Styx: Shards of Darkness: E3 2016 Trailer and Update

     Styx: Shards of Darkness is a sequel to 2014's Master of Shadows, and a sort of prequel to Of Orcs and Men.  Today publisher Focus Home Interactive, and developer Cyanuide Studios, have released the E3 2016 trailer and it looks amazing.

     In addition to the new trailer we also get a bunch of information on what the story is about- as it brings us into a new city, and encountering new races, we'll get a much more diverse enemies to have to outsmart.

     Official website's synopsis:

While Styx is in business in Thoben, the City of Thieves, he makes an unexpected deal with a mysterious human officer Helledryn. As Styx, you must steal the ambassador’s scepter, a very coveted object, which other, more nefarious, parties are interested in. Of course, the reward shall be worth the risk, in return the officer promises you great quantity of a resource you are desperately looking for: magical amber, the source of Styx power. 

Sneak your way to your objective, evading dwarves, elves, and all manner of races, hunting down the scepter. Creatively utilize all of Styx’s tools: assassination, amber powers, talents and skills, equipment, and crafting! 

Each race excels at a different thing. The Dark Elves, for instance, have experts at goblin hunting while the Dwarves have a supernatural sense of smell, enabling them to track you down (even when invisible!). Learn their strengths and weaknesses if you want to survive long enough to snatch the scepter.

     In addition it's been stated that there are more features still to be revealed!  Shards of Darkness looks amazing with the new Unreal 4 engine and it seems the game will be a huge improvement over Master of Shadows, which was really good in the first place.  This is definitely a title to keep an eye on.

     Styx: Shards of Darkness is set to arrive this year.

     For related posts [ Styx ]

     Source [ Styx Official Site ]

Styx: Shards of Darkness: Update

     After playing Styx: Master of Shadows back in 2014 I was quite impressed by the goblin assassin's story and the stealth gameplay.  It wasn't amazing and few other people I knew played it, but it held something interesting with its fantasy setting and story.  And I was more surprised that even fewer people knew that it was also actually a game with ties to 2012's Of Orcs and Men, as it is a sort of prequel.
     I even forgot to post my draft about the Cyanide Studio's announcement of Styx: Shards of Darkness back in October last year.  Styx must've been up to his supernaturally stealthy tricks again to have slipped out of my mind so well.  Well played goblin, well played.  Luckily, this update has reminded me I need to replay both the earlier games and review them to build hype and refresh my knowledge of this wonderful world for the new game.

     The official site's rundown:

Following the fall of Akenash tower, an extraordinary matter has forced Styx out of hiding to infiltrate Körangar, the city of the Dark Elves. Supposedly impregnable, a diplomatic summit offers Styx a chance at slipping in unnoticed, as he learns that the event is nothing but a mere façade… Moreover, the Elves have joined forces with the Dwarves, and the only thing both races have in common is a mutual hatred of the Goblins…

     Cyanide Studio's have rebuilt the entire game in the newer Unreal 4 engine allowing for larger and lusher environments for us to play in.  There's supposed to be new mechanics, abilities, and a bunch of new enemies all in an effort to refine and improve upon the precedent that Master of Shadows set.

     Styx: Shards of Darkness is set to release in 2016.

     Source [ PushSquare ]

     The official site [ Styx: The Game ]

STYX: Shards of Darkness: Delayed Until Q1 2017

     Cyanide Studios' sequel to the 2014 stealth hit STYX: Master of Shadows is getting a delay.  The titular Amber-addicted goblin Styx will now be returning in the first quarter of 2017 in STYX: Shards of Darkness.

     This new gameplay trailer softens the blow just a little.  It does sound like a good idea to delay the game.  The move to a new engine and larger budget poses a few issues of adapting.

"With this new episode of Styx we updated our engine from Unreal 3 to Unreal 4. This update has brought so much to the Styx series, from graphical enhancements to new gameplay mechanics and features. The engine transition has required some time for our team to adapt to. We're dedicated to providing the best stealth experience possible for players, so in agreement with our publisher Focus, we are delaying the game until the first quarter of 2017."  

-Patrick Pligersdorffer, CEO Cyanide Studios

     Master of Shadows was really good despite a few flaws.  This delay will hopefully remedy some of the clunky stealth mechanics and make the game much smoother overall.  It'll be fun to return to our little green friend to see what he's been up to since the destruction of the Tower of Akenash, and how he handles his new adventure into the Dark Elven city of Korangar.

     STYX: Shards of Darkness will arrive in Q1 2017 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

STYX: Shards of Darkness: 2nd Gameplay Trailer

     Cyanide Studios' curmudgeonly amber-addicted goblin assassin Styx has gotten a whole new gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated sequel to Master of Shadows called Shards of Darkness.
     After the fall of the tower of Akenash, rumor of an impregnable diplomatic summit has lured Styx out of hiding.  Infiltrating the Dark Elf city of Korrangar, he sneaks his way in to find the event is just a deception...

     In Shards of Darkness, Styx's arsenal has been expanded greatly.  New weapons, such as a crossbow that can kill, tranquilize, and set off traps, and skills like a teleport to clone are fully at his disposal.  He's got new moves such as more fluid climbing abilities like zip-lining and rope-swinging.  There is also an awesome and useful new craftable item called the Acid Trap that can help dissolve armored enemies and eliminate those pesky hard-to-hide dead bodies.
     New bestiary, new enemies, and new side-missions to complete have also been included.  Probably the most notable new addition to the sequel is a co-operative mode, allowing players to join friend's games and play together.  And of course a lot of new story with actually animated cinematics.

