unfortunately, changing equipment is not immediate and must be optimized. Furthermore, there is a bug where, once interacted with the vendors, all the items return to the protagonist’s inventory. Imagine my joy!
My Two Cents
New Arc Line is certainly an ambitious project that wants to retrace the glories of old school CRPGs. Dialogues, mature situations, ethically difficult choices to make. Let alone suffer the consequences. The early access part, although short, offers many ideas for those who know how to search. Every corner of the city offers something, even fun ideas. Like crafting armor for a fighting rooster or paying a fishman with sardines to tell us jokes. The setting is good, considering the mix between steampunk and magical creatures of all sorts.
The fights have a good basis but need to be enriched, especially the variety of classes, weapons and enemies. Better choices and skill checks in interactions with characters. The fact that the dice roll can fail gives that extra thrill.
New Arc Line is not free from defects, which are very much linked to being in early access and can be traced back to the technical level. Slowdowns, textures that don’t load, animations that are too basic are elements that need to be fixed. Some backgrounds, however, are beautiful and well designed.
The inventory, as mentioned before, must be cleaned of bugs and imprecise controls.
Net of these problems, I hope that the work on the product continues so as to see it grow over time.
Steam key received from developers.
