E3 2019: Unexplored 2 is the prettiest game out of the PC Gaming Show
Here's a pretty one. Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy is a roguelite action-RPG. There is an advanced procedural generation technology in action here, one that developer Big Sugar got good at with the original—but way less pretty looking—Unexplored. Glad they done found an incredible artist for this sequel. And while this is a sequel, Unexplored 2 "is a completely different beast than its predecessor," according to Big Sugar. Even though it builds on its predecessors' successes, this one will be even richer, more immersive, and even more expansive.
So you're leaving behind the procedurally generated Dungeon of Doom for the procedurally generated outdoors. The procedural generation is so expertly designed that it all looks and feels handcrafted. And that art style, though. Looks like living legend Byron Preiss, aka Moebius. Or the Hellboy comic's Mike Mignola. And that's all you had to say. Although the studio's new art director, Hendrik Visser, says, "The art style should make love with our procedural generator, so they create beautiful babies." You...you sure said it, Hendrik.
In true roguelike fashion, you only live once. YOLO. Permadeath. But Unexplored 2's legacy system means that when you start a new adventure with a new hero, you can continue playing in the same world. Your journey is new, but you already know more about the world and the challenges involved. You know what to avoid. You know what to definitely visit. Hopefully you remember where your last hero died, because their corpse is still holding onto a pretty sweet weapon for you to pick up too, right?
If you continue, though, then the world continues as well. Meaning, if you wiped out a threatening pack of wolves near a village, that village, in your next playthrough, possibly thrived and now has a lot of goods for you to buy. Or, if you spared the wolves in your previous run, maybe the wolves won back that territory and that entire village has been wiped.
But complicating that push-and-pull legacy gameplay, it will become progressively harder to complete your quest the more times you continue in the same world. The imperious Empire will gain a stronger and stronger foothold in the world in each subsequent continuation.
You can bolster Unexplored 2's development on crowdfunding site Fig. The developers state the game is getting finished with or without extra money. They're mainly on Fig in order to give some people early access, so those people can give Unexplored 2 some early feedback. That's what Big Sugar needs the most of.
But if you'd rather just wait for the finished product, you can wishlist it now on Steam and wait for its "coming in 2020" launch. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go ahead and lose my mind looking at these incredible screenshots.
Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy is a roguelite action-RPG and prodigious sequel to the critically acclaimed indie gem, Unexplored. Leave the Dungeon of Doom behind and venture into a vast, wondrous world as you embark on a heroic quest to destroy the mysterious Staff of Yendor.
Explore beautiful landscapes and discover hidden marvels. Encounter magical creatures and dangerous foes. Make brave choices and put your faith in good fortune. Featuring a unique legacy system, advanced procedural generation technology, and rich, generative storytelling,
Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy is an adventure like no other.
Key features
• Legacy system: the actions of past heroes impact the fortunes of those that follow in their footsteps. Use your legacy wisely to give successive adventurers greater hopes of completing their quest
• Permadeath in a persistent world: when a hero dies, they stay dead. But you can choose to return to the same world with a new adventurer, forearmed with knowledge of what lies ahead. Or, if you prefer, begin a new adventure in a completely uncharted world
• Generative storytelling: there is no premeditated script in Unexplored 2. Every adventurer's ultimate goal may be the same – to destroy the Staff of Yendor – but every hero will have their own unique story of the events and encounters that happened along the way
• Procedural generation: Ludomotion's proprietary technology generates content that feels designed by humans, not algorithms, and can create a near infinite number of new lands, new places, new stories, and new challenges to discover
• Orchestral adaptive soundtrack: an intricate system allows Unexplored 2's music to be arranged reactively, making subtle changes to the score at appropriate times, whether a moment of high emotion, or to provide foreshadowing
