Indie studio Rhinotales has given its first public look at tactical RPG Critical Shift, timed to coincide with the start of the Party RPG fest on Steam.
The two-hour “trial” allows players to immerse themselves in a sci-fi thriller atmosphere with elements of mysticism. The plot is co-created with the author of a popular online novel. Shadow Slave It’s called Sin Three.
In the story, a rapid response team is dispatched to the secret ICE-1 station buried beneath the ice of Antarctica, where personnel fall victim to a parasitic hive mind and space anomalies. The demo showcases the complex’s three zones and 6 of the 11 unique agents – from experienced leaders to mysterious experts and genius hackers.
Players must combine turn-based combat, noise-using stealth mechanics, and resource shortages, with the full version of the project promising over 40 hours of gameplay and over 30 hand-crafted levels.