Steam Next Fest is the perfect opportunity to discover new favorites. Norse: blood oath It had a great first screening and is now on my wishlist. Combining the tactical combat chops of the best turn-based RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 and XCOM 2 with the brash charm and personality of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, its early sequences may be unpolished, but they’re full of flavor. Throw in some manor-style settlement building, and this is one medieval game I’m keen to watch.
The Norse: Oath of Blood demo begins with exiled protagonist Gunnar Gripsson and a crew of battle-ready mercenaries arriving in a new land in search of a place to set up camp. They quickly made an agreement with some locals. Once you eliminate the gang of bandits terrorizing the area, the residents will welcome you and help you build a new home. Exploration and combat are immediately reminiscent of games like Baldur’s Gate 3, with the option of click movement or WASD controls in the overworld.
The dialogue is natural and a bit grainy, which will immediately appeal to Kingdom Come Delivery 2 fans. While some of the animation is far from polished, there are moments that immediately hit home, such as the shocked look on a local farmer’s face when his wife suggests that his skills in the field are far superior to those in the bedroom. As ridiculous as it is, these early exchanges strike a nice balance between being cheeky but not overly gratuitous.
But what hooked me even more was the combat. It uses a grid system, with each member of the group bringing a different skill set to the table. I’m immediately captivated by the power of the move, reliving my Into the Breach days as a steel judoka by having Gunnar carry his opponent over his shoulder and ramming them onto the ground behind him, giving him an opening to deliver the finishing blow.
Elsewhere, other abilities on display are already activating my tactical neurons. Shield Slam allows you to slam enemies into each other (adding to the benefits of Into The Breach), drawing their attention to your attacker and creating a distraction. Archer Sigrid has a cooldown-based ability that allows her to fire arrows at all enemies within range. This is incredible if you’re ready to take the risk of putting her right in the middle of the action.
Of course, this is all just the beginning. Once you have defeated the bandits, you can set up your camp in Scandinavia and begin to grow it into a thriving hub. You can recruit villagers, prepare a blacksmith, armory and workshop, conduct trade and collect resources to improve your equipment.
Ultimately, the entire game involves you taking on the dangerous Steinarr Far-Spear and seeking revenge on your late father, Jarl Gripr. In the current state of the demo, there are a lot of small complaints and unfinished parts, but that’s to be expected. But I was completely captivated by the core. I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on Norse: Oath of Blood as Arctic Hazard continues development.
The Norse: Oath of Blood demo is available now as part of Steam Next Fest, which runs until Monday, October 20th. Download it here and see what you think.
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