The Shadow Sun Previews
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We still have four days to wait until Ossian Studios' The Shadow Sun is released to the masses, but that hasn't stopped a couple of websites from getting some hands-on time with a press version of the iOS-powered RPG.
RPGFan:
The Shadow Sun uses the Unity 3D engine to bring Shar to life. The 3D polygonal characters and the 3D polygonal backgrounds they interact with look and animate nicely on the iPad. There are some seams and blockiness here and there, but nothing worse than the game's contemporaries. Stylistically speaking, the desert setting is sparser and obviously less lush than the greenery associated with typical fantasy fare, but that's what gives the setting its uninviting atmosphere since, after all, the land and its people do not want you there. Speaking of people, they generally have more realistic rather than stylistic designs. I do not know yet if I will interact with other sentient races from Middle Eastern lore, like djinn (genies) or scorpion men, but these fantastical beings and creatures promise more creative design.
Adding life to Shar and its inhabitants, both benevolent and hostile, is the trifecta of music, voice, and sound effects. The atmospheric music takes compositional and instrumental influence from traditional Arabian styles and adds that sense of mystery to the adventure. Sometimes, though, music is eschewed in favor of atmospheric sounds, like those that add creepiness to the dank sewers. The best sound effects are reserved for battles with the resonant clanging of weapons. The voice acting consists of short clips throughout the game, with some key story moments featuring more prominent voice work. The only issue I hear thus far is inconsistency with accents, meaning that some Sharians deliver their lines with Middle Eastern accents whereas others maintain western sounding accents.
And Slide to Play:
As you do missions, you also encounter a number of people and monsters to fight. Fighting takes place in real time, with you hacking, shooting, and casting spells while the other members of your party help you out. You can let your comrades do their own thing, or give them commands to make them focus on healing, ranged attacks, or melee encounters.
Enemies drop treasure that you can pick up and to your inventory. You'll find all kinds of weapons and apparel, which you can sell or put in a chest back at your hideout. As you earn experience points and level up, you can pump points into your stats and skills to beef up your character. There's an action bar at the bottom of the screen, with slots you can assign different actions, like spells and special attacks.
