The Black Death

Set in Medieval Europe, The Black Death is a MMORPG for PC which is a survival simulator that centres on surviving the times of the Plague. The production is an outcome of cooperation between two small independent studios: Syrin and Small Impact Games. The publisher of the game is Green Man Loaded which belongs to the famous British video games distributor – Green Man Gaming.

Plot

Similarly to most of sandbox survival simulators, The Black Death does not offer an extensive story. The action is set in Medieval Europe which was not a very safe and friendly place at that time to say the least. During gameplay not only does the player have to face the period’s typical problems, but also withstand the mortal danger the plague poses to everyone on the continent.

Mechanics

The Black Death features only multiplayer mode which combines action and RPG elements and concentrates primarily on the survival aspect. The action takes place in an open world inspired by Western Europe’s landscapes and its area amounts to 8 sq kilometers. During gameplay you can freely travel through the world, meet a whole bunch of wild animals and NPCs with which you can engage in all kinds of interactions. At the beginning, the player picks one of eight professions for the hero and this choice significantly shapes further gameplay. You can play as a typical knight who defends the innocent ones or as a simple farmer focusing on farming.

One of the characteristic things about The Black Death is the strong emphasis on survival elements. Apart from completing quests, you need to avoid the infected with plague and to satisfy your basic needs. Therefore, you can hunt, harvest, or simply steal what you need. There is, however, a system allowing for trading between players. Everything has its price, and the way you get money needed for necessary equipment, e.g. swords and armours, depends just on you. There is only one rule: the richer you get, the higher your chances of survival are. More wealthy players can even acquire real estate.

As The Black Death is set in Medieval Times, combat plays an important role. The creators introduced an extensive and demanding combat system featuring different kinds of strikes and parrying enemies’ attacks. The key element is the player’s reaction and timing.

Game modes

Just like any game in the MMO genre, The Black Death offers only multiplayer mode, so during gameplay you will meet characters controlled by other players. Due to the open structure of the world and the freedom of action, the intensity and the nature of interactions between players depend only on them.

Technical aspects

Published on PC, The Black Death features full 3D visuals which in many perspectives can be compared with modern RPGs. The action is observed from the third-person perspective, with the camera hanging behind the hero’s back. The dynamic day/night cycle and well-recreated atmosphere of Medieval Europe also deserve recognition.

Last updated on April 28, 2016