Of Ash and Steel: Retro RPG Goodness That Might Just Scratch That Old-School Itch
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
*Of Ash and Steel* looks like a charmingly retro RPG that's aiming to capture the magic of old-school fantasy adventures, and Jeff's cautiously optimistic it'll scratch that pixelated itch.
Right, so IGN South Africa just dropped a trailer for *Of Ash and Steel*, and honestly, it's giving me serious Baldur's Gate vibes – but, you know, if Baldur's Gate had been accidentally shrunk in the dryer. It's a classic-looking isometric RPG, all pixelated charm and swords-and-sorcery goodness. We're talking proper old-school fantasy here, the kind that makes you want to roll a new character and spend the next 80 hours exploring every nook and cranny.
Now, I'm always a bit wary when I see "charmingly old-school," because sometimes that's code for "clunky and frustrating." But something about *Of Ash and Steel's* aesthetic and gameplay snippets in the trailer suggests a genuine love for the genre. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel; it's just trying to make a damn good fantasy adventure. And fair play, it looks pretty promising.
The combat looks tactical, the environments are suitably atmospheric, and the character portraits have that hand-painted feel that I just can't resist. (Call me a sucker for nostalgia, I dare you!) It's the kind of game where you can almost smell the musty tomes and hear the clatter of dice.
What I'm particularly keen to see is how well the story holds up. A beautiful world means nothing if the narrative is flatter than a goblin's coin purse, right? We're promised a world rich with lore and intrigue, and I'm hoping it delivers. My fingers are crossed for some decent dialogue and compelling characters. No pressure, devs, but I'm pinning all my hopes on you to not let me down.
One thing to note - I couldn't find a definitive release date or much information on the game's dev. That makes me raise a skeptical eyebrow, like when you spot a potion vendor selling "cure-all" elixirs for a single copper piece. Still, I'll keep digging and see if I can unearth any more details.
If you're hankering for a classic fantasy RPG fix, *Of Ash and Steel* might just be worth keeping an eye on. Just don't go expecting the latest AAA graphics and open-world shenanigans. This one's all about embracing the simpler pleasures of exploration, combat, and a good old-fashioned quest. Plus, its looking like it has a tight development team, which might just let us see more passion come through in the final product. Who doesn't want to see that?
**Web3 note**: *Of Ash and Steel* doesn't appear to have any blockchain elements as of yet.
Tags: RPG, Indie Games, Fantasy, Retro Gaming, Isometric RPG
Original article: IGN South Africa