Devespresso Games and Headup Games announced that the dark fantasy, rogue-like RPG, Vambrace: Cold Soul, will launch first for PC gamers on May 28th via Steam. Later into the year during the third-quarter you can expect to see Vambrace launch on the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The game has a Darkest Dungeon motif to its design. Players take on the role of Evelia Lyric, a mysterious bearer of a relic called the Aetherbrace. It allows her to travel into the cursed land of Icenaire, which has been cast under a spell of permanent frost fall by the King of Shades. The spell allows the King to turn the residents of Icenaire into wraiths so that he can amass an army of the undead and conquer the world.
It’s up to Evelia to venture into an underground city held under siege by the King’s army, and attempt to recruit brave soldiers in order to venture into the darkest depths of Icenaire in order to face off against the wicked King. You can see what the gameplay is like with the trailer below.
Again, visually, you can definitely see the similarities to Red Hook Studios’ Darkest Dungeon. But that’s not a bad thing. Darkest Dungeon certainly had a style that really stood out at the time, and seeing other developers imitate that design should be seen as flattery.
However, you might notice that there’s a very distinct difference in the way the characters are designed in Vambrace: Cold Soul. While the environments and color tones embrace the fantasy Gothic elements, there’s certainly a more anime-inspired design for the women. It definitely works because the chicks look pretty hot, which is a rarity in Western-made games these days. They’re not afraid to weaponize cleavage.
The YouTube comment section basically said that it’s essentially Darkest Dungeon with hot waifus.
No disagreements here.
Combat is obviously similar to Red Hook’s title, but there’s a little more cohesion in the story structure and characterizations since there’s a linear plot in Vambrace and a central protagonist to follow.
You’ll basically have to gather a party of three additional members, upgrade their skills, acquire new gear, battle through dangerous dungeons by avoiding traps, overcoming bosses, and attempting to make it out in one piece.
You can look for the game to launch first on Steam starting May 28th. For more info you can visit the Steam store page. Alternatively you can wait it out and pick up a digital copy of Vambrace: Cold Soul when it drops this fall for Xbox One, PS4, and the Nintendo Switch.
