HELM Systems, an independent game developer based in southern Florida, has announced The SoulKeeper: Chronicles, a dark fantasy, open world RPG. The game is being built from the ground up for both PC and VR, and both versions will have the same storyline, characters, and quests.
The story includes not one, but three different story-driven campaigns, where the player’s choices are very important, affecting the development of the story. Each one has its own protagonist, and takes place in its own large scale open world regions. You’ll step into the shoes of Isoropos (a wise Lovordian monk skilled in magic), Edwyn (a formidible Bethandrian ranger), and Ulvar (a cold, calculating raider from the frozen Baknochtarn north). Each campaign also has different game mechanics. However, the storylines of the three campaigns are intertwined.
The SoulKeeper VR Early Access is being retired, according to the press release. As a result, the work from it is now being migrated into The SoulKeeper: Chronicles‘ VR version. However, HELM Systems has not forgotten those that supported SoulKeeper VR, as those who purchased and own it between its launch in August 2017, and January 10th, 2020, will get a free copy of The SoulKeeper: Chronicles when it launches! Myron Mortakis, president & founder of HELM Systems has commented on both The SoulKeeper: Chronicles and its predecessor, SoulKeeper VR:
“Combining the experience gained with The SoulKeeper VR’s Early Access in 2017, with all the prior non-VR experience dating all the way back to our very humble origins as a total conversion multiplayer mod for Unreal Tournament 2003, we have found a way to properly implement our vision of The SoulKeeper IP as an open world RPG both for VR and non-VR PC gamers. We are very excited about this project, because we bring the IP back to the traditional non-VR format, something which many within our following wished for a while now, all while continuing with where we left off with the VR format.”
When we released The SoulKeeper VR Early Access there were a lot of uncertainties as far as what the audience was looking for in a VR title as well as how we wanted to implement certain features in the format, so an early access approach was necessary even if not preferable. At this point we feel that early access does not benefit neither the audience nor the developer, so we want to focus on bringing a full product to the market, all while ignoring neither the non-VR nor the VR portions of our community. We appreciate all those who have been supporting us throughout the early access stages of The SoulKeeper VR and that’s why we will be giving them a free copy of The SoulKeeper: Chronicles upon release. After all The SoulKeeper: Chronicles is a continuation of the story we had started with The SoulKeeper VR but a lot more refined.”
Players will also find fully controllable horses, ships, and dragons. They can be used for both travel and battle. The world is full of many side activities in addition to the main quests. For example, players can hunt, visit taverns, and of course more. Unfortunately, HELM Systems has not yet announced a release date for the game, but it has opened up The SoulKeeper: Chronicles official website. For now, interested players can go there to keep up-to-date with development progress.
