Known for its frantic and violent 2D action games, Ska Studios has announced its first dip into action-RPG territory with the PS4 and PlayStation Vita exclusive Salt and Sanctuary, which takes inspiration from Castlevania and Dark Souls.
As with The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile and Charlie Murder, Salt and Sanctuary focuses on stylish and brutal combat (“weapons have movesets, air attacks have hang time, and rolling is king”), and has a dark fantasy theme running throughout. The biggest difference is the added amount of depth to the combat.
You’re able to one-hand, dual wield, and two-hand all weapons such as crossbows, shields, magic staffs, bows, as well as blades and blunts. There are also belt-slotted consumables including throwing daggers and the weapon-buffing Pitchfire. Each configuration has its own unique moveset, and your power and versatility is greatly affected by what you wield and how.
“Of course, loadout weight affects your movement, rolling speed and stamina regen, so a good balance of defense and agility is key,” Ska Studios wrote on the PlayStation Blog. “Basically, it combines two things we love: fast, precise 2D combat and super strategic RPG depth. Also, there are curb stomps.”
In Salt and Sanctuary, you’ll play as a sailor shipwrecked on an island that’s been ravaged by a perpetual war. The small population still left on the island take shelter in the Sanctuaries in order to survive, which explains part of the game’s title; the other part is the ‘salt in the wound’ experience you’ll have outside of those safe havens.
Yep, you’ll encounter a dire range of Ska’s typically disgusting hand-drawn enemies and, apparently, “some of the most incredible bosses [the studio has] ever made.”
Salt and Sanctuary is due to arrive on PS4 and PlayStation Vita in 2015.
