Encased Preview
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Dark Crystal Games’ Fallout-inspired post-apocalyptic RPG Encased is the subject of this detailed RPGWatch preview. If you wouldn’t mind knowing more about this intriguing project, or would just like a refresher on what it’s all about, you should definitely check it out. Here’s a couple of quick snippets to get you started:
The game is pegged as "post-apocalyptic" because of some events occurring at the issue of the prologue and which I don't want to reveal. However, in my opinion, the resulting world has some post-apocalyptic features but remains quite organized and counts a number of facilities in relatively good state, so I would rather use the term "post-cataclysm" than "post-apocalypse".
The beginning of the prologue takes place in modern facilities built by the humans inside the dome, but the player soon gets the opportunity to travel between outposts and settlements, discovering other types of environments like desert wilderness, shanky towns, bunkers, and so on.
The wings we mentioned earlier are not only classes for the characters, they are factions too. But it doesn't stop there; later on in the game several other factions come to existence. The player's character earns a reputation with each of those factions and with each companion; this may sometimes have significant consequences. For example, I started striking doubtful deals with the Oranges, and one of my companions told me that he was feeling uneasy about that. I didn't pay enough attention so he finally got very upset and left me on the spot. Just like that.
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The game is pretty solid and I was impressed by the amount of dialogs, even if they are not pages-long they still give a lot of spoken and narrative content, and often provide the player with many choices. To me they just hit the soft spot. I was also favourably impressed by the quests and the flexibility to approach the problems. I don't know yet whether the main quests will feature heavy choices and consequences, or multiple endings, but given the small size of the team, the budget and the fact this will be voice-acted, I would say that it is unlikely. Regardless, there is enough replay value thanks to the amount of abilities, perks and the different ways to go through dialogs and solve quests.
The graphics, the sounds, the animation and the game mechanics are very good and stable. Playing the game quickly gives the reassuring impression that it has been made by professionals.
