SKALD: Against the Black Priory

If you want a fun and challenging that reaks pure nostalgia of 80s RPG this game is for you. As i said though, its challenging as there is little to no hand holding that a lot of modern games do these days.

I absolutely love this game... it gives all the same nostalgic feels of old games like Ultima, but without any of the problems of those old games. It has amazing graphics somehow jam-packed in to limited palettes and tile size. It's super affordable. I bought the deluxe version because I wanted to see more games like this and give some extra support. The difficulty has all kinds of customizable options so you can make the game-play exactly as you'd like it to be. The story is amazing and has a Lovecraftian feel and really draws you in.

It looks like an oldschool-RPG, but it has many of the quality-of-life features you would expect from a modern title. Also quite polished with hardly any bugs and a decent UI. Very nice atmosphere with some surprising elements in the story. Interesting RPG mechanics for a title of this scope. Some of the mechanics are under-explained or might seem a bit weird (or probably not fully thought trough). But they still make most fights interesting. The more boring random encounters can largely be skipped, which is a big plus for me. It also doesn't overstay its welcome. So definitely a recommendation for RPG fans.

Skald really nails the retro-inspired RPG fix for both oldschool fans of Ultima, Goldbox etc games as well as fans of newer titles such as Divinity Original Sin, Pathfinder ans Baldur's Gate 3. Writing is top-notch, mood is dark and gloomy, art direction is done extremely well and the soundtrack is fantastic. The gameplay is fun and rewarding; Combat is visceral and so, so satisfying. If there is one point of criticism; it would be that the second half of the game feels a bit more rushed and linear than the first half. No drop in quality of writing or gameplay though. This game is a winner, an instant recommendation for fans of all era'a of cRPGs. Well done!

Anemoia : the nostalgia for something you never experienced... And the exact feeling I had when playing the game. I was too young for the C64 but this game scratched an itch I didn't know I had. Of course, you should not expect anything too complex or deep about Skald. Indeed, evrything, from the writing to the combat system and quests is rather straightforward. You don't have a ton of options, be it for dialogs, skills, quests resolutions or places to go, hence the game can be finished well under 20h. However the game oozes charm and atmospheren the pixel art is exquisite. You deeply feel the tragedy that befell the Outer Isles and even when you score a victory, there will be losses and further, dire obstacles to overcome. There's a "nice" sense of doom, even if gameplay-wise, it doesn't translate that well. Combat is almost never difficult in Skald, sometimes just a bit drawn out- I never felt the need to craft much potions or to bother with spells and clever positioning that much. The final boss itself is quite disappointing. I would say that it's a Lovecraftian horror theme done right- except for the ending, which is a mixed bag for me. On the whole it's a well-crafted classical experience, honest to its retro inspiration. I would say, though, that the pacing is off. Chapter one has a nice length, while chapter 2 and 3 are over in flash- a bit disappointing for the narrative crux on the first isle. Chapter 4 could be also way too short if not for a clumsily hinted optional quest, and an optional village with a big Lovecraft reference- a nice touche, if a bit forced. Chapter 5 does feel a bit rushed and while you can expect not to undersdtand everything when cosmic horror is involved, I think there are some nonsense thrown into the mix, as well as some foreshadowing leading nowhere conclusive. For such a price, if you are charmed by the graphics and the premises, I would still recommend it. I would be delighted by an extended version of the game, or a sequel