GoldKnights has introduced its debut title, The Last Oricru, and it looks like it’s bound to excite both fans of Souls-like games and RPGs like the Dragon Age series. The Last Oricru ambitiously combines the choice-driven elements from story-centric RPGs with combat and gameplay that looks like it’s right out of Dark Souls. As if this genre-blending wasn’t already enough, The Last Oricru‘s unusual setting blends sci-fi and medieval fantasy, offering what could be one of the most visually unique action RPGs since Nier: Automata.
The Last Oricru is being developed by GoldKnights, a Czech studio formed to create an “epic gaming saga,” and published by Prime Matter. The Last Oricru will take players throughout the world of Wardenia, where civil war tears through the land. Player actions will develop the narrative and shape the future of Wardenia.
In a reveal trailer, GoldKnights showcased some pre-alpha footage and gameplay to give players an idea of what they could expect from The Last Oricru. Opening with a scene where the player character awakens from cryosleep in a futuristic pod, we soon learn the land of Wardenia is in a state of turmoil. There’s a civil war involving many of Wardenia’s factions, and it’ll be up to players to decide not only the outcome of the conflict but also each encounter along the way.
The Last Oricru prides itself on offering players options for narrative progress, as evidenced by the in-depth showcase during the trailer. GoldKnights aims to let players go through the game, making the decisions they want at nearly every turn. It could be something as simple as whether players lie to an authority figure on another NPC’s behalf or rat them out at the first opportunity. Alternatively, GoldKnights has also claimed there’ll be many opportunities to simply kill the NPC and loot them. Decisions large and small will begin to create outcomes shaped by the player’s choice. Want to help out the enslaved Rat Men? Good. They’ll appreciate you and remember the kindness when you’re passing through their territory.
Gameplay-wise, The Last Oricru takes a page from titles like Nioh and Bloodborne, with a healthy dose of fast-paced third-person action. The trailer showed snippets of encounters with groups of enemies, one-on-one duels and a boss fight. It’s also not uncommon to encounter different factions battling each other, and the player’s relationships will determine who’s hostile and who’s a friend. The Last Oricru does have systems to level up and enhance both characters and weapons, appearing very similar to other Souls-like games.
A notable feature The Last Oricru brings to the table is co-op. Whether on the couch or by playing online, two players can adventure and make questionable decisions about Wardenia’s well-being together. Multiplayer opens up additional options for players to uncover while united. The example presented in the trailer showed one player leading a boss down a corridor while another pulled a lever to drop a gate down, defeating the foe. Best of all, The Last Oricru‘s co-op allows players to drop in or out as they like without tying their character to specific playthroughs.
GoldKnights has some impressive ideas going into The Last Oricru. Attempting to combine dynamic storytelling, co-op, Souls-like gameplay and the bizarre setting seems ambitious. Still, if the studio can pull it off, they’ll have a very impressive title on their hands. For now, The Last Oricru has caught players’ attention, and it’ll sure be a title to follow as its development continues.
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