Alkahest

Alkahest is an action RPG with immersive sim elements, developed by the independent studio Push On. Although this is the debut project for the company from Cyprus, it was founded by developers who have both indie games and AAA segment productions in their portfolio. The main sources of inspiration for the authors were such titles as Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Dishonored and Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

Plot

The action of Alkahest is set in a grim fantasy world, modeled on the Middle Ages and torn by conflict between the three largest families. During the game we arrive in the kingdom of Kadanor and take on the role of the youngest son of a minor ruler. The protagonist gets a chance to prove his worth when he is delegated to investigate the case of mysterious goblin attacks on the county border.

Gameplay

In Alkahest we view events from a first-person perspective (FPP). The adventure leads us through dense forests, abandoned settlements, and menacing fortresses. The game does not offer an open world, but separate locations with both free exploration and scripted areas tied to spectacular events. As we explore them, we get to know their inhabitants and engage in conversations with them, as well as carry out quests for them, and sometimes also make various decisions.

Dynamic battles with encountered enemies play an important role here, among which relatively weak goblins attacking in groups are most common. We eliminate enemies silently, sneaking behind their backs and attacking them by surprise, or in open combat, using not only melee weapons and bows, but also the opportunities offered by the environment. The game allows us to push enemies into abysses or throw them into spikes using kicks, destroy objects and drop heavy items on adversaries' heads, as well as break containers with flammable liquid and set them on fire (using fire torches or other means).

A separate mention should be about alchemy, which takes the place of magic in the game world. By brewing potions based on various recipes or mixing ingredients at will, we gain a variety of brews. Some can be applied to weapons to increase their combat potential, while others can strengthen our character or can be thrown at enemies and environmental elements (for example, we can weaken the iron bars blocking our path).

Engine

Alkahest runs on the Unity engine.