|
Your donations keep RPGWatch running!
RPGWatch Forums
» Comments
» News Comments
»
RPGWatch Feature - Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones Review
RPGWatch Feature - Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones Review
January 14th, 2020, 13:55
Forgottenlor has reviewed Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones, an RPG set in a Lovecraft universe.
Turned out of my ancestral home by a mob of cultists and gangsters, and with only loyal butler Werner helping me, I wake up from a horrible dream in a seedy tavern in the city of Arkham. That was the beginning of my aristocratic character's journey into Stygian. Stygian is a horror RPG based on the pen and paper RPG Call of Cthulu, which in turn is inspired by the works of horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. In Stygian you don't play a hero, but at best a somewhat capable person who has to survive unimaginable horrors. And in this case survival doesn't only mean not dying, but also not succumbing entirely to madness. As a result, you'll find that having your character run away from battle or taking drugs or drinking alcohol is often preferable to fighting against hopeless odds and using up precious ammunition or spiraling into insanity. Stygian's visuals are drawn out of pulp comics, and this along with its unusual mechanics and setting make it a pretty unique RPG, which stands out against the mass of fantasy, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic RPGs flooding the market. But Stygian is also a game made on a tight budget, and unfortunately that limits its otherwise excellent potential.More information.
--
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. Douglas Adams
There are no facts, only interpretations. Nietzsche
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. Oscar Wilde
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. Douglas Adams
There are no facts, only interpretations. Nietzsche
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. Oscar Wilde
+1: |
January 14th, 2020, 15:32
Stygian was the winner of our poll of what we should review next, so here is the promised review.
In addition to Stygian, I'd be happy to answer any questions about the other games in the poll, as I probably won't have time to review them.
In addition to Stygian, I'd be happy to answer any questions about the other games in the poll, as I probably won't have time to review them.
+1: |
January 14th, 2020, 18:32
Good review. Probably similar to how I felt after 10 hours. I never finished it but mostly because the combat felt very underwhelming which is important to me.
I'll probably try again at some point…
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
I'll probably try again at some point…
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
January 14th, 2020, 21:34
Thanks for the review, Forgottenlor. I've still not played this one, hoping to get around to it soon and this coverage is likely to increase that possibility!

SasqWatch
January 14th, 2020, 21:50
Well I must say this game was a huge disappointment. Still it must be said the developers deserve credit for trying to fix it with post launch fixes & updates.
--
"Good people do all the things bad people do. It's just that when they do them, they call it justice.”
"Good people do all the things bad people do. It's just that when they do them, they call it justice.”
Last edited by Couchpotato; January 15th, 2020 at 03:55.
Reason: Missing a letter
January 15th, 2020, 14:51
The ending is one of the most disliked parts of the game.
I will not play it myself because of that. Stories that end with a loose cliffhanger like that completely sour the experience for me.
Once a sequel has been properly announced and guaranteed to actually release, I will give this a go.
I will not play it myself because of that. Stories that end with a loose cliffhanger like that completely sour the experience for me.
Once a sequel has been properly announced and guaranteed to actually release, I will give this a go.
January 15th, 2020, 15:43
Thanks for the review.
Stygian is a horror RPG based on the pen and paper RPG Call of CthuluWhere did you read this?
--
contributed to: Age of Decadence | Dead State | Battle Brothers | Fell Seal+DLC | Stygian | Realms Beyond
working on: Colony Ship RPG | Encased | ATOM RPG+DLC | Black Geyser | Chernobylite | King's Bounty 2
contributed to: Age of Decadence | Dead State | Battle Brothers | Fell Seal+DLC | Stygian | Realms Beyond
working on: Colony Ship RPG | Encased | ATOM RPG+DLC | Black Geyser | Chernobylite | King's Bounty 2
January 15th, 2020, 20:02
Originally Posted by screegRight from the homepage most likely:
Thanks for the review.
Where did you read this?
"Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones" is a supernatural horror roleplaying video game which takes place in the strange worlds of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. It's been a year since the awakening of The Great Old Ones and the Earth is dead. Stygian will draw the player into a bleak journey from a ruined Arkham to the very depths of the Abyss.
It doesn't come out and say Call of Cthulu, but I bet that's because of legal reasons.
--
c-computer, r-role, p-playing, g-game, nut-extreme fan
=crpgnut or just
'nut @crpgnut
aka survivalnut
c-computer, r-role, p-playing, g-game, nut-extreme fan
=crpgnut or just
'nut @crpgnut
aka survivalnut
January 16th, 2020, 17:39
Thank you for another great review, Forgottenlor!! 
Do you think this game has a replay value? Is it really worth replaying it once you finished it?

Do you think this game has a replay value? Is it really worth replaying it once you finished it?
--
Sou tricolor de coração!
Sie sind das Essen und Wir sind die Jäger!
Sou tricolor de coração!
Sie sind das Essen und Wir sind die Jäger!
January 16th, 2020, 19:22
Originally Posted by screegI played the pen and paper Call of Cthulu game as a student. I was gamemaster for a number of games, and when I meet my university friends (most summers I go to the U.S. and we meet) I will occasionally run a game, though more often we play Pathfinder, Vampire, or Dungeons and Dragon. So I can with some certainty that the makers borrowed a lot from the pen and paper game.
Thanks for the review.
Where did you read this?
January 16th, 2020, 19:36
Originally Posted by henriquejrI can only speak for myself. For me to want to replay a game a few things have to happen.
Thank you for another great review, Forgottenlor!!
Do you think this game has a replay value? Is it really worth replaying it once you finished it?
*I have to really enjoy playing the game.
*There has to be paths that were shut off to me, because I was playing a character build which couldn't support it or. . .
*There have to be different narrative routes (because of different backgrounds or different companions or. . .
*There have to be very different mechanical builds which allow very different approaches to combat.
Games I've replayed in the last years include Pillars of Eternity, Fallout 3, Icewind Dale 2, Might and Magic X, Vampire: Bloodlines and Wizardry 8.
One of the games I put up on the poll was Trails of Cold Steel, and even though I found it a great and memorable game, the story is very linear (though not the gameplay) so I don't see myself replaying it.
In Stygian though I'd like to try out a different background, different companions, and different skills than I had in my first playthrough. It's hard to really say how much different the game would play out, but I'm intrigued enough to give it a try at some point.
+1: |
RPGWatch Forums
» Comments
» News Comments
»
RPGWatch Feature - Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones Review
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
All times are GMT +2. The time now is 19:31.