The upcoming lo-fi RPG A Short Quest aims to recapture the bizarre spirit of classic Elder Scrolls titles like Morrowind and Oblivion. Developer Silent Moon has crafted an experience that prioritizes player experimentation and discovery, forgoing traditional quest logs and detailed maps in favor of a more organic, emergent gameplay loop.
During a playtest, players are immediately thrust into a world filled with peculiar encounters. A talking tree initiates a quest to deliver a note, ponds offer blueberries in exchange for a dance, and mysterious notes hint at secrets like glyph ciphers on carts. These elements contribute to a sense of wonder and encourage players to interact with the environment in unexpected ways. Even items like a broken sword found early on may possess undiscovered uses that persist throughout the game, rewarding careful observation and retention of every found object.
Combat in A Short Quest blends familiar first-person RPG mechanics with a more deliberate pacing. Similar to the Elder Scrolls, stamina management is crucial, forcing players to balance offensive actions with the need to dodge. The combat can feel punishing for the impatient, but its looseness allows for moments where enemies miss attacks, mirroring the sometimes-unpredictable nature of combat in earlier Bethesda titles. The game offers a quicksave feature, providing a safety net for challenging encounters, though the experience is designed to encourage "clean" fights that feel integral to its overall charm.
Magic offers a powerful alternative to melee, though its limited uses suggest it's not intended to trivialize combat. Spells require a few seconds to cast, making them more effective as an opener or a tactical choice rather than a spamable ranged attack. This design choice aims to maintain the engagement of close-quarters combat, even for players who lean heavily on magical abilities.
A Short Quest emphasizes a tangible impact on its game world. Corpses remain after battles, featuring persistent ragdoll physics. Healing involves foraging for mushrooms or harvesting meat from fallen creatures, and gold is a physical item that occupies inventory space. The world reacts to player actions in often visceral ways, such as corpses bursting into bones when struck repeatedly, though the purpose of these bones, like many other elements, remains a mystery to be uncovered through experimentation.
While the playtest offered a glimpse, the full game promises more content, including a variety of weapons, new enemy types like ogres, and companions such as skeleton minions and a pet dog. Skill trees for weapons and spells are expected to support diverse combat approaches, and the game hints at mechanics for identifying enemy weak points, even suggesting targeting knees during combat.
A Short Quest is positioned as an engaging experience that can tide players over while awaiting the next major Elder Scrolls installment. Its commitment to recreating the quirky, experimental nature of the series' earlier entries suggests it may be a more faithful successor in spirit than anticipated. Mysterious elements abound, such as this talking tree.
The game is slated for release next year, with players eager to discover the fate of the talking tree's quest and the many other secrets hidden within its world. The rough-and-tumble nature of combat is exemplified by the lingering remains of fallen foes.
Merchants offer their wares, hinting at the diverse items players can find and utilize.
