The Great Whale Road

Release Date: March 31, 2017

RPG, turn-based, 2D, elements of strategy, historical, the Vikings, singleplayer

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Steam

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A strategy role-playing game set in the early Middle Ages, and the first production by Sunburned Games. The game takes place in the 7th century Europe, and there is a large focus on historical accuracy and the plot, divided into campaign for each of the playable nations (e.g. the Danish, the Franks, the Picts and the Anglo-Saxons).

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

The Great Whale Road for PC is a historical role-playing game with strategy elements and a turn-based combat system, clearly inspired by the similar although slightly more fantastical The Banner Saga series. It is the first production by Sunburned Games.

Plot

The Great Whale Road takes place in the 7th century Europe, focusing on the North Sea and the nearby lands. The game is highly accurate historically, so it does not feature any fantastic elements. The production, however, puts emphasis on the plot and features distinct campaigns for every nation available, e.g. the Danish, the Franks, the Picts or the Anglo-Saxons.

Mechanics

The production combines the elements of RPGs, strategy and management games. Regardless of your chosen nation, you play as a chief of a small clan and your tasks include both leading your warriors in battle and taking care of your village. The gameplay revolves around two seasons: you spend winter in your village, planning and managing your people and resources, while in summer you sail out.

Your sea journeys usually end with a raid, which requires you to gather a band of sturdy warriors, reach the foreign lands and pillage them until nothing of value is left. You can also sail out to trade, or to complete a quest, such as avenging someone's death.

The journeys take place in real time, with a dynamic day and night system and changing weather conditions. The combat is turn-based and features some card game elements, allowing you to use cards of useful special effects. You can also develop your warriors, as they earn experience points, which allows you to upgrade their stats. Apart from that, your ships can also be modified.

Technical aspects

Styx: Shards of Darkness for PC features fully 2D graphics, stylistically similar to European adult comics. The characters and landscapes fits their historical background.

Last updated on November 18, 2016

Videos and Screens

[1:30] The Great Whale Road trailer #1

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