''Pharaonic'' is an

action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and Role-playing video game, role-playing game genres. Definition Action role-playing games empha ...

developed and published by Milkstone Studios. It was first released on April 28, 2016, for

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

, and later for

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, and

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Plot

The game is set in a fictional and mythological version of

Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt () was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology), when Upper and Lower E ...

, where a nameless

prisoner A prisoner, also known as an inmate or detainee, is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement or captivity in a prison or physical restraint. The term usually applies to one serving a Sentence (law), se ...

escapes captivity and embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the Red Pharaoh, a demigod tyrant who has plunged the land into darkness.

Gameplay

Inspired by

Prince of Persia ''Prince of Persia'' is a video game franchise created by Jordan Mechner. It is centered around a series of action-adventure games focused on various incarnations of the eponymous Prince, set in ancient and medieval Persia. The first two ga ...

and

Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the series began with the release of ''Dark Souls (video game), Dark Souls'' (2011) and has ...

series, ''Pharaonic'' features a real-time combat in a side-scrolling format, with 2.5D stylized graphics. The combat relies on a stamina bar and features light and heavy attacks, blocking, and dodging mechanics. A wide variety of combat styles are available, alongside a character progression system. The level design is non-linear, featuring interconnected areas, unlockable shortcuts, and hidden secrets to encourage exploration. The story is primarily conveyed through texts, items, and interactions with non-playable characters. There are various chests that can be opened throughout the game, offering items that improve the character's stats, such as damage or defense. All the collected equipment is reserved for specific body parts and are equipped through the character's menu. The players can access a market where they can sell and buy items.

Development

The game was developed by Milkstone Studios, also known for

Ziggurat A ziggurat (; Cuneiform: 𒅆𒂍𒉪, Akkadian: ', D-stem of ' 'to protrude, to build high', cognate with other Semitic languages like Hebrew ''zaqar'' (זָקַר) 'protrude'), ( Persian: Chogha Zanbilچغازنجبیل) is a type of massive ...

. The team aimed to create a "Dark Souls in Egypt", translating the Soulslike formula into a mythological setting with 2D gameplay. The development was self-funded. It was built using the Unity engine, which enabled a multi-platform release. Unlike other soulslike games that typically use a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

dark fantasy Dark fantasy, also called fantasy horror, is a subgenre of fantasy literary, artistic, and cinematic works that incorporates disturbing and frightening themes. The term is ambiguously used to describe stories that combine horror fiction, horror ...

tone, ''Pharaonic'' adopted a vibrant visual style based on Ancient Egyptian art and iconography.

Reception

''Pharaonic'' received "mixed or average" reviews for the Xbox One version, according to

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website

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. It was praised for its art direction, original setting, and faithful adaptation of Soulslike combat, although some reviewers noted a steep difficulty curve and enemy repetition.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website
2016 video games Action role-playing video games Ancient Egypt in fiction Arcade video games Linux games MacOS games Milkstone Studios games Nintendo Switch games PlayStation 4 games Side-scrolling video games Single-player video games Video games developed in Spain Windows games Xbox One games