Finding yourself in the Austrian Alps, what could be better?
We’ve all been burned by the corporate life. The daily rigmarole can certainly take its toll. That’s where we find trainee lawyer Luisa in Dungeons of Hinterbeg, who ventures to the Austrian region to solve puzzles, master magic, slay monsters and even enjoy a coffee with friends by the lake.
Amidst Gamescom 2023 in Cologne, Germany, I had a 30-minute hands-on with Dungeons of Hinterberg, quickly enamoured by its charm. The singleplayer experience juxtaposes its fast-paced action with mellow moments to great effect, driving its lead character to be more than just another avatar.
Starting in the Alpine hills, the vivid colours displayed from mountain tops are nothing short of stunning. While this area was certainly designed as the action-loading part, I took several moments to take in the pastel shades that kissed the heavens. It felt a shame in some ways to enter combat in such serene surroundings, yet it wasn’t long before I was tearing apart a crowd of little monsters without a second thought. Only in a videogame.
HACK-AND-SLASH
Combat is a mixture of traditional hack-and-slash along with a handful of special abilities and magic skills to unleash upon anyone looking to ruin Luisa’s vacation. Not on my watch! Dodging is another tactic which will need to be enforced frequently, especially as you come up against larger enemies that like to charge or shoot out ranged attacks. What I like is that it’s fast, fluid and can be understood in minutes.
TRADITIONAL HACK-AND- SLASH COMBAT ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF SPECIAL ABILITIES
One of the best aspects is the sense of adventure that comes from dungeon exploration. Usually dark and gloomy, this one was bright and vibrant with gemstones hanging from every surrounding, in some ways lighting a path down the claustrophobic crevice. Treasures can be found yes, but it’s the sudden speed kick from riding a minecart through the deep tunnels that made this section most memorable. The animation alone really takes this to another level. While I only got a chance to venture down one dungeon, it definitely had enough of a pull that
