Critical Shift is an intense turn-based action game with strong RPG elements and a deep, dramatic plot, in which some casual jokes are included, whether visual or in the dialogues themselves, which creates an interesting contrast, especially during the tensest moments. Its developer is Rhinotales, a studio based in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, with a strong presence in Russia, which until now had managed to make a moderate splash with its previous game She Sees Red, an interactive thriller starring real-life actors, which was released in 2019 for PC, and was later adapted to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4.
Maybe its gameplay proposal may not be the most original, since innovating in this genre of tactical or turn-based action games, whether RPG or not, is literally difficult, especially living in current times in which the gaming community has already seen everything. And yes, maybe I do agree with that, but I must say that if this game got my attention, it has not been because of its perhaps already worn-out genre, which, just to be clear, is also not one of my favorites. Instead, that’s because of its setting, and the clever use of certain specific dialogues at the right moments, which could undoubtedly make a difference in many cases. Want to know what I’m talking about? Take a look at its Official Announcement Trailer I’m leaving here below, courtesy of IGN:
Putting a Spin on Turn-Based Action RPGs
As I said before, from my point of view, what really makes Critical Shift striking is its narrative focus, its carefully crafted setting, and its clever and “spot-on” sense of humor. If we add to that gameplay that, I insist, might indeed have been seen a lot in recent years, when well executed, it can result in a very appealing package. “In Critical Shift, an atmospheric sci-fi mystery imbued with the unknown and featuring the strangest objects awaits you! Every enemy here is a lethal threat, and resources are worth their weight in gold.”
A distress call is received from an ultra-secret research station in Antarctica, just before all communications are completely cut off. The final official report barely contains fragments of information: a cryptic, broken-up message that talks about “experiment #347”, which apparently has reached critical parameters, whatever that means. The same message mentions something about Sector D, and a drop in stability, and a breach in containment conditions… The communication ends with a worrying… “OH GOD, █████████ IS REAL… …TIME CAN ████… …IT’S NOT A VACUUM, IT’S WATCHING US…”
The task of our squad is to reach Station ICE-1, located beneath thick layers of ice, a place in which hundreds of scientists, soldiers, and researchers have been living and working. There are hidden horrors capable of blurring the line that separates reality from madness. The priority is of the highest degree: if just one of those things manages to get out of the station, that will mean the end of the world as we know it.
Our squad was created to solve impossible problems. In that context, we’re equipped with dozens of unique abilities, and the possibility of developing many more. We will explore the compromised area while reinforcing our arsenal and our equipment, always keeping in mind that our sharpness has been and will continue to be our best weapon, which will be key when it comes to keeping our feet on the ground, given the horrors we will face.
Critical Shift defines itself as a tactical turn-based RPG, and the studio seems to want to place emphasis on the word “tactical.” We will not only have limited resources and ammunition, something we will have to consider before using each weapon or item. We will study the battlefield and our enemies, the covers and weak points of the environment as well as of the hostile forces, considering and choosing in each case the most effective strategy. The probabilities of success will be accurate, so it will not be necessary to be perfect in everything: if you have a 99% chance of success, you will simply win.
Station ICE-1 is full of mysteries. In its depths we will find not only anomalies that break the rules of reality, but laboratories and accommodation spaces completely altered that have become a battlefield for various powers, controlled by a swarm AI that is turning people into the result of a twisted hybrid mix of metal and flesh, while the very few remaining survivors are desperately trying to keep the situation under control. And as if that were not enough, deeper down in the shadows, there are creatures whose origin is completely unexplainable! That said, we will not be the only objects of hostility, as we will witness differences between the different factions present in the complex, and we will even be able to take advantage of those differences in our favor.
This brand-new isometric world has been created by the masterful pen of Guiltythree, author of the cult web novel Shadow Slave, a work recognized for its rich character development, dark atmosphere, and truly unexpected plot twists. On this occasion, the writer reinterprets familiar events, intertwining them with mystery and plunging us into a dizzying whirlwind full of deadly danger, drama, betrayal, and much more. In this universe, beautiful, hostile and captivating in equal parts, we will have to explore this gigantic underworld that stretches for kilometers beneath the Antarctic ice.
So…
Now then, Critical Shift still does not have a confirmed release date, although you can already add it to your Wishlist by visiting its Steam page, which of course you will find right below. And once you are there, you can check its technical requirements, and even request access to its Playtest! What are you waiting for? And once you do your homework, of course you come back here, scroll down to the comments and tell us what you thought of this proposal from Rhinotales, deal? You know gamer, we’ll be reading you! 🙂
Images Source: IGN Official YouTube Channel, Critical Shift on Steam
