Alcyone: The Last City Demo

Choice is a big part of video games today, given the fact that gamers demand a bigger degree of freedom when it comes to story progression and character development. Linearity is accepted in scripted shooters that struggle to provide you with a cinematic experience, but other genres profit a lot more from being open-ended, or at least from not forcing the players to follow a strict path.

Alcyone: The Last City is a text-based role-playing game that allows you to be a part of an intriguing world in a sci-fi universe, with the added benefit of being free to pick your route and make decisions that affect your character’s fate. It’s actually a very promising project, but it’s probably not going to appeal to a wide audience, given the lack of 3D graphics.

In short, the whole thing takes place in a city called Alcyone, which is the last city in the universe. This is where humanity tries to survive and maybe begin a new expansion, but it’s not easy when everyone is so different. Hence, there are many different factions in the city, each one of which has its own agenda. You can join any one of these factions, but it’s important to stay consistent throughout the story.

The game allows you to decide a few things about your character, things that affect the plot and the routes you are able to take. Hence, your decisions can block certain routes later on, which encourages replayability and underlines the fact that everything is under your control when it comes to the story. However, it also makes you feel like you always stand to miss on something great by making the wrong decision.

Although this is still a text-based adventure game at its core, there’s quite a bit of artwork included with each chapter, so it’s easier to imagine the events in your head. There’s even a visual representation of the city and its districts to get a proper metal image. The soundtrack also improves the atmosphere, although it can get a bit repetitive on the long run, or at least that’s the case in the demo.

In the end, Alcyone: The Last City is clearly a polished game that’s on the right track, but it needs your help in order to be completed. Hence, you can support the development process by participating in the game’s Kickstarter campaign.