1428 Shadows over Silesia

1428: Shadows over Silesia is an action RPG set in the realities of medieval Europe, enriched with elements of dark fantasy and European mythology. The independent Czech studio KUBI Games, founded by Petr Kubíček, is responsible for its production and release. The title was nominated in the "Best Game" category at the 2022 Game Access Conference. A demo version of the game is available on Steam.

Storyline

The events presented in the game are set in the titular year 1428. Commanded by Procopius the Great, the Hussites had just set out on an expedition to Silesia. Although the invasion by heretics seems to be the greatest threat to a country deprived of a ruler, another, much more monstrous evil begins to emerge from the shadows.

The main characters of the title are Hynek - a grumpy and cursing like a shoemaker Hussite hetman, and Lothar - a well-mannered and well-heeled knight of the Hospitaller Order, standing by his brothers' side on the first line of Silesian defense. Over time, their paths cross, and the protagonists must decide whether to point their swords against each other or form a fragile alliance and face much more formidable opponents together.

Mechanics

1428: Shadows over Silesia is a title strongly inspired by adventure games of the 1990s, and the story it depicts has a linear, chapter-by-chapter structure. During the gameplay, we move through numerous locations on foot or on horseback, and our main goal is to acquire valuable information and items, as well as solve various puzzles and decipher coded messages. Some of the problems encountered by the protagonists on their way can be solved in many ways or cleverly circumvented.

The game has also been enriched with an easy to understand combat system. Our opponents are not only knights or villagers, but also supernatural beings that can cause us a lot of trouble. It should be remembered that our heroes have no chance in a clash with a larger group of opponents. When launching attacks, it is therefore worth waiting for the right moments, using the mistakes of enemies to your advantage. Sometimes, however, a better solution is to hide in the shadows and sneak behind their backs.

Technical issues

The game 1428: Shadows over Silesia was realized in "low poly" style, with the action shown in isometric view. The title depicts both real and fictional areas of medieval Silesia. Graphically, the production is based mainly on the contrast of light and shadow, with many events taking place underground, on rainy days or at night, which further enhances its dark atmosphere.