Developer:Cyanide Studios
Publisher:Atlus USA(NA)
Focus Home Interactive(EU)
Release Date: May 15th, 2012
MSRP:59.99(retail)/49.99(PC, is US digital download only; there should be an EU boxed version for PC)
Genre: Role Playing Game(inspired by KOTOR; Cyanide has also name dropped Dragon Age: Origins and Witcher)
THE GAME IS SET ENTIRELY BEFORE AND DURING THE FIRST BOOK 'A GAME OF THRONES'. IF IT HAPPENS PAST BOOK 1 OR SEASON 1, SPOILER TAG IT.
The Story:
The story of A Game of Thrones takes place during the first book of the saga, at the time when Jon Arryn, the Hand of King Robert Baratheon, is found dead at King's Landing. The game allows players to follow two epic quests: Mors and Alester's quests. Their totally original story was canonized by George R.R. Martin himself and perfectly integrates the original story the fans are so familiar with in the series. All throughout the game, the numerous references to books, characters and famous locations form an impressive Westeros encyclopedia, which players can consult at any time during their adventures.
Mimicking the books, the two heroes' stories are told alternatively, chapter by chapter, each character sharing the role of main character… up until their paths cross during a common quest. Welcome to a totally innovative narrative style for an RPG.
Characters:
Mors Westford
(Available classes to branch into: Magnar, Landed Knight, and Hedge Knight)
Mors is the last surviving member of House Westford, from a bloodline of knights who have been in service to House Lannister for generations. Because Mors was forced to abandon his family when he joined the Night's Watch fifteen years ago and took his oath as a sworn brother.
Mors is now one of the best rangers of his order, and his aggression in combat earned him the nickname of 'the Butcher'. He is both feared and respected, as much by his enemies as his allies. Gruff and direct, but also an experienced strategist, he prefers effective action to fruitless discussion. He is a man with an unyielding sense of honor, who would not hesitate to sacrifice his own life to defend his convictions.
Alester Sarwyck
(Available classes to branch into: Water Dancer, Sellsword, and Archer)
Alester is the eldest son of House Sarwyck, a noble vassal family of the Lannisters. His father was Lord Raynald Sarwyck, head of the House and Lord of Riverspring.
Fifteen years ago, he decided to abandon his family and duties to settle in the Free Cities of the east, across the Narrow Sea. There, he entered the orders of the Clergy of R'hllor, thus becoming a red priest. He now devotes his life to his god and his faith. He is a calm and diplomatic man, loyal at heart and prefers to think before acting.
Others characters from the TV show/books will also be appearing though only three are currently known: Varyse, Mormont, and Cersei
Settings:
The Wall
The Wall is a massive wall of ice that stretches across the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms, separating it from the wild lands beyond. It was reputedly created over 8,000 years prior to the present setting by Brandon the Builder after the Long Night to defend the realms of man from the wildlings and Others.
Approximately 300 leagues in length and 700 feet in height, the Wall is protected by the Night's Watch and according to some, ancient spells and sorcery.
Castle Black
The seat of command for the Night's Watch, run with an expert hand by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, Castle Black is the main fortress on the Wall. It marks the most northerly point of the kingsroad, and constitutes, along with Shadow Tower and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, one of the last three bastions of protection against the wildlings and the shadows that exist beyond the Wall. Like what remains of the Night's Watch, Castle Black is but a pale reflection of its former grandeur: Where it once could hold up to five thousand men, six hundred are currently stationed there, and the ruins of many of these buildings lay witness to the decline of the order.
Riverspring(Note: This was the only location that Cyanide was given free reign to work with since it hasn't been properly explored in the books/show.)
Situated in the Westerlands, at the source of the river Blackwater (from where it derives its name), Riverspring is the stronghold of House Sarwyck, a vassal to the Lannisters. Its master, Lord Raynald Sarwyck, has recently passed away and the estate is currently plagued with troubles. Furthermore, Raynald's younger son, Gawen, has gone missing and is accused of murdering his father. His daughter, Elyana would not be able to regain control of the estate without marrying. As for Alester, the eldest son of Raynald and legitimate heir, his recent return has not brought unity as he has been absent from the estate for fifteen long years. The deep misery into which the peasants have sunk and the progressive exodus of merchants and the middle-classes has led the estate to being placed in a somewhat fragile economic and political state.
