Today is certainly a very big day for video game fans, marking the release of multiple hotly anticipated titles. One of the new games you’ll see on shelves as of today, and one of the more original ones, is the new Game of Thrones RPG which I previewed briefly last week. Unlike the other games coming out today, this one isn’t a sequel or part of a long running game franchise. It is something relatively fresh and new. It’s an opportunity to explore a particular vision of a game world for the first time, which is always an exciting prospect.
That is not to say that this is the first Game of Thrones video game ever made, and it is certainly not the first fantasy themed RPG but the developers at Cyanide Studio have worked closely with George R.R. Martin to make sure this is faithful to the Game of Thrones universe, and is a somewhat fresh take on what could otherwise be any other typical fantasy themed RPG. The game retains all the complexities that hardcore RPG fans will love without `dumbing it down`too, which is a somewhat novel approach in the current video game ecosystem.
This game isn’t all about shooting, or exploring, or grinding. This game is all about story, characters, power struggles, mysticism, and political intrigue. That is the foundation which makes the whole Game of Thrones universe a success and that is clearly where the focus is for the game.
You’ll hear a lot about the other games being released today. There will be expensive marketing campaigns, and lots of buzz to get them attention. They’re good games, and they deserve lots of attention. The Game of Thrones RPG might get lost in that shuffle without such a massive push in the marketing department but if you’re a fan of the books or the TV series at all (and I know many of you are), you owe it to yourself to take this game for a spin too.
