Shadow of the Road
Travellers of the Road - Asuke
Into the Land of Roots
Greetings, warriors!
[p]Today, we'll acquaint ourselves with the ancient - a world where the age of steel has never begun to stir, and neither will it. The story takes us far below... [/p][p][/p][p][/p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/c4c51a7246abc6e04e52aef35cc833f2e90045aa.png"][/p][p]And other platforms! [/p][p]📍 Facebook [/p][p]📍 X (Twitter) [/p][p]📍 Instagram [/p][p]📍 Youtube[/p][p] [/p][p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173980/Shadow_of_the_Road/"][/p][p][/p]
French and German localizations added to Shadow of the Road
Greetings, warriors!
[p]It is known that samurai were not only accomplished swordsmen, but also masters of diplomacy. Studying from their wisdom, the Shadow of the Road team understands that proper communication is key to success. So, we're delighted to share some exciting news: French and German localisations have now been added to the game![/p][p]If you’ve been on the fence because of the language barrier, now is the perfect time to dive in and experience the demo in the language of your choice.[/p][p]Unfortunately, whether you say bonjour, guten Tag, or just hello - the hungry yōkai will most likely try to eat you anyway… but at least you’ll know what’s going on![/p][p]Until next time - à bientôt, bis dann, and see you soon![/p][p]
[/p][p]And other platforms! [/p][p]📍 Facebook [/p][p]📍 X (Twitter) [/p][p]📍 Instagram [/p][p]📍 Youtube[/p][p] [/p][p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173980/Shadow_of_the_Road/"][/p][p][/p]
Dynamic Turn Order
Hello warriors!
[p]Are you tired of turn-based combat growing stale by round 2, following the same routine of enemies go -> party goes -> rinse, repeat? Well then, you're in luck! Instead of rounds following a fixed pattern, Shadow of the Road keeps things fresh by offering a constantly evolving Timeline.[/p][p][/p]What is the Timeline?
[p]Every character in combat, whether an ally or an enemy, has an Initiative value. Initiative determines their place in the turn order queue that is called the Timeline.[/p][p]The higher the character's Initiative is, the sooner they can act, and the more to the left they're placed on the Timeline.[/p][p]If two or more characters have the same Initiative, the game decides randomly between them. Once someone takes a turn, they’re moved behind the others with equal Initiative - keeping things fair and varied. Simple enough at first glance, but the Timeline evolves rapidly in play.[/p]What affects the Timeline?
[p]Initiative values shift mid-combat, meaning the turn order on the Timeline isn’t locked, and it's constantly updated in response to a plethora of factors:[/p][p] - Every damaging attack inflicts Distraction, which reduces the target’s Initiative on a successful hit;[/p][p] - Some abilities (like Dazzle) apply longer-term effects that lower Initiative over multiple turns, making it harder for affected units to recover their tempo;[/p][p] - The team that initiates combat gets a temporary Initiative boost, rewarding careful planning and positioning;[/p][p] - Some characters have passive perks that resist Initiative loss, or gain extra Initiative under specific circumstances.[/p][p]This keeps the battlefield fluid and compels the player to take into account the consequences of everyone's actions when planning.[/p][p]If a character’s Initiative drops below 0 at any time, their current turn ends immediately, regardless of how many Action or Movement Points they had left: a well-timed hit can cancel a unit’s entire turn, before they get to act! That means, planning your attacks around the Timeline is just as important as damage output.[/p][p]A character’s Initiative value resets as soon as they finish their turn. However, there's a catch: if they take damage before their next turn starts (say, from someone still acting in the current round), that new Initiative can still be lowered — potentially pushing them even further down in the Timeline.[/p]Navigating the Timeline
[p]The Timeline bar at the top of the screen shows:[/p][p] - Portraits of the characters with upcoming turns;[/p][p] - Their names;[/p][p] - Their current Initiative values.[/p][p]The bar is split into Current Round and Next Round, letting you see who’s acting now and who’s up next. It updates in real-time as characters act, take damage, or die.[/p][p]This system rewards deeper tactics, rather than a raw, by the numbers approach. For example, a player skilled at navigating the Timeline can delay enemies to interrupt their strongest units, or pull allies forward on the Timeline to protect an objective.[/p]So, how to master the Timeline?
