After the Brute, we're glad to introduce you the second Revenant, the Burning Witch! We hope that you'll enjoy discovering her as we enjoyed creating her.
Let's burn!
Lorraine Ardeleanu was a young gypsy fortune teller with no power of claivoyance but an excellent sense of what people wanted to be told, and she made good money doing just that.
Unfortunately, her usual mumbo jumbo about "dark forces afoot" was not exactly to the taste of one superstitious nobleman: Baron Manfred Von Darksburg did not take her "omen" lightly and hoped to avert his fate by speedily sending the gypsy to the stake for witchcraft.
Touched by the plague while she was still ablaze, she is now constantly burning with an inextinguishable fire and an eternal wrath, making her one of the most dangerous and relentless Revenants.
Burning Feet
A lightning-quick dash that leaves a blazing trail on the ground. Good for splitting a group of Survivors, or dashing away from danger. Using Fiery Temper instantly refreshes its cooldown.
Fiery Temper
A powerful, high-damage explosion around the Burning Witch. Throw fireballs at Survivors to charge this skill. When it is up, the Burning Witch will sport a distinct fiery glow, so beware: your enemies will know your intentions!
If you want to know more about The Burning Witch's character design evolution and the awesome work of our artists during the development of Darksburg, here's the link of the complete post we shared on Imgur: https://imgur.com/gallery/A4yPJB6
We hope you enjoyed this first look at The Burning Witch! Make sure to wishlist Darksburg and stay tuned as we’ll be introducing the next Revenant very soon!
We're glad to start the new character's introduction wave. After the Survivors, let's meet the bad guys, the Revenants!
We hope you'll enjoy discovering these new characters as much as we enjoyed creating them.
Let's start, and unleash the Brute!
The name "Jorg Bähr" probably didn't ring a bell to many people in the Dreadmire county, but if you merely uttered the nickname "the Brute", most merchants and middle-class travellers would turn pale and shiver, knowing instantly which specific brute you were referring to, for Bähr was probably the tallest, strongest and meanest of them all.
A wanted highwayman due for beheading, Bähr was "saved" by the Plague that turned him into a Revenant. He's now a raging, braindead pile of muscles clad in a pilory, which, come to think of it, is pretty much what he was right before turning.
Heaume Run
A head-on charge that knocks back the Survivors and deals them a fair amount of damage. Can be stopped instantly by pressing the button again while running.
Stock Rotation
A powerful spin that stuns Survivors in range. Can be tricky to land, but very punishing when it connects. May also be used to halt the Heaume Run instantly!
If you want to know more about the Brute's character design evolution and the awesome work of our artists during the development of Darksburg, here's the link of the complete post we shared on Imgur: https://imgur.com/gallery/xLQ9DsX
We hope you enjoyed our introduction to the group of Revenants you'll be helping to stop the group of Survivors!
Make sure to wishlist the game and stay tuned as we still have plenty more to announce!
Sister Abigail - Character Design Evolution
Hey everyone!
We're happy to share with you some of the awesome work of our artists, Jérémy Vitry and Philemon Belhomme, during the development of the game!
First character ever imagined for Darksburg, Sister Abigail evolved a lot during both the pre-production and production process.
Originally thought to be a fierce crusader, armed with a long sword, she was designed to slash her way through hordes of zombies.
With the choice of going towards more over the top character design, it appeared that this badass warrior was a bit out of context: she needed to appear as if she was taken from her monastery and thrown into the zombie apocalypse.
Younger, with a lighter armor, the following interrogations on Sister Abigail’s equipment was her weaponry.
It was already agreed that faith would be the base of some of her abilities, but what kind of weapon could represent the state of mind she would be into when the infection hit?
The first cross she carried was heavy and glowing, and we actually modelled the entire character, thinking that it would fit the lore and the ambient of the game.
It quickly appeared that the cross was too massive, too shiny and could not be the first thing she found as a weapon after hearing the zombies coming.
The simply wooden cross better fits the character design and the general sensation that we want to give to the game: you are surviving, largely outnumbered with what your character managed to grab as a weapon.
