FADE, THE FIRST CHAPTER - In Steam Early Access

FADE, THE FIRST CHAPTER is described as a Third person RPG focused on dungeon crawling, questing, and crafting. The game is currently in Steam Early Access. The latest update talks about combat system improvements.

In this update multiple changes are made to the combat system to improve different facets of how you handle companions, stun and take down foes, and also heal. Notable changes also include 5 new questlines and 32 new pieces of equipment. Alongside this there are also brand new areas and a multitude of changes to old areas to freshen the gameplay.

Also a brand new trailer has been added to better depict the current status of the game.

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STORY

Awaken in a cursed land covered in a violent miasma that forces man to devolve to their most primal senses and take on new forms. Bear the burden of a dark spirit wishing for your only course of action to be the death of all those around you. Face countless foes on your way collect the lost shards of the Oathbreaker, an ancient blade said to open doors to new realities.
Taking on destructive creatures on your journey to gather each shard.

FEATURES

• Stamina Management based combat system - The player has access to 10 different weapon types and can learn new skills for each weapon type, selecting two to use at will. Every skill the player uses consumes stamina and leads to tight situations when over used.
• Decision Based Dialogue System - Situations play out for the player and lead to vastly different objectives based on how they choose dialogue options. Some NPCs can get to know the player and slowly build a connection to the player, eventually offering additional interactions.
• NPC Based Quest System - The NPCs in the game are the driving force of the plot. Each quest will center around different characters and the actions you take will have different effects to them and the world around you.
• Soul Seat System - As the player rises in level the dark spirit, Kaithe shall force them to face a person he once possessed in order to prove they are worthy to gain more of his strength. Until the challenge is passed they are locked away from leveling up any further.
• Kaithe Release System - The player is embodied by a dark spirit. As enemies fall in battle they release an aura of their hope. Collecting these regenerates your health as well as builds up a meter to release the dark spirits powers.
• Travel Based Ingredient/Crafting System - Potions require special ingredients to be crafted which can be found around the land in areas where they thrive. A night blossom is found most commonly at night in full bloom. Some ingredients can only be found in precarious locations.
  
  Within each chapter, the player is tasked with breaking through forces that have entrapped and estranged travelers from distant lands alongside horrific creatures. The hero awakes with no knowledge of his surroundings and only has their fragmented memories to comfort them. Despite being a new resident of this dangerous land, they may be the only one who is capable of freeing the people from their endless curse. All the while the hero must bear the burden of his curse, a never ending life as a puppet to a dark spirit.

More information.

I used to look forward to Soulslike games because it was a formula that was fun, challenging and unique, and made it a very engaging experience. Now the market is bombed with Soulslike games that are neither fun, challenging or unique anymore, and being a Soulslike is more of a negative descriptor than a positive one.

Hopefully this game will be good, I'll keep an eye on it towards its full release, with very low expectations.

Meh Souls-Like games are the new Diablo Clones. All it takes is someone making a working formula that sells, and hundreds of others try to emulate that same formula.

The graphics look ok, will have to see how the combat is when the game is released. Will likely be passing.

Originally Posted by Couchpotato
Meh Souls-Like games are the new Diablo Clones. All it takes is someone making a working formula that sells, and hundreds of others try to emulate that same formula.

Souls-Like, X-Com-Like, Open World games.

I'm hoping this might be closer to something like Gothic or Two Worlds than a souls-like, but that might just be wishful thinking on my part. I noticed it does have that tag on Steam, but it also claims an in-depth dialogue system and crafting which most souls games don't have.