[p]You can go and try it for yourself - the Demo for Shadow of the Road is available right now, and it's free! Let us know what you think in the comments, and don't forget to fill out the Demo survey - we’re listening.[/p][p]Just remember:[/p][p]A true samurai is never late, just like a wizard. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.[/p][p]Join our community at Discord: [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/c4c51a7246abc6e04e52aef35cc833f2e90045aa.png"] [/p][p]And other platforms! [/p][p]📍 Facebook [/p][p]📍 X (Twitter) [/p][p]📍 Instagram [/p][p]📍 Youtube[/p] This isn’t your first duel - you see a Demo, go beat it.
Greetings, warriors!
[p]Alright, just a short announcement this time - no in-depth devlog, we'd rather you jump in and enjoy the Demo by following this link![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/549d8a1075134d708a0550839485ed28b2296054.jpg"][TAG-10][/p][p] The Demo for Shadow of the Road will be run for at least a month, and we'll make the schedule available later. There may still be some minor changes down the line, but as our Open Alpha players have already found out - this slice of the game is feature complete. An accompanying survey will be active throughout the Demo and two days after it is over.[/p][p] Follow Satoru the Samurai and Akira the Ranger through a political debacle at the Ryokan Yasumi, then travel to the Sugiyama estate and recruit Ishida, Asuke, and Toshiro - each a formidable ally in their own right. This Demo release introduces the player to the story, following the inciting incident, and offering a chance to get to know the main characters. Let's just say that others will join your party in later chapters - we wouldn't like to spoil too much! Dive in and try the Demo for yourself. [/p][p]Enjoy the fights, immerse in the world, and let us know what you think![/p][p]Join our community at Discord: [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/c4c51a7246abc6e04e52aef35cc833f2e90045aa.png"] [/p][p]And other platforms! [/p][p]📍 Facebook [/p][p]📍 X (Twitter) [/p][p]📍 Instagram [/p][p]📍 Youtube[/p][p] [/p][p][/p] Travellers of the Road - Satoru
Greeetings, warriors!
[p]We’re kicking off a new series spotlighting the characters you will be playing as. That's right, they're not mere companions to your avatar - they're companions to each other, on a journey that has you, the player, as both guide and witness. Shadow of the Road is about your party, their pasts, convictions, and secrets, shaped by the politics of the era as much as the supernatural forces creeping in at its edges. [/p][p]While the story and atmosphere are key to the journey, the tactical combat plays a role just as central, and the shadow of the first to come under the spotlight is already cast onto the stage. In this first entry, we introduce Satoru, whose quiet and steady presence carries real weight on and off the battlefield.[/p][p][/p][p][/p] Alpha Survey Results
Greetings, honourable warriors and wandering vagabonds!
[p][/p]A Perspective on Players
[p]Shadow of the Road has cocluded the Open Alpha stage, and we're immensely grateful for the passion and dedication you've shown as you’ve plunged headfirst into its world. The feedback we've received from you has been invaluable. It’s exhilarating to see how players from all over the globe have taken to our game, and we’re thrilled to discuss some of the key takeaways from the results of our latest community survey.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/c2e90a39ee7d613e69eecb18ff20d29276672e87.png"]We’ve also seen a wide range of player ages, with an overwhelming majority fairly evenly distributed between 25 and 44 years old.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/130b2e93b214ce064be28edd69aaf97bb5094eba.png"][/p][p]In line with the CRPG, Strategy and Action-Adventure genres, which are the top-3 among our players, 91% of the samurai who took time to participate in this survey identify as male. The battlefields are, indeed, harsh places - but there is more to Shadow of the Road than mere tactical conflict, and we'll be sure to communicate it clearer moving onwards. Tell your sisters, share it with your wives and mothers! We'll be happy to see them and share our stories.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/b9ce2e0a78f9d0c3d71a823322992474c9ea5c8d.png"][/p][p]We also noticed a significant crossover in game preferences, with a large portion of you also enjoying action titles like Ghost of Tsushima (49.3%), Nioh/Nioh2 (35.7%), and Sekiro (42%). It’s no surprise that the historical themes and fluid combat have resonated with fans of these franchises. Over 72% of survey participants completed the Alpha, showing the enthusiasm for getting hands-on with the game early and contributing to its refinement.[/p][p][/p]SotR's Satisfying Statistics
[p]Combat and gameplay: tough, yet rewarding. One of the most significant areas we focused on was encounter difficulty. We’ve received a wealth of feedback, and it seems the challenge level is just right for most players, earning a 4.11 out of 5 satisfaction rating for the combat system.