The general aspect of Abigail’s abilities also evolved and became cleaner and more impactful with the development process.
For example, her ultimate ability: Exorcism in February 2019...
... and today.
If you want to see more work from our artists, you can check their Artstation:
Varag is an elderly Wolfman. What's a Wolfman, you ask? Well, theories abound as to the origin of the affliction, ranging from curse to wolf bite. The reality is that nobody knows for sure, and Varag never was keen on giving explanations.
In any case, it meant he's been feared and loathed in equal measure, and more often than not, hunted by bigoted and mean-spirited humans. It is worth noting that, given his berserker tendencies, such hunts rarely ended well for the aforementioned fools.
That is, until a not so foolish bounty hunter finally captured him. Not one to hold a grudge, Varag now works hand in hand with other survivors to make it out of the city. After all, there's nothing like a zombie apocalypse to bring people together!
Pounce
A mighty leap that repels and damages enemies upon landing. Equally effective as an offensive or as a defensive move.
Dire Bite
A vicious bite that deals massive damage to enemies in front of Varag. Can be charged for increased reach and damage.
Makeshift Shield
Use the prison gate as a barrier to parry the attacks.
Call of the Wild
Varag temporarily reverts to feral state, which deprives him of his shackle and shield, but allows him to use his other skills much more often. Additionally, mauling and biting enemies gives a bit of temporary health!
We hope you enjoyed our introduction to the group of survivors you'll be helping brave the dangerous streets of Darksburg!
Make sure to wishlist the game and stay tuned as we still have plenty more to announce!
A Dangerous walk through Darksburg
Hey Everyone!
We're delighted to share our brand new gameplay trailer.
https://youtu.be/cM-qHKl1SHk
Follow Sister Abigail on her dangerous journey through the streets of the Darksburg Harbour district. Discover the horrors she and the other survivors will face in order to escape the infected outbreak!
We have plenty more Darksburg news to share in the near future. Make sure to add us to your wishlist to stay up to date!
Survivor Introduction - Rose
Rose is all Business. Hunting wanted criminals for money always seemed like an suitable life choice to her.
After all, she quite likes the adrenaline, she enjoys the fighting more than is socially acceptable - even in Darksburg - and she lacks the empathy normally bestowed to the average human being.
That being said, she is generally light-hearted, if a bit cynical and intent on making money out of almost everything in life.
She does have one known soft point for Twig, the stray chipmunk she rescued while on a mission. Although any mention of said soft spot in front of her is widely considered a health hazard.
Somersault
Rose gracefully leaps in the air to move out of harm's way...or repositions herself to get a clear shot!
Caltrop Mine
Rose throws a small mechanical device that deploys caltrops, slowing down her enemies to make targeting easier.
Piercing Shot
A powerful energetic bolt that pierces through targets like a needle through fabric, dealing massive damage along the way.
Useful to weed out groups of zombies, or to snipe a well-guarded target! Can be charged for more damage.
Make it Rain
Rose fires up to three bolts in the sky, that come down raining on zombies and dealing huge damage on impact.
Perfect for killing off an Elite Zombie or giving an ally some breathing space.
We hope you enjoyed this first look at Rose! Make sure to wishlist the game and stay tuned as we’ll be introducing the next survivor very soon!
Survivor Introduction - Sister Abigail
Before being a Nun, Abigail was a mercenary Captain. Work was plentiful, but war - ever the gruesome business - brought little gratification and many nightmares.
Being left for dead on a battlefield after the betrayal of her own lieutenant was an eye opener. She decided to change her life and seek redemption, joining the monastery in Darksburg as Sister Abigail.
This unlikely career change meant she could focus on helping others instead of harming them. However, this mess with the Plague means she'll have to revisit her old life after all.
Righteous Leap
A mighty jump invoking a holy seal upon landing. Can be used to vault over low obstacles. Repels and stuns infected on impact.
The Bells
Abigail hammers a bellpost into the ground, attracting nearby infected. Deals minor damage upon first impact.
Whirlwind
Abigail becomes an unstoppable hurricane. Damages all infected in range.
