1428: Shadows over Silesia News

[h2]Trailer[/h2]
After a one-year hiatus, I'm finally coming out with a new three-minute trailer that shows a lot of footage directly from the game and reveals what the game itself will look like.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
The trailer reveals for the first time that the game's story is told from the perspective of the two playable characters: Hynek, a grumpy Hussite hetman who doesn't hesitate to swear or mess around with anything, and Lothar, a Hospitaller knight, a man of good education and manners who stands alongside his brethren in the front line of the Silesian defense. Each has their own motivations and views of the world around them, different equipment and abilities. Their fates will soon become intertwined. Will they face one another, weapon in hand, or forge a fragile alliance to stand shoulder to shoulder against a far worse enemy?

[h2]Crowdfunding campaign and early access[/h2]
The development of the game has reached its midpoint and the originally planned scope has increased by a third. The game will be divided into thirteen chapters, with which you will spend 20-30 hours of playtime. So far, everything has been funded solely from family savings. But now I need your help to bring the project to a successful conclusion. I'm launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise the amount of money needed to complete the development.

You get a unique opportunity to not only pre-order the game and support the developement, but also to get exclusive early access to the demo, alpha and beta versions of the game. You can find the campaign and more information here (HitHit is the Czech variation of Kickstarter): https://www.hithit.com/shadows1428.

[h2]Key game features[/h2]
Finally, I'll summarize all the key features:

• Isometric graphics - The graphics are inspired by classic RPG games. They are isometric, stylized, and a bit fairytale-like. The action often takes place underground, in the rain, or at night, which serves to amplify the dark atmosphere and focus, which is mostly placed on the contrast of light and shadow
  
• English and Czech voiceovers - All dialogues will be fully dubbed in both English and Czech.
  
• Challenging riddles - The original riddles you will come across on your dangerous journey will most definitely be challenging. Classic adventure games of the 1990s were a big inspiration. You will have to take advantage of your surroundings, look for objects, obtain information, and solve puzzles or encoded messages. Some problems can be solved in multiple ways, or they can be cleverly worked around.
  
• Sneaking in the shadows - Sometimes you'll have to blend into the shadows and sneak past enemies to avoid being detected. Following their patrol routes and habits will help you find the best path. Or you can try to quietly take them out, one by one.
  
• Complex combat - The combat system is easy to understand but it takes practice to fully master it. Remember one thing: being outnumbered is a problem! If three or more opponents attack you at the same time, you will die! The key is to take advantage of their mistakes, wait for the right moment, and then attack. You will face not just knights, villagers, and robbers, but also various supernatural beings - and you shouldn't underestimate them.
  
• Diverse environments - During the game, you will move around on foot as well as in the saddle. You will visit various real as well as fictitious places in medieval Silesia. You will plunder villages, doggedly defend the city walls, and explore places such as secret dungeons, abandoned mines, or forbidden parts of monasteries. For example, you can look forward to visiting Röwersdorf, Nysa, the Brzeg monastery, or the Rabesberg castle.
  
• Hidden coins - You will have the opportunity to search for two kinds of hidden coins. Only the best of the best will be able to collect them all. Not only will you fill your wallet with them and unlock unique achievements, but you can also occasionally use them to progress through the story.
  

[h2]Other useful links[/h2]

• Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1228500
• Web: https://shadows1428.com/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/avabBNY
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KUBIGames
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1428_shadows_over_silesia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadows1428
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kubigames2013
• Crowdfunding campaign: https://www.hithit.com/shadows1428

Thanks, and best regards!

Petr Kubíček aka KUBI Games

It's been a while, so I'm here with new information and most importantly, I've got a bunch of new screenshots for you. You can find them all nicely on the Steam store page. I've also created a short, separate gameplay edit from the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClUK59i1YL0
Last time, I provided a quick overview of the game's main features, and today I'd like to elaborate on these a little more.

[h3]Inspiration and setting[/h3]
The entire game was strongly inspired by Andrzej Sapkowski's Hussite trilogy and the events in the game even partially take place in the same time period and place - during the spring campaign of 1428. Just like the famous author, I'm trying to tell real history and combine it with a fictitious story with fantasy elements.

Silesia is suffused with magic. Specifically, you will encounter wizards under false identities, possessed devil worshipers, sexual demons, and beasts from hell, as well as creatures well-known from European mythology. The game is linear and you will go through the whole story chapter by chapter, both on foot and on the back of a horse. You will visit a variety of real as well as fictitious places. Among others: Röwersdorf, Nysa, the Brzeg monastery, or the Rabesberg castle. You will plunder villages, doggedly defend streets of towns, or explore places such as secret dungeons, abandoned mines, and forbidden parts of monasteries.

