Queen's Domain, released this week on Steam, is a first-person RPG that draws heavily from FromSoftware's early King's Field series. While reminiscent of the deliberate pace and ponderous combat of those titles, the game introduces mechanics that encourage a sense of triumphant acceleration and aerial exploration.
Unlike the later Dark Souls games, King's Field and Queen's Domain lack a dedicated dodge-roll. Combat is centered around charging attacks, with players needing to manage their stamina bar for effective swings. This methodical approach extends to enemy weaknesses; for instance, skeletal enemies are more resistant to swords, while spears are less effective against certain insectoid foes.
The game features over 50 weapons, each with unique abilities that level up through use. The initial spear acquired offers a retreating stab, useful for keeping distance from aggressive enemies like grasshopper chickens. A basic wooden club, despite its slower swing animations, has a pounce attack that bypasses some of the wind-up time.
A key element for progression is the windblade, an upgradeable weapon obtained after defeating a large skeleton sentinel. This blade allows for an aerial dash, which is crucial for reaching new areas and discovering secrets. Socketable gems can further extend the dash's range, making previously inaccessible offshore islands and ruined castle sections reachable.
The world of Queen's Domain is presented as a series of interwoven paths across an archipelago, featuring mossy arches, broken pillars, and ancient tombs. The visual design evokes a sense of melancholy beauty, reminiscent of games like Shadow of the Colossus and Vagrant Story, and reportedly runs well on integrated graphics hardware. The game includes a Photo Mode with adjustable focal length and filters.
Progression is tied to save crystals, which act as checkpoints. Resting at these crystals respawns enemies, but enemies will eventually respawn naturally over time, sometimes in different combinations as the player progresses. The game also provides a belt of throwing daggers with a cooldown, useful for luring enemies away from groups or targeting isolated foes. These daggers are also effective against flying laser-eyed enemies found on tree trunks.
Developers Freshly Baked estimate over 30 hours of remaining content. The game offers a demo on Steam for those interested in experiencing its blend of deliberate combat and exploratory mechanics firsthand. Despite its potential for initial frustration due to its deliberate pacing, the game aims to reward players with its unfolding traversal abilities and atmospheric world.