Paying homage to the SNES era of gaming
Developer: Pixel Heart Studio
Publisher: SOEDESCO
Platform: PC (Windows) | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 30 Sep 2022
Official Synopsis: Our story begins in the land of Engard, where our beloved hero Airoheart sets out on a journey to stop his brother's diabolical plan to unleash an ancient evil that has been sealed in the shadows for generations and to trigger a war using the power of the Draoidh Stone. Will you confront your own brother and stop him from executing his wicked plans?
Concept & Visuals:
According to the developers, Airoheart is “a top-down action-adventure RPG inspired by the classics.” Players will adventure through the rich pixel art world reminiscent of the early Legend of Zelda games. This beautifully rendered retro game, made with Unreal Engine 4, is teeming with life and one-of-a-kind NPCs.
(Image Source: ©Pixel Heart Studio)
Sound:
Airoheart stays loyal to the retro theme even in its sound. Here is what the developers have to say about their choice:
“Some of the most memorable musical moments in gaming came from the SNES era. A time when limitations on consoles prevented things like voice acting from being possible.
Musical scores had to drive the emotions in a story and scene much further than the more atmospheric and orchestral soundtracks we hear today.
In Airoheart we strive to replicate this concept, limiting our sound channels and sticking to small sample libraries, with prominent lead instruments.”
Here is a sample of the in-game music:
(Audio Source: ©Pixel Heart Studio)
Gameplay:
Players can collect weapons and armor sets to explore dungeons filled with traps and enemies. They must also learn the arts of magic to tackle puzzles and access new areas of the Gameboy Color-esque map.
Making their way through the monster hordes of Engard in real-time combat, players can throw bombs, use spells, and drink potions. Will Airoheart ultimately stop his brother from unleashing an ancient evil?
Conclusion:
For those that enjoy retro-style games, Airoheart is going to be a treat. Even though it looks like a 90’s era game, Unreal Engine 4 gives it enough power to pack a punch and look as stunning as a pixel art game is able to on modern consoles. The vast open world and the engaging storyline are almost guaranteed to provide hours and hours of retro fun.
Airoheart will be available on Sep 30, 2022.
This Article was written by guest writer Charles Matthews of 9to5Gamers.com. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube podcast for everything Games, Wrestling, Star Wars, and more!
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