User:MJesio/Book of Demons

Book of Demons is an isometric hack'n'slash game with elements of action role-palying created by Thing Trunk studio. The game is available on Steam since fall 2016. The game was originally developed for Microsoft Windows, but the developers informed about plans to release it also on Xbox One. Book of Demons is the first instalment of Return 2 Games series that aims to bring classic hardcore genres to broader audiences. The game features unusual art style - all elements of the game (starting from GUI and ending with monsters) are visualised as papercuttings and pop-up book elements, and such style defines visual framework for the whole series. The game also brings some novelties to the genre - the card system which replaces equipment and skills systems typical for hack'n'slashes, the Flexiscope feature which allows players to control duration of a game session and movement restricted to a path which add a tactical element to the gameplay.

World and plot
The world created in the game relates to the classics of hack'n'slash genre. The action takes place in the Paperverse, more specifically in the dungeons beneath the cathedral standing in Town. In the depths of the maze under the cathedral, a new evil has awakened and threatens the lives of the locals. Their only hope is the help of a wandering hero, player's character, who starts the crusade against the Ultimate Evil.

In the dungeons player meets most of the monster typical for games set in dark fantasy settings - ghosts, spiders, goatmen, demons, skeletons, zombies and gargoyles. Above the ground, in the Town, the player can interact with four citizens - the Sage, the Fortune-Teller, the Barmaid and the Healer, who build the story of the game through rumours. Citizens of the Town also provide various services :
 * Sage - identifies cards found by the player and writes the Bestiary.
 * Fortune-Teller - upgrades player's cards, recharges them and fuses Rune cards used for upgrades.
 * Barmaid - brews a stew from ingredients found in the dungeons and exchanges it for various prizes.
 * Healer - heals the player, brings him back to Town after death and charges Death Rage skill.

Classes
In Book of Demons players can choose from three classes, each characterized by a different playstyle and set of class cards.
 * Warrior - character specialised in melee combat and defensive skills, relies heavly on Artefact cards.
 * Mage - character specialised in ranged attacks and offensive Spell cards, which utilize mana resource.
 * Rogue - character wich mixes melee and ranged styles, focused on using Item cards.

Card system
The card system is an uniquely implemented mechanic in hack'n'slash genre. It replaces skills, statistics and equipment. In Book of Demons player can choose from three types of cards and then build own hand : Every card has three variants (common, magic offeringone additional effect, and legendary with two additional effects one unique to that card) and can be upgraded up to three times.
 * Items - cards that can be used limited amount of times and which have to be charged by the Fortune-Teller in exchange for gold.
 * Spells - skills and spells which require mana to be used.
 * Artifacts - cards with passive effects that reduce the amount of mana.

Development
The development of the game started with the establishment of Thing Trunk studio and initially only the founders of the company (earlier co-funders of Codeminion and Twin Bottles) participated in the project. Book of Demons was meant to be a light and humoristic tribute to classic games from hack'n'slash genre made in the '90s. The game is created in CUG - an in-house Thing Trunk's engine focused mainly on 2D graphics. In the second half of 2016 the project entered Early Access stage and at the end of this year the developers released a free demo of the game. At the beginning of 2018 the team of developers consisted of 7 employees.

Reception
Since mid 2016 Book of Demons is in Early Access and during that stage the game is being received well by the users of Steam platform, maintaining the average rating of players' reviews on "overwhelmingly positive" level. Critics refer to the game cautiously, refraining from reviews until the release date, however there are some opinions already - Khee Hoon Chan (Unwinnable) commend the game for flexibility in terms of progression and possible play styles, mentioning also that removing the statistics mechanics denies players the opportunity to immerse with their heroes more deeply. Game Spot reviewers Rafał Kurpiewski (Polygamia.pl) and Szymon Liebert (TVGry) admit that even though the game is heavily inspired on old hack and slash games there is still a lot of originality in it to refresh the genre (citing cards system, restriction of movement and boss mechanics), while noting similarities in stories told in Book of Demons and Diablo games.