Developer – Dark Crystal Games
Publisher – Prime Matter
Platforms – PC
Encased is part RPG, part X-com turn based combat, in very much the style of the original Fallout games.. You are a part of Cronus a dystopian organization, and after choosing which wing to start in you will then embark on an adventure in a very alternative history of the 70’s. If you loved the original Fallout games and want something in that vein, Encased is the right place to look.
The game starts off when your main character, who after being customized must adventure around and get into all sorts of trouble. The narrative aspect of the game is a bit light thus far, as playing as your character offers tons of customization. You can be a pacifist, or a tech god who can hack into any and everything, but the overall plot takes a backseat to individual moments.
The gameplay in Encased is very dense, and full of choices and nuance very early on.
In the first 30 minutes you will learn how to harness your different abilities, how to use it in combat or puzzle solving. The gameplay itself quickly becomes a balancing act between managing your skills and resources. The choices you’re making or avoiding can alter the next aspect of the story in major ways. At first it can seem daunting, but if you can manage the first couple of hours you will be perfect after that.
You also can level up and equip different skills and passive abilities, and each wing you start in can change how these skills will be used.
The game’s various stages hide hidden secrets, and you have use puzzle solving mechanics often to get the most out of every situation. Even with plenty of combat skill however, one issue was frequently my horrible accuracy on high percentage shots. My character wouldn’t even be able to make my X-Com C team with how much he missed at point blank range.
If you are a fan of classic Fallout or want to try something new and fresh that isn’t just another isometric pixel roguelike game, give Encased a shot. It’s currently in early access with a full release this September.
