Overture (video game)

Last updated
Overture
Overture Steam.jpg
Steam digital banner art
Developer(s) Black Shell Games
Publisher(s) Black Shell Media
Director(s) Daniel Doan
Producer(s) Raghav Mathur
Programmer(s) Daniel Doan, Nick Dechiara
Composer(s) Rafael Langoni Smith
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
  • WW: January 1, 2015
Genre(s) Roguelike
Mode(s)Single-player

Overture is a roguelike adventure video game developed by Black Shell Games, a subsidiary of Black Shell Media LLC. The game was released on January 1, 2015 for Microsoft Windows. In the game, players select from one of 24 characters and travel throughout the game vanquishing enemies, collecting loot, and slaying monsters. [1]

Roguelike subgenre of role-playing video games

Roguelike is a subgenre of role-playing video game characterized by a dungeon crawl through procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, tile-based graphics, and permanent death of the player character. Most roguelikes are based on a high fantasy narrative, reflecting their influence from tabletop role playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons.

Contents

Gameplay

Overture is a strategic real-time monster slaying and dungeon crawling adventure set in a retro, pixelated world. The game puts players in control of one of twenty-four playable characters, with the goal of traversing dungeons. After selecting a character, the player is thrust in the game world and is encouraged to explore the sprawling dungeon before being led to the floor down to the next dungeon. On their adventure, players must defeat different types of enemies, ranging from slimes, to skeletons and goblins. The game has permadeath, so when the player dies in the game, there isn't an option to respawn. [2]

Permadeath or permanent death is a game mechanic in both tabletop games and video games in which player characters who lose all of their health are considered dead and cannot be used anymore. Depending on the situation, this could require the player to create a wholly new character to continue, or completely restart the game losing nearly all progress towards completion. Other terms include persona death and player death. Some video games offer a hardcore mode that features this mechanic, rather than making it part of the core game.

Players will engage in battle with various beasts in these areas via a combat system consisting of mouse buttons in conjunction with properly timed running. Winning battles grants the player gold, experience points, and sometimes, various items. In addition to the combat, players can also explore the world and rescue various non-player characters throughout the game. These NPCs will follow the player around, assisting with combat. [3]

Reception

Softpedia 's Alexandru Chirila describes the game's retro visuals and smooth gameplay, stating "Overture rocks marvelous 2D pixel graphics that allow it to run smoothly on any given machine, even if it’s steam or coal powered. Everything works so smooth and happens so fast that at times it’s kind of hard to keep up with what’s going on on the screen." She goes on to describe the game's frenetic feel with, "Crit values and fireballs fly around, you barely have an opening to dodge monsters, it get’s[ sic ] really crazy really fast." [3]

Softpedia is a website from Romania that indexes information and provides primarily software information and downloads. Its main sections are Windows, Mac, Linux, Games, Drivers, Mobile, Webscripts, and News. It also covers technology and science topics from both external and in-house sources, and it provides software and game reviews.

The Latin adverb sic inserted after a quoted word or passage indicates that the quoted matter has been transcribed or translated exactly as found in the source text, complete with any erroneous, archaic, or otherwise nonstandard spelling. It also applies to any surprising assertion, faulty reasoning, or other matter that might be likely interpreted as an error of transcription.

Operation Rainfall 's Guy Rainey heavily praises the game's execution, stating "Overture is a masterpiece that has no direct comparison and one that I think everyone should own." With regard to the combat mechanics, he notes "finding yourself vastly outnumbered and coming out alive brings a very unique achievement that I haven’t found anywhere else." [4]

Operation Rainfall, commonly known as oprainfall, was a video game-oriented fan campaign founded to promote the release of Japan-exclusive titles. Initially aimed at promoting the North American localization of three Japan-exclusive titles on the aging Wii home video game console, it later transitioned into a community blog dedicated to niche Japanese titles and further fan campaigns aimed at the localization of other Japan-exclusive titles. From inception, its stated intention was to show publisher Nintendo the demand for the three chosen titles.

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References

  1. ↑ Khan, Jahanzeb (Jan 15, 2015). "Get Your Butt Handed To You By Overture". Hardcore Gamer . Retrieved Feb 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ Morrow, Rob (Feb 4, 2015). "Overture Melted My Face". Destructoid . Retrieved Feb 13, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Chirila, Alexandru (Feb 13, 2015). "Overture Demo". Softpedia . Retrieved Feb 13, 2015.
  4. ↑ Rainey, Guy (March 27, 2015). "REVIEW: Overture". Operation Rainfall . Retrieved March 27, 2015.
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