     This looks to be a case of taking an awesome game and making a sequel better in every way possible.

     Styx: Shards of Darkness sneaks onto PS4, Xbox One, and PC in March 2017.

     For related posts click [ STYX ]

Styx: Master of Shadows: A Skilled Goblin Anti-Hero and Some Trailers

     Styx, tiny Goblin thief and assassin, has set off to commit the crime of the century.  He intends to use his skills to get through the Tower of Akenash to gain access to a the Heart of the World Tree and obtain Amber, the magical sap that can bestow immense power.  The cost of this power is a descent into madness which is something it looks as if Styx is willing to take.

     Players will need to rely on cunning and stealth to make up for the diminutive size of Styx.  In addition to the time-tested assassin skills of ledge-pushing, throat-slitting, and throwing dagger tossing, Styx also has a few extra supernatural abilities up his sleeve to aid in his shadowy business such as creating clones to cause distractions and turning invisible.  The cloned doppelganger can assist in more than just looks, it can help set up multiple murders with you opening up a whole new realm of strategy.  

     Of course the game is designed with verticality in mind so players have a plethora of options to choose from in dispatching enemies in each level.  You can lure guards in and drop crates, you can sneak up and smother someone, or you can even poison them.
     Infiltrating the Tower will take ingenuity.  We must be vigilant and keenly perceptive to make it.  Scale up, sneak under, and find your way through shadow to eliminate all those in your way to the Heart of the Tree to get that sweet golden sap.

     Styx: Master of Shadows is slated for an October release on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
          No exact date is set.

STYX: Shards of Darkness Launch Trailer!

    The highly anticipated follow up to the tremendous Styx: Master of Shadows, Shards of Darkness, is finally arriving next week and we get an all new launch trailer to whet our appetites!

     Cyanide Studios' stealthy goblin assassin returns with a new mission- steal the scepter of an ambassador for a mysterious new human named Helledryn.  The reward for this dangerous task?  An absurd amount of Amber- the highly addictive source of his strange powers.

     Armed with his trusty blade, creative new ways to kill people, some reliable old supernatural skills, and even some new co-op play- Styx will need all the stealth and snark he can muster to achieve his goal to make it through a web of deadly intrigue in this world of dark fantasy cloak-and-dagger.

     Styx: Shards of Darkness launches Tues. Mar. 14th.

     Related posts [ STYX ]

Styx: Master of Shadows: New Trailer: Die Harder

     Developer Cyanide Studios and publisher Focus Home Interactive's upcoming stealth game Styx: Master of Shadows debuts another homage-titled trailer today aptly called "Die Harder."  It shows off a variety of ways that Styx may be killed during the game.  Whether it be by trolls, traps, or magic guards- it's always quick.  Stabbed, shot, strangled, thrown from ledges, and crushed by giant fists.  There's plenty of ways to die if found.

     The most important thing to take away from this is if you are caught- run away!  Styx isn't strong enough to take on even a few enemies at a time.  The game does show the option to parry, but to what extent is not shown.  I believe it'll be just enough to separate yourself from the situation and back to the shadows.

     Styx: Master of Shadows will be available for in October for PS4, XBox One, and PC.

     Only Steam has an exact date (Oct. 7th) listed and a price of $29.99.
     Steam also has an exclusive 20% off pre-order bonus.

Styx: Master of Shadows: Making of Video: Gameplay

     I've been following this game a lot lately, and today developers Cyanide Studios released a bunch of making of videos.  The only one I'll post here is the gameplay, and I'd recommend you check out their official game site linked below.

     Styx, the tiny, Amber-addicted, goblin assassin, is on his way to the source of his addiction and power- the World Tree in the Tower of Akenash.  Styx: Master of Shadows is a game that focuses on infiltration and has large vertical areas to give players opportunities to make their own paths with cunning and planning, because as the diminutive Styx, he can be easily overpowered by any of the humans and other beings you'll encounter.
     This simple premise of stealth and story has me fully anticipating a hit game.  I honestly believe this could be a very large gem hidden in a slew of recent sub-par gaming juggernauts.

     [ Styx the Game ]

Styx: Master of Shadows: Launch Trailer

     Styx's clones might not break your bones...

     The release of Styx: Master of Shadows is a mere 5 days away.  With Focus Interactive and Cyanide Studio's new game so close they've released a nice compact little launch trailer.

     ...but his blade'll never fail, you'll see.

     It isn't often that I get this excited for a game like this.  I'm preparing for some sweet stealth-and-strategy gaming with my soon-to-be friend Styx, the Amber-addicted assassin on his way through the Tower of Akenash to find the heart of the World Tree, the source of his power and addiction.

Styx: Master of Shadows: Assassin's Green Trailer 2

     With the release only a week away, Styx: Master of Shadows has released another gameplay trailer.  On October 7th we'll be able to scale the Tower of Akenash poisoning, stabbing, and silently infiltrating our way to the World Tree for a sweet dose of Amber straight from the source.

     In this installment we get to see a multitude of ways we can use Styx's skills and stealth to dispatch enemies.  Clever use of the environment will be a necessity.

     Styx: Master of Shadows will be available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.