The story is a serious one and it's intended exclusively for mature audiences. However, humor and cynical lines are sprinkled in here and there, and attentive players will pick up on a good number of pop culture references to famous movies, TV shows, or books.

[h3]Graphics and game mechanics[/h3]
The game graphics are inspired by classic RPG games (although there are no RPG elements here). The graphics are isometric, stylized, and a bit fairytale-like. The action often takes place underground, in the rain, or at night, which amplifies the whole atmosphere and focus, which is placed mostly on light and shadow.

Gameplay is built on three main pillars - exploring, riddles, and combat/stealth. You will have to take advantage of your environment, search for objects, obtain information, and solve riddles or enciphered messages. Some challenges can be solved in multiple ways or can be cleverly worked around. I will give two quick examples:

• In a dungeon, you will either solve a riddle on the wall - the solution will refer you to moving statues which open a door with no lock. Or, in an opportune moment, you can surprise and defeat skeletons patrolling nearby and get past the door through a hole in a collapsed wall. If you discover both of these options, the choice of how to proceed is yours.
  
• In another place, you will be passing through a narrow corridor where you discover a trap. You will realize that it must be deactivated in order for you to get past it, but several enemies will cluster around you right then and there. You will go back and activate the trap at the exact moment your enemies are walking through it. They all die in spasms.
  

The combat system is easy to understand. It only uses two buttons, after all - one for attacking and the other for defense. Still, it will take practice to fully master it. Being outnumbered is a problem! If three or more opponents jump at you at one time, you will die! The key is to take advantage of their mistakes, wait for the right moment, and then attack. You will face not just knights, villagers, or highwaymen, but also various supernatural beings - and you shouldn't underestimate them.

In certain parts, direct confrontation is not the way to go. You will sometimes become invisible and creep through shadows past your enemies in order to avoid being seen. Monitoring their patrol routes and habits might help you find the ideal path. Or you can try to eliminate them quietly, one by one.

[h3]Czech dubbing[/h3]
I was able to establish cooperation with the dubbing in-group Fénix ProDabing and therefore I can happily announce that the game will include not only Czech subtitles, but also complete Czech dubbing! In relation to this, a Czech-dubbed announcement teaser trailer is being released:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlzxgMJXEIM
Fénix ProDabing is an interest group which mainly focuses on non-commercial amateur dubbing and voiceovers with a wide fan and supporter base - more information (only in Czech language) at https://www.fenixprodabing.cz.

[h3]Future plans[/h3]
At some point in the second quarter of next year, a second (story) trailer will follow, along with a press release which will shed light on other, so far undiscussed aspects of gameplay and especially the story. I will also announce the expected (approximate) release date.

At the end of October, a playable demo will be available exclusively at the Gamerpie festival in Brno, Czech Republic. The game will be a part of the so-called "Gamer's Path" in which Bohemia Interactive will participate with its game Vigor, Spitihněv with the retro action Hrot, as well as Silicomrades with Outside the Fox, among others. More information (also only in Czech) at https://www.gamerpie.wtf.

Studio KUBI Games is announcing a new dark action adventure game set in medieval Silesia. It’s a unique mix of several genres: the fighting sequences resemble RPGs and the riddles and dialogues resemble adventure games from the 90’s, but there are also stealth passages and challenging puzzles. After a successful playtest, the game is leaving its pre-production phase and releasing the first teaser trailer to let people know it’s on the way. Watch it on YouTube:
[previewyoutube]--------[/previewyoutube]
[h3]The story[/h3]
Europe is in the middle of religious upheaval and many preachers predict that the end of the world is near. The year is 1428 and the Hussites have just set out on their Silesian campaign. These heretics appear to be the biggest threat in the kingless country. But true evil of a completely different kind is lurking nearby and it will not engage in religious disputes.

[h3]Key characteristics[/h3]

• An interesting story, with true historical events in the background.
  
• Linear gameplay based on chapters and levels.
  
• Challenging riddles and puzzles in the style of classic adventure games.
  
• Exploration of underground dungeons, caves, monasteries, or castles.
  
• Isometric, stylized, slightly fairytale-like, but mostly dark low poly graphics.
  
• Stealth passages.
  
• A combat system where being outnumbered is a problem.
  

[h3]Technical details[/h3]
The game is currently planned only for Windows and PC. Other platforms are being considered.

[h3]About the team[/h3]
The entire game is a one-man project. I’ve been working on it for about a year, even though the idea itself dates back much further. A few graphic artists, animators, and sound engineers have helped out with the game as well.