We just pushed a pre-release patch for Shadow Bonds.
Here's what changed:
Lowered default volume at startup || If you already started the game, your own settings will be given priority.
Added humor indicators to the first humor choice
Added a bit of tutorial text when unlocking the first codex entry || This should offer more guidance to players!
Fixed some stray typos
Bardier music plays at the Rose during specific scenes
Minor change to Marané's CG
Fixed a small issue in Ornell's evening event
Added UI sounds to the content warning screen and the credits screen
We also made some under-the-hood changes to the way the character creation screen works. This will unfortunately break existing saves in the first scene (everything that happens before going to the Refrain).
Thank you all for testing the game!
Who will you be?
Greetings, envoys! Shadow Bonds will release in 6 days. We're really excited about it and can't wait to have you play the game! In the meanwhile, we're keeping up with our weekly devlogs. Today's post is all about you, the protagonist! The protagonist has a fixed appearance, but you can customize her in several ways:
Who are you?
She does not have a set name, so you can pick whichever one you like! We know first-hand that it's hard to come up with a name out of the blue, that's why we included a list of lore-friendly pre-generated names. Click on the button next to the name field to cycle through them!
How did the Abyss bless you?
There are three main powers in Sigh of the Abyss:
Physical prowess determines how strong your punches are, how fast your reflexes are, and how much damage you can endure;
Shadow magic allows you to commune with shadows and have them do your bidding;
Mind control lets you bend the will of others within certain limits;
You'll be able to allocate seven points at the start of the game!
What makes you tick?
The four humors of Hippocratic medicine color the tone of your answers and let the protagonist embrace her emotions.
Sanguine answers are usually happy and carefree;
Phlegmatic responses are thoughtful, but tend towards inaction;
Melancholic answers are driven by fear;
Choleric responses are curt and sarcastic;
As the decisions you make shape the dominant personality of the main character, she will behave accordingly in certain scenes!
Who do you like?
You'll also be able to determine the protagonist's romantic preference, and you can change those at any time during play!
Sigh of the Abyss: Shadow Bonds releases on April 5! Join us next week for more about the game. You can also check out the shiny new voiced trailer!
Beta testers needed!
Greetings, envoys! We'll be posting something every week leading up to the release of Shadow Bonds. Today's post is an open call for beta testers!
Want to help us test the game?
We are looking for a handful of people to test Shadow Bonds in advance. We want to make sure the game is as polished as it can be, so we're interested in feedback on user experience, story and characters. As a thank you gift, we'll reward beta testers with a copy of the artbook!
Does it sound like your jam?
EDIT: Thank you all for the interest! We're happy with the number of applications we received, and decided to close the form. We need a valid email address that we'll use to communicate / send keys / send feedback forms, and an idea of how much content you wish to see, so we can make sure to have most of the game covered.
Sigh of the Abyss: Shadow Bonds releases on April 5! Join us next week for more about the game. You can also check out the shiny new voiced trailer!
More about the romances in Shadow Bonds!
Greetings, envoys! We'll be posting something every week leading up to the release of Shadow Bonds. Today we want to introduce you to the romance system of the game!
A taste of the full game
Despite being an introduction to the characters and setting of Sigh of the Abyss, Shadow Bonds is a side-story that can be enjoyed on its own. Because of that, the characters you'll meet already have a relationship with the protagonist—so you skip the guarded 'getting to know each other' phase to experience a bond already formed.
Romance your way
At the start of the game you can pick the romantic preferences of your protagonist: you can select an interest in men, women, both or neither. You can change this at any time during play as well! Showing interest in a specific gender will let the corresponding characters be more forward and flirty towards you, and will open up additional dialogue options. Here's an example in action! If you show interest in women, you have the option to compliment Sylas: If you're not interested in women, the game will auto-pick the friendly response instead: Even if you're into a specific gender, you always get the option to pick the friendly response instead:
What a treat!
There are six beautiful CGs/illustrations in Shadow Bonds. Two of them require specific romances: Malec and Sylas. Here's a sneak peek!
Sigh of the Abyss: Shadow Bonds releases on April 5! Join us next week for more about the game. You can also check out the shiny new voiced trailer!
Meet the cast!
Greetings, envoys! We'll be posting something every week leading up to the release of Shadow Bonds. Today we want to introduce you to the characters that will be your friends, enemies, or perhaps lovers!
A side-story as introduction
When we set out to develop Shadow Bonds, we wanted it to be an introduction to the characters and setting of Sigh of the Abyss, but we also wanted it to be a complete experience. Instead of picking the first few hours of the game, we decided to develop a brand new side-story, something self-contained that could be enjoyed on its own. In Shadow Bonds, the characters you meet already have a relationship with the protagonist—so you skip the guarded 'getting to know each other' phase to experience a bond already formed. And if you want to bring that bond to the next level, you can! Shadow Bonds will give you a taste of the romances as well.
Malec
I don't ask questions when I know I can't handle the answers.
Malec is usually found in the pawn shop he inherited, doodling on the thick layer of dust that covers every cabinet. Torn between the business and his artistic inclinations, he does everything he can to stall making a decision. Sometimes you wonder why.
Sylas
If it's not too much of a bother, I need to borrow you for a few hours.
Not many street urchins make it to adult age—Sylas is one of the lucky few. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty, or lie a bit, or steal here and there... that's how she survived. But now she's not alone anymore: she found a friend in you.
Alpheon
Make the tale epic and dramatic, and say that my hair billowing in the wind made me look particularly dashing.
Alpheon calls himself a great singer, an even better lover and an average lute player, but his true talent lies in his persuasiveness. At times his eyes show purple hues, the shadows shift, and the impossible happens.
Marané
There is untold power in the dirt we pretend not to see.
Her blue robes indicate her allegiance to the Halls of Elevation, the place that some mages call home, others call prison. Having been granted some temporary freedom, Marané is doing everything in her power to make the time count, despite being tightlipped about her true objective.
You'll be able to meet these four (and more) soon! Join us next week for more Sigh of the Abyss. You can also check out the shiny new voiced trailer!
Watch the trailer!
Greetings, envoys! March is going to be a busy month for us at Rascal Devworks as we put the finishing touches on Shadow Bonds. The game will release on April 5, and we'll have something to show you every week leading to the release date!
This beautiful narrative trailer is our first treat for you. It's voiced, so put the audio on~ Are you ready to embrace what's within? [previewyoutube="TdRPJRV6CJM;full"] Join us next week for more Sigh of the Abyss!
