Fans of both The Legend of Zelda and Stardew Valley they're in the same boat at the moment, waiting for a clearer idea of ”what's next” for their favorite franchises. Certainly, the immediate future is bright; more Zelda LEGO sets and an upcoming Netflix series are on the way Stardew ValleyThe big 1.7 update will bring new marriages and deeper mechanics for children.
Beyond that, however, there are bigger questions: will Stardew Valley 2 finally become a reality? There will be another Zelda feel more traditional or continue the open worlds you've seen in recent posts? And when exactly will more specific information come? As fans ask questions and wait for answers, one is coming Steam game-Plague Alchemist—may help the communities of both IPs to kill some time.
The Steam game in question is a healthy mix of both, but fans should be aware that it's rather old school Zelda than any of the modern records. However, this works in its favor as a combination of classics Zelda and Stardew it looks as good as it sounds on paper. Gamers won't have to wait long to try out this promising mash-up of franchises either, as it's slated for release at the end of February. For the curious Plague Alchemist due to its similarities to one (or both) of the franchises mentioned above, here's what you need to know about it.
Plague Alchemist traits in a nutshell
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EXPLORE a vibrant open world influenced by time and weather.
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CRAFT potions that allow story development and freely combine materials for secret enthusiasts.
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CLEAR dungeons full of puzzles, unique biomes and creatures.
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EXPERIENCE a story of alchemy, corruption and quiet survival.
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FILL the codex with records of areas, creatures, and ingredients found along the way.
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SHAPE Plague Alchemist via early access feedback.
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RELAX through a slow burn where music and painted pixel art shine.
A story-rich pixel art RPG focused on alchemy and exploration. Explore the spreading plague caused by the collapsing border between the magical and non-magical realms, with exploration and crafting progression.
Plague Alchemist looks like Stardew Valley but plays like old-school Zelda
visually, Plague Alchemist feels heavily inspired by ConcernedApe's popular farming sim. This is not only seen in his instant game, where the sprite moves colorfully through the city with bright green grass, dirt roads, rocks and trees, but also in the conversation screens. As in Stardew Valleytalking to one of the pixelated NPCs will bring up a more detailed shot of the character, making it easier to connect with them and their personality. It is currently unclear whether there will be romance and heart events like Stardew Valley's, but the text and HUD should immediately feel just as familiar Stardew fans like Plague Alchemistart does.
Even more than Stardew Valleythat has some struggles in her mines Plague Alchemist it wants to prioritize discovery and satisfying progress above all else. There is no combat in the game. Instead, players will gather resources, explore, and engage in a story that seems to be delivered at a very relaxing pace. There is some adventure, though, which is the place The Legend of Zelda influence comes into play. Specifically, players will complete a series of puzzles in seven dungeons, one for each element (Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Flesh, Mind, and Spirit). In each dungeon, players will not only find unique biomes and thematic challenges, but also exclusive materials for the crafting mechanic, which seems to be an integral part of the project of the developer Hardcoded.
Plague's alchemy craft seems to be his biggest draw
Like The Zelda series, players have a proper objective to complete and a story to eventually throw credits at, and to do so they will need to master the art of alchemy. Pastes, potions and potions can be made, many of which will be needed to clear certain obstacles in the story. However, players can also get creative, randomly combining ingredients to discover hidden buffs and abilities. Experimenting with the alchemy system should be a lot of fun, and as players search the open world for new ingredients to help them with their mad science, they'll be filling out the codex with extra lore about everything they come across. In the end, they should have all the knowledge necessary for the player character – a plague doctor trying to free the city from a mysterious sleeping curse – to awaken the victims and save the day.
The Plague Alchemy Early Access Road will be long, but the journey could be worth it
Plague Alchemist it's meant to be a slow, immersive experience, and a similar careful pace is applied to the game's Early Access period. The game is expected to be in Early Access for 2-4 years, with developer Hardcoded citing its “large, system-driven mechanics” as the reason for this extensive testing period. At that time, Hardcoded promises transparent game progress updates, stability patches, and a slow and steady addition of content to ensure a seamless experience whenever the game is fully released.
The advantages and disadvantages of this approach are obvious. On the negative side, Plague Alchemist will be relatively light on content when it launches into early access in late February. All the core systems (alchemy, exploration, and questing) will of course be there, but the game will initially only offer the first region and dungeon. Others will be added via free updates, but players can only get a few hours out of it Plague Alchemist initially. That said, the rise is equally clear; players will be able to help shape this title from the very beginning. Maybe they think future dungeons need a different design approach, don't like the drop rate of certain materials, or have issues with quest design; all these things can be shared and addressed in time to ensure a satisfactory end product with a good pace.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
Those interested in the game who are confident in Hardcoded's vision for it may want to consider early access, as this version of the game will cost significantly less than the final product. Price will be increased only when Hardcoded is sure Plague Alchemist it's worth it, but it's going to happen eventually, so it's definitely something to consider. While there are plenty Stardew Valley clones and games on Steam built on Zelda nostalgia, this interesting combination of the two holds great potential.