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/af38ef3b3ed50a18571e56442235b4cdc02dce48.png"]From the design perspective, the visual spectacle of the game's combat was clear enough for 85% of Alpha participants, with only occasional issues needing further ironing out. We're particularily glad to find out that the unusual continuous initiative Timeline was quickly and easily understood by more than 81% of our players, and the rest of the combat UI was found intuitive and easy to navigate by 87.3%. [/p][p]Despite the inventory UI being perfectly serviceable, it seems we’ve touched on a quirky issue! Only about 65% of players have used consumable items, ergo, a significant number of respondents expressed a certain… caution when it came to using them, despite the evidence suggesing there being more than enough supplies to go around. [/p][p][/p][p]Four out of every five players found the dialogue UI both convenient and pleasing. And we're proud of the approval scores for that dialogue UI's contents across the board: interfaces can be polished, but your appreciation of our creative efforts is what truly matters! More than 60% of you became interested in learning the Japanese names and terminology highlighted in the dialogues and texts, with explanations of their meanings provided via tooltips. The partial Japanese VO (76.6%) and cutscenes (71.3%), designed to bring an additional layer of immersion to the world, were also highly praised, with most of you giving them the thumbs up.[/p][p][/p][p]The skill upgrade system was another pleasant surprise, with most of you - 84%, - appreciating its clarity. And while there's room for growth for the progression system's satisfaction factor, the variety of playstyles and story choices proves engaging - reflected in your 4 out of 5 overall score for interest in experimenting with different abilities and narrative paths.[/p][p][/p][p]Every journey starts somewhere, and those first steps are often the most important one can take. So, either our players have unmatched expertise, or we have crushed the tutorial first try! However, despite being exceptionally informative, the tutorial scores 3.86/5 on the Not-Bothersome scale as of now. Which is nice, but it means we're not going to get too full of ourselves: hundreds of you - a third of all respontents! - have left a wealth of comments and tips on how we can furhter improve this foundational experience. We are immensely grateful for the feedback you provide us with, and the time you dedicate to playing the game and making it better![img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/a3e7cb7b1e7d2117e1258605a7f1e99af1a08312.png"]The skill upgrade system was another pleasant surprise, with most of you - 84%, - appreciating its clarity. And while there's room for growth for the progression system's satisfaction factor, the variety of playstyles and story choices proves engaging - reflected in your 4 out of 5 overall score for interest in experimenting with different abilities and narrative paths.[/p][p][/p][p]And of course, when it comes to immersion, we can't overlook the musical score - accompanying players on their journeys and keeping the tension high during combat. With a 4.1 out of 5 rating, we're truly grateful for the appreciation you've shown.[/p][p][/p]Roaming the Realms
[p]You’ve also shown great interest for exploring the Shadow of the Road's world and setting. We’ve heard you loud and clear - the majority of players (70%) have experienced the wanderlust, looking forwards to uncovering secrets, takckling side quests, taking in the vistas and collecting the hidden lore scattered throughout the world.[/p][p][/p][p]The journal system, which keeps track of quests, lore entries, and world-building notes, was useful to most players who chose to engage with it. More than half of the Open Alpha participants found the journal to be a useful tool.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/f2a01b766304648263bfed4c2e2f7a7cfeae37eb.png"]Worldbuilding has been a particular highlight at 4.4/5, and we understand that the players take the time to explore character backgrounds, hidden documents, and in-game lore. This has helped enhance the players' understanding of the larger conflict unfolding and immerse them in the game even further.[/p]Companions, Choices & Charisma
[p]From the generous score of 4.4 out of 5 It’s clear that the narrative-driven design has struck a chord with our Open Alpha auditory.[/p][p]And so, we've finally come to the meat on the bones of any party-based RPG. We couldn’t possibly progress any more without acknowledging the cast, the stalwart companions who stand by each other's side through thick and thin. Without further ado, let's dive deeper into these character impressions![/p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/3513c115806c465086bab1c8304063f130c386c3.png"]Delights and Dislikes
[p]Time to wrap it up. Here's a blitz round of some final sneak peeks into what is favoured and what is reviled![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/65cd95dfe56c95cfda0573ae66e152efee91a106.png"]As we look at the feedback and statistics gracefully shared with us by the Open Alpha pioneers, one thing is clear: your passion for Shadow of the Road is inspiring. You’ve offered us so many insights into what’s working, what could use a little tweaking, and what has truly captured your imaginations. From combat to exploration, companion interactions to worldbuilding, it’s all about making sure that the journey to come is as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/4412ae26428e2c01257228d3399d2f322dd630e8.png"][/p][p]4.2 out of 5 is a great result, but there's yet a lot to improve - thanks to you. We hope this final score captures the essence of the survey results, in the same spirit as you've shared with us.[/p][p]Thanks again for your continued support and participation in shaping this game. Stay tuned for further updates, and be prepared for new adventures, deeper storylines, and more thrilling challenges. The battle is far from over - there’s much more to discover.[/p][p][/p][p]Until next time, stay strong, keep exploring, and remember: it's not about the destination, it's about the journey![/p][p][/p][p]Join our community at Discord: [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35994584/c4c51a7246abc6e04e52aef35cc833f2e90045aa.png"] [/p][p]And other platforms! [/p][p]📍 Facebook [/p][p]📍 X (Twitter) [/p][p]📍 Instagram [/p][p]📍 Youtube[/p][p] [/p][p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173980/Shadow_of_the_Road/"][/p][p][/p] The Open Alpha is here!
