Jochen Mistiaen has released his cel-shaded action-horror game Malebolgia on Steam.
Played from a third-person perspective, Malebolgia has you fighting your way through a demonic palace located in the deepest Circle of Hell. The melancholy characters you encounter and the story is inspired by Dante Alighieri’s epic poem “Inferno.” While the demons that you’ll do battle with are given names and ranks taken from the “Ars Goetia” (as you can see here) and parts of 20th century European history.
You play as Leopold, a battle-weary veteran armed with a halberd and a torch, as he tries to fight through ghouls, devils, and monsters to escape the palace. Eventually, he’ll even have to face the Emperor of Hell himself. As you venture the palace it will change according to time and weather, meaning that as day fades into night you’ll face new threats, or a blizzard may subside granting you entry to a new area.
As well as steady exploration of the dark corridors, and solving the occasional key-and-lock puzzle, you’ll have to get to grips with the game’s “deliberately paced combat system” to progress. Knowing when to dodge and when to strike is key to victory. And don’t think you’ll be able to run off – “These are not threats to outrun, but opponents to best in battle,” reads the game’s description.