Exorcism
Channels a massive incandescent beam of holy light. Whether this cleanses the infected or merely burns them to a crisp is up for debate.
We hope you enjoyed this first look at Sister Abigail! Make sure to wishlist the game and stay tuned as we’ll be introducing the next Survivor very soon!
Darksburg - Dev Diary 1
Hey Everyone!
Welcome to the first in a series of Dev Diaries that will introduce you to the core concepts of Darksburg, the inspirations that lead us to developing it and the process that our teams go through to take a game from concept to release!
In this first video, Game Director Sebastien Vidal and Lead Game Designer Frédéric Oughdentz provide an introduction to the game. The interview can be found in written form below the video.
https://youtu.be/S53PDhBb-mo
What is Darksburg?
Darksburg is a cooperative game where a team of 4 Survivors fight against hordes of infected that have taken over the town.
What influences inspired the creation of Darksburg?
We wanted to pay tribute to classic zombie movies where normal people are being thrown into extraordinary situations, but this time with a medieval twist.
Among us many are fans of co-op survival games such as Left4Dead, but we wanted to experiment with the more tactical aspect of a top-down view.
What does collaboration look like in Darksburg?
Survivors each have their own skillset and playstyle, but there’s no designated role such as healer or tank. I mean, they are pretty strong but they must work together and make sure nobody is left behind.
A single Survivor cannot hope to make it on their own, as they may be quickly taken down by an overwhelming group of infected, or even by a single Elite Zombie.
Elite Zombies are powerful enemies such as the Executioner, the Grave Digger, or the Burning Witch. They all have unique abilities like the Survivors’ and can become a lethal threat when attacking as a team, especially in PvP mode.
Who should play Darksburg?
Darksburg will be enjoyed by anyone who likes action and co-op games. We’ve made sure that Darksburg is accessible to a wide range of players, but dedication will be key to mastery.
The game is mainly skill based, but we are currently working on a talent system that will allow players to customize the playstyle of each Survivor.
What’s the current state of development?
We are currently close to alpha stage. We are mostly done with the core gameplay and controls, and we have already implemented a bare-bones version of the PvP mode. We are now focusing on content and balancing.
We also have other pretty cool unique features in the works that we’ll talk about in a future diary.
We hope you enjoyed this look behind the scenes. We'll have much more to come in the near future! Make sure to add Darksburg to your Steam wishlist to get all of the latest information.
Survivor Introduction - Runolf
A cheerful gourmet, Runolf moved to Darksburg from the cold North to start a new life and a new business.
His inn, the Golden Boar, was one of the liveliest places in town, especially after dark when customers gathered to share a warm fire, tolerable ale and the all-important gossip.
Runolf was always happy to entertain the crowds with tall tales of the North, although he seemed to always avoid sharing anything about his life before Darksburg.
Since the Plague, he's been helping friends and strangers alike, offering shelter and fighting back against the Infected with grim determination.
Coming Through!
Runolf charges sending the infected flying!
Bottled Delicacy
Runolf tosses a bottle of soup for allies to grab. Briefly boosts speed and attack power, and gives temporary health. Use "Dinner is Ready!" to replenish its charges.
Ladle Smash
A high-damage attack with a wide area of effect. Can be charged to increase effect and range.
Dinner is Ready!
A cauldron filled with delicious soup that heals all allies within range, while also making them stronger and more resilient. Also replenishes all "Bottled Delicacy" charges.
We hope you enjoyed this first look at Runolf! Make sure to wishlist the game and stay tuned as we’ll be introducing the next survivor very soon!
Darksburg at PAX East and Twitchcon Europe
Hey Darksburg fans!
We had an amazing time showing Darksburg to everyone for the first time at PAX East and Twitchcon Europe.
The reception to the game was fantastic and we had plenty of teams trying to overcome the hordes of infected that have overtaken the town.
We'll be showing much more of the game in the coming weeks starting with a series of Dev Diaries that will explain the core concepts and development process of the game. After that, be on the look out for lots of new artwork and character backstories!
The next event we'll be attending will be Gamescom in August and we hope to see some of you there! Thanks again for all of the support and the enthusiasm shown for the game so far!