Greetings, noble warriors!
We are proud to announce that the Alpha for Shadow of the Road is open and available for public. We are also happy to present you with this opportunity to try out our game for free, and would gladly accept any and all feedback.
Share your impressions, speedruns, fanart, showcase your mastery of the game’s mechanics and your deep understanding of Japanese folklore and culture. We’ll be waiting for you!
Join our community at Discord:
And other platforms!
📍 X (Twitter)
📍 Youtube
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173980/Shadow_of_the_Road/
Gear Up! 🛡️ New trailer and Alpha registration
Greetings, warriors!
We are excited to announce that the alpha of Shadow of the Road is almost here, and with it, we present you with a brand-new trailer that reveals what awaits you: a story of honor and duty, mystical yokai and unprecedented technologies, and epic battles where every choice shapes history!
Music: "Hayabusa" by EXYZ, SENZO, MOMOKUSU IWATA
Now is the time to prepare your weapons and armor because a thrilling adventure is about to unfold. To get ready, you only need to follow a few simple steps.
- 1. Mark Your Calendars! 📅 The alpha is set to launch on March 25!
2. Visit the official Steam page for Shadow of the Road by clicking here or search for Shadow of the Road directly in Steam.
3. Scroll down and click on “join the shadow of the road playtest.”
That’s it! All that remains is to hone your patience as you await the epic journey starting next week!
Prepare yourself, sharpen your resolve, and get ready to carve your own path through an unforgettable adventure.
The fate of the Empire awaits its heroes — will you answer the call?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173980/Shadow_of_the_Road/
Break It Down: Crafting Chaos on the Battlefield!
Unleashing Destruction
Every object in the battlefield can be a tool of chaos when wielded wisely. Most of the surroundings — be they wooden barrels or stone boulders — have their own endurance, determined by their size and the material from which they are made. A nimble strike along an object’s line, or a forceful passage by a large character, can shatter these constructs. When you engage an enemy in your line of sight, you have the power to attack through these breakable barriers, distributing damage between your foe and the obstacle — all without sacrificing your precious Movement Points.
Imagine the battlefield as a living canvas: each shattered object is a stroke of your strategic brilliance. Whether you’re dodging enemy blows or setting up your next devastating attack, every debris can play a part in your victory.
The Explosive Edge
Beyond the standard objects, a particular set of items awaits those ready to embrace explosive chaos. Gunpowder crates are unique to ENC-affiliated areas. Unlike traditional Japanese armaments, these volatile crates add a modern twist to the ancient art of warfare.
These crates remain inert until their predetermined damage threshold is met. Depending on the weapon — be it the swift slice of a katana or the rapid burst of a rifle — the speed of their explosive reaction may vary. But one fact remains constant: once destroyed, these crates will unleash a powerful blast, damaging all within its circular reach. For a true warrior, the timing and positioning of such explosions can turn the tide of battle in an instant.
Stay Connected with the Community
As you continue your journey through the dynamic world of Shadow of the Road, make sure you stay connected for the latest updates and insights. Follow our social media channels on
📍 X (Twitter)
📍 Youtube
and join our vibrant community on Discord.
These platforms not only keep you informed about exciting new developments and community events, but they also serve as your ultimate guide to mastering the art of chaos on the battlefield.
In conclusion, every shattered barrier and every explosive surprise is a testament to your strategy and spirit as a samurai warrior.
Embrace the chaos, harness the environment, and let your mastery of destruction lead you to victory. Stay alert, stay connected, and prepare for an ever-evolving battlefield where every moment counts!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173980/Shadow_of_the_Road/