A new team of 3, going under the name After1mage 1nteractive, is coming out with a 2D old-school pixel art style JRPG. Their game, SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1, will be dropping a prologue demo at the end of March.
SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1 – What is it?
The Steam Page for the game lists it as an adventure-style game where you fight to stop a king from ruining his kingdom, made with old-school 2D pixel art. It features tactical shared ATB-style turn-based systems for combat, with elemental mastery and timing elements to give players options but also keep them on their toes. The dev team says SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1 is a narrative-driven game, inspired by classic JRPGs from the early PlayStation era and SNES. Those who want a touch of nostalgia might find the demo worth trying.
SoulStream Saga’s Story
SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1 Announcement via YouTube Channel AFTER1MAGE 1NTERACTIVE
No game is complete without some form of conflict, but the game After1mage 1nteractive’s is building, and an uprising brews in the capital city of Alestria. The struggle happens between two rival factions, Alchemists and Mages, both saying that their faction is the one that will lead Alestria to a better future. This feud will tear Alestria apart instead of creating unity, with civilians paying the real price.
There is, however, a Mage who believes the answer to Alestria’s salvation is unity. This will be who we play as in the demo, the illustrious Astarius Valcrest, who has left his title and embarked on an adventure to study alchemy. His goal is to bridge the gap between Mages and Alchemists, creating a unified front to save and shape his city’s future.
Years later, SoulStream Saga brings Astarius back, bringing with him a blade he forged by his own hands. This sword he crafted is infused with magic and alchemy, named Alchaeon. Together with his trusted companion, he strikes out to prove that the unity between both factions is possible, and it will become Alestria’s true salvation.
As a century comes to pass, what he sought to facilitate stands. A new danger is on the horizon, though, as the King, father of Princess Victoria Lockewell, has been descending into a state of madness. He could cause everything Astarius built to fall into ruin. In an act of desperation, Princess Victoria depends on a forbidden incantation to bring the illustrious Astarius back to save them from destruction.
Notes About The Demo VS The Planned Game
SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1 prologue is a free demo with the intent to showcase the narrative of the game and give players a chance to see the combat. This is a prequel to the full story, not the gameplay itself that they have planned yet. In this prequel, Astarius is set to max level to allow players to see what his full abilities are.
The team discloses that the project was done in only a few months by a team of 3, making note that those who play the demo will most likely encounter bugs and performance issues. As their first project, feedback would be very valuable to them. Test for bugs, game-breaking problems, but give depth to your reviews and feedback. No team, no matter how big, can make such a game with limited information and details.
What SoulStream Saga is expected to have once completed is a set of 3 characters during combat, with a total of 7 party members that are recruitable and can be developed over time. Each character has their own unique skill tree, allowing for diverse builds and playstyles.
There are approximately 40+ hours worth of overall story content with lore and expanded narrative, exploring the world 100 years after the war and the consequences of their actions. There are going to be presentations using enhanced art, visual effects, lighting, and an original score. SoulStream Saga will include minigames such as treasure hunting, fishing, and a unique playable trading card game.
What else awaits players with the full game? Only time will tell. Likewise, you can check out their Discord Server, where they plan to release development updates, patch notes, and announcements, with dedicated channels for bug reports and feedback suggestions.
