Have you ever imagined what a power struggle in Hell would actually look like? Would it be a simple case of military might? Or perhaps a war conducted through political posturing and public insults? Well, Solium Infernum has the answer: it’s a bit of all the above and more.
See the trailer for Solium Infernum here
The upcoming reboot from Armello developer League of Geeks was announced today at EGX 2022, and will task players with trying to become the new ruler of the dark side of the afterlife. Lucifer has absconded, leaving a power vacuum in his place, and it falls to you, as one of the eight available Archfiends, to seize Hell’s throne.
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While the gameboard-easque map may appear familiar enough, Solium Infernum is not your average grand strategy title. You see, Hell values etiquette, and the social paradigm of this realm forbids unprompted assault. In other words, you can’t just highlight your demonic units and enter enemy territory without good reason.
GAMINGbible was fortunate enough to speak with League of Geeks co-founder and director Trent Kusters at Gamescom 2022, where he explained that much of Solium Infernum plays out in a diplomatic way. “Here you see your character and the other leaders of Hell’s forces,” he established. “So, here we’ve been insulted and we have to choose whether to accept that insult or not,” he adds. While this choice may seem obvious, Kusters explains there is logic in either outcome, adding a thrilling sense of intrigue.
The socio-political element doesn’t just look like a lot of fun, it’s also vital to succeeding in Solium Infernum, and brings a unique edge to gameplay. It’s not as simple as whoever has the most soldiers wins because, ultimately, your character has to find the grounds to deploy those forces.
As well as the two-four hour games of the single-player mode, Solium Infernum has multiplayer too, meaning character interactions have the potential to be even more interesting. Players will be playing their opponents as much as the virtual game pieces, over week-long, six-player multiplayer matches that require only a few minutes to play each day.
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In-game turns play out simultaneously, meaning no one’s move takes effect until everyone has input their commands. Basically, you aren’t penalised for taking your time, and this style of gameplay also means you can play when it suits you, which is great news for gamers with busy lives.
The big question, though, is why reboot Solium Infernum in the first place? “The original Solium Infernum is one of the most remarkable video games ever made. Its evocative, Milton-inspired vision of Hell and deep focus on political intrigue are unlike anything else on the market,” explains Kusters. “We are honoured and ecstatic to bring Solium Infernum into the limelight it has always deserved!”
With the game set to launch on PC at some point in 2023, we’re still a little way off experiencing all Hell has to offer for ourselves. From what I saw of the Solium Infernum at Gamescom, I can say that this strategy title has caught my eye like nothing in the genre since I was a child playing Age of Empires II.
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The political duels between these would-be rulers of Hell are tantalising because they show the true dark arts of any conflict are in words, not swords. Taking down an opponent’s social standing in true machiavellian form is just the kind of gaming experience I’m after, and Solium Infernum seems to have me covered.
Topics: PC