The RPG genre has had a few really strong years, with modern classics breathing new life into the blend of deep storytelling, character customization, and tactical gameplay. Enter New Arc Line, a game that aims to carve its place in the genre with a unique combination of steampunk and magical elements. Set against the backdrop of New Arc, a sprawling metropolis filled with both promise and peril, the game tells the story of an immigrant striving for a better future while navigating a world of industrial decay, societal injustice, and moral ambiguity. With its rich customization options, party-based mechanics, and the freedom to shape your destiny as hero or villain, New Arc Line is shaping up to be an ambitious addition to the genre.
What we know
New Arc Line introduces players to the sprawling metropolis of New Arc, a city on the brink of industrial and magical revolution. Developed by Dreamate and published by Fulqrum Publishing, the game draws inspiration from classic CRPGs, placing players in the shoes of an immigrant seeking hope and a cure for their family’s deadly disease. The city’s gilded facade hides a world of corruption, inequality, and moral dilemmas, requiring players to make tough decisions to navigate its challenges.
Offering rich customization, New Arc Line allows you to create a character from scratch, selecting race, gender, and background. Your choices directly affect how the world and its inhabitants perceive and treat you. The game offers multiple pathways to success, whether through mastery of steampunk-inspired technology, arcane magic, or a blend of both. Combat takes the form of tactical turn-based battles, where you can adapt strategies, employ powerful skills, and leverage your party members’ unique abilities. Along the way, you’ll recruit companions with distinct backstories and motivations, shaping not only your own fate but the destiny of New Arc itself. The game is currently in Early Access for PC.
What we saw
At Gamescom, Fulqrum hosted a hands-off presentation showcasing New Arc Line’s key features, including character creation, turn-based combat, and its dual reliance on technology and magic. Following this, we explored the game further through Early Access on Steam, gaining firsthand insight into its mechanics and narrative structure.
What we thought
New Arc Line feels like an ambitious project, blending the narrative depth and complexity of classic CRPGs with a steampunk aesthetic that stands out. The city of New Arc is a visual treat, capturing the dichotomy of industrial progress and urban decay with detailed environments and a muted color palette that reflects the city’s dark undertones. Its blend of steampunk and magical elements gives players intriguing choices – whether to wield arcane powers or rely on mechanized contraptions – and the potential for unique playstyles adds to the game’s appeal.
Combat is a familiar but satisfying turn-based affair, giving players tactical flexibility in how they approach encounters. The ability to utilize companion skills and synergize with your chosen abilities adds depth to each skirmish. However, Early Access shows room for refinement; certain animations and UI elements feel clunky, and balancing issues occasionally disrupt the flow of gameplay. While the foundation is solid, these rough edges might hinder immersion for some players at this stage.
The narrative premise is compelling, as it intertwines personal stakes with broader societal issues. The backdrop of segregation and corruption offers plenty of storytelling potential, but the current writing sometimes struggles to deliver impactful emotional beats. Dialogues, while functional, lack the nuance seen in other titles, and character interactions occasionally feel stilted. That said, the companion system holds promise, as each character brings their own backstory and moral dilemmas to the table, enriching the player’s own journey.
Visually, New Arc Line captures the steampunk aesthetic well, though certain textures and environments occasionally lack polish. The audio design complements the atmosphere, with a moody soundtrack and environmental effects that emphasize the oppressive weight of New Arc. However, technical issues in the Early Access build, such as occasional frame rate drops, are reminders that the game is still a work in progress.
Despite its rough edges, New Arc Line shows immense potential. Its world-building, unique setting, and blend of technology and magic create an enticing canvas for players to explore. With additional polish and refinement, Dreamate’s debut could be a standout title in the CRPG genre, appealing to fans of the genre while carving out its own identity.
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