Qasir al-Wasat
*click for official page*This game releases on 9/31, so you have just a few days to get the pre-order price ($7.49 vs. the later $9.99). The game is available at Indievania and Desura for Mac or PC.
I've played the demo so far, and it's really cool. This is what it would be like if The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past and Metal Gear Solid had a Syrian baby. The storyline is set in 12th century Syria and this is reflected in the lovely artwork that combines that style with the style of an overhead Zelda game. The gameplay is focused primarily on moving around stealthily to explore the palace, then unleashing your attacks at just the right moments when it is most strategically advantageous. Your character is a mythical creature brought from another world by a magical human sage. The sage will allow you to enter a secret palace if you will assassinate some key figures inside the palace and agree to be bound to the magician's will. Your character has much knowledge to gain from exploring the palace, so he agrees to this precarious arrangement. You are an invisible beast in the human realm, but you can be heard or recognized by blood and dirt that has spattered on yourself. This means you must execute carefully or risk giving up your location until you can find a place to clean off.
It's a very unique setting and storyline for a game. I like the style of the writing and I love the artwork. Though there are obvious parallels to other stealth games, the gameplay feels unique as well. I recommend giving the demo a try, and if you like it, you might want to snag it at the pre-order price before the 31st.
