Doing video games is not easy. Not only is it a complex development that does not end when the game arrives in Steam, but having an operational and functional video game is only part of the film. It is useless to have a good idea, good production values and eager if the title does not reach who has to get: the players. And if not, tell them to ‘Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream‘.
Eriksholm. This is the first title of the Swedish study River End Games (although its creative director comes from says). Roughlyit is a narrative video game with isometric perspective and stealth as the main protagonist. There are no skill trees, level ups or such things to which current games have accustomed us. We control a character and we have to travel the city of Eriksholm without seeing us. Could it be said that it is a puzzle game that is resolved stealth? It could be said.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream | Valve
Altísimos production values. The Swedish study can boast of having done a sensational job in terms of graphics. ‘Eriksholm’ has some of the most spectacular kinematics and facial captures that we have seen for a long time, an outstanding visual quality and amazing animations. This, which is a delight for the eyes, surely plays against the title for a simple reason: the investment.
The general norm is that having such powerful graphics is synonymous with having made a strong investment. Investment that in triple A games with great studies can be profitable at the same time, but ‘Erikslhom’ is not precisely that. It is the first game of a new studio and, in addition, it is very niche: it has an isometric perspective type RTS, it is based on stealth, it is short (like 12 hours, more or less), it is barely rejugable and costs 40 euros in Steam.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream | Valve
But I loved it. That is the worst drink. Despite its disastrous release in terms of figures, the game has reaped excellent criticism. In Steam, he has 363 reviews, the majority very positive, and the specialized press has put it through the clouds. That is something that many indies cannot say. The negative criticisms, on the other hand, agree that the narrative falls from the second section of the game, which can be repetitive and that, above all, it takes a long time to start.
Be that as it may, despite the reception of the press and most users, ‘Eriksholm’ has not managed to overcome The 500 simultaneous players on the day of its launch. At the time these lines are written there are 106 people playing in Steam, to which the console and Epic Games players should be added.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream | Valve
In the background. Erikslhom’s case puts a very raw reality on the table: the world of video games is voracious. Video games are increasingly expensive to produce and Its price, therefore, is also higher. The budget to buy them, however, has not grown at the same rate and the amount that can be dedicated to experimenting and trying new things is very limited.
And what does that translate? In which the player is sure, betting on the great franchises he knows and that, generally, propose games that are a well (‘Call of Duty’, ‘EA Sports FC’, etc.). Despite the overwhelming rhythm of video game launches, the reality is that Steam’s average player Just play four different video games a year.
Cover image | Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream in Steam
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