Castlewood
Situated in the Riverlands, on the banks of the river Blackwater, Castlewood is the seat of House Harlton, a vassal of House Tully. The head of the House is Arwood Harlton.
During Robert Baratheon's Rebellion, the “War of the Usurper”, Lord Hoster Tully swore allegiance to Robert and forced his vassals to do likewise. But Arwood Harlton's eldest brother, the former Lord of Castlewood, decided to stay loyal to the Targaryens, the reigning dynasty of the time. He was executed at the end of the Rebellion by Lord Tully for treason. Arwood then took over from his brother as lord of the stronghold and swore allegiance to the new King, Robert Baratheon. Arwood is an old friend of Raynald Sarwyck, father of Alester, with whom he shares the same political opinions. Following the death of his brother, Harlton raised his niece Marianne as his own daughter. He is a man of conviction and respectful of traditions.
King's Landing
Capital of the Seven Kingdoms, King's Landing was built three hundred years ago on the exact spot where the first Targaryen king of the previous ruling dynasty landed on Westeros. Today, it is the kingdom's heart of power, where the king sits on the Iron Throne. Buildings worthy of note include the Red Keep on Aegon's Hill, the place of residence for the king and his lords and housing the Throne Room; the Dragonpit on Rhaenys's Hill, where the former Targaryen kings kept their dragons; and the Great Sept of Baelor on Visenya's Hill, the center of religious worship for the Faith of the Seven. The less noble areas of the city are wooden, stone or brick constructions, poorly built and terraced together, linked by narrow alleyways as well as wide, sunlit avenues. A belt of ramparts surrounds the town, with seven gates built into them.
Order is maintained by the City Watch of King's Landing, two thousand men strong, serving a total population close to four hundred thousand inhabitants.
Features:
•The main characters each have three different classes that they can branch into that all play differently. They also have a innate tree that has more to do with who they are rather than their combat.
•The game features an autoattack system with skills. If you've ever played Dragon Age: Origins, it's very similar to that. Rather than being able to pause time though, time slows down when you go to pick an ability to use, but it never 'stops'.
•The game features a dialogue tree. Not sure how deep that it goes, but you can pick between an answer from Mors and an answer from Alester. Both have drastically different personalities, so they have their own way of responding to conversations.
•A major focus of the game is North of the wall. The Wildlings are built as legitimate threats.
•The game was originally based on the book, but they have worked with the HBO series since then. Enlisting the voice actors for Varys and Mormont.
•George R. R. Martin's likeness is in the game. He also worked as a consultant for a lot of the story. IE he should have approved everything that's going on in this game.
•The developers wanted to give Mors an animal companion but didn't want to do a wolf since it's already been done. As such, they gave him the roughest looking Pitbull they could imagine.
•The developers have stated that it depends on how this first title sells, but they would absolutely love to do more RPGs based on the other books.
•In-game codex featuring general facts of the universe and game specific details.
•All the armor in this game was made with the idea of being wearable on any character model. I don't think it's like Elder Scrolls where they'll drop it, but it sounds like you could potentially find it.
•The game is STAT HEAVY. It is not a streamlined RPG. It is not an action RPG. The developers have emphasized that this is an RPG-y RPG.
•There are no 'fetch quest' side quests. The idea is that any sort of side quests you do are in direct relation to the main quest in some way or another.
•Big ass cloaks!
Pre-Order Bonus
A 64 page hardback art book.
Media
Epic Plot Trailer
Combat System Trailer
On The Spot Game of Thrones gameplay
Gameplay footage (20+ minutes)
Helpful links
http://www.gameofthrones-rpg.com/index.php
totobeni's posts with links to official developer forum statements about the game
http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Game_of_Thrones_Wiki
http://awoiaf.westeros.org/
