Supergiant Games has created an interesting array of titles in their time. Right now they’re deep into development of their current title, Hades, but today we take a step back to the last game before that: Pyre. The game was a steep departure from Bastion and Transistor before it, and we got a new bang up documentary on its making from the folks at NoClip.

The documentary is roughly 30 minutes and you can see it below. It details the interesting behind the scenes of what went into the game’s development, including coming up with the RPG’s very unorthodox combat system and art style that helped define it beside the company’s previous works. If you aren’t familiar with NoClip, they do some very in-depth videos about smaller indie titles, including another gem from Supergiant Games, Transistor.

Pyre is available now for both PlayStation 4 and PC. You can check our review of the game through here.

When the Epic Games Store launched last year, Supergiant Games’ Hades was one of the major appeals. Now it’s on Steam Early Access, allowing other PC players to get their hands on this action rogue-lite. Along with a 20 percent discount, Steam owners also get a free copy of Pyre to gift to friends.

The story of Hades focuses on Zagreus, the son of the titular Greek god who seeks to escape the Underworld. It’s a task easier said than done as the player encounters various shades, fights the Furies and overcomes numerous other obstacles beset by Hades. As players accrue experience, they’ll use the Mirror of Night to gain permanent upgrades between runs.

Other members of the Greek Pantheon will also arrive to help out and you can customize your build with numerous Boons to progress. Hades doesn’t currently have a full release date but it’s received a number of updates since being in early access. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

https://twitter.com/SupergiantGames/status/1204465612933619712

Even if BioWare’s Anthem hasn’t proven the best reason to buy an Origin Access Premier subscription, the Basic version of the service still has some great offerings. Take Supergiant Games’ Pyre, for instance. The sports/RPG/adventure hybrid has joined the Origin Access Vault and can be played in full as long as you’re a subscriber. You can check out GamingBolt’s official review here to decide if it’s worth the time.

But that’s not all. LucasArts’ cult classic Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 and Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast are also available on Origin Access. Both titles are first person shooters focusing on Kyle Katarn as he wrestles with the Light and Dark aspects of the Force.

Finally, Chaos on Deponia, the sequel to the adventure game Deponia, is also available to play. The title sees Rufus continuing his plans to escape Deponia, and received praised for its writing and pacing at launch. Gameplay is pretty much identical to the previous title, so be warned.

Origin Access Basic costs $5 per month or $30 per year, but if you want full access to games like Anthem and Battlefield 5, you’ll need Origin Access Premier. That costs $15 per month or $100 per year.

Paradigm

The number of adventure games that hinge on having outlandish premises is too high and it feels like Paradigm is in the same vein. The story revolves around a mutant named Paradigm cast out by his creators, only to develop a love for electronic music. It isn’t long before a candy spewing sloth comes calling and Paradigm must save the world. For all its quirks and retro-futuristic tendencies, it’s actually an extremely solid adventure packed with hilarious writing.

Nominees:

Nier: Automata

Platinum Games’ Nier: Automata was an unassuming enough announcement at E3. Of course, then the demo arrived, followed by the full release and we were blown away. Bullet hell meets hack and slash combat with a fairly strong degree of ability and weapon customization…and then there are the shoot ’em up segments which are their own brand of strange. Beyond the epic boss fights and perfect precision of the combat, Nier: Automata tells a wonderful tale of identity, humanity and existence that will simply tear you apart.

Horizon: Zero Dawn

It’s still surprising that Guerrilla Games, best known for the Killzone series, was able to produce such a compelling open world action RPG like Horizon: Zero Dawn. Plot has always been an issue in past Killzone titles but Horizon actually sports a good cast of characters, led by Ashly Burch’s performance of Aloy, and an interesting mystery. Everything else – from the lore and world design to the visuals, side quests and combat – is executed superbly. Even in a year with so many great role playing and open world games, Horizon: Zero Dawn more than held its own.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Larian Studios earned a name for itself with the first game but Divinity: Original Sin 2 surpasses it in every single way. The utter scope of freedom and attention to detail, excellent script-writing and plot development, fantastic combat system and world building ensured one of the best role-playing adventures of the year. Plus any game that lets us drop hefty barrels on foes to kill them is an automatic win. Don’t let the strangeness of Rivellon scare you – there’s so much waiting to be discovered and each playthrough can compel you in ways that are fresh yet grim.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

While previous entries in the series always employed a faux-RPG approach, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild goes all in on elements like weapon damage, durability, armour stats, upgrading, cooking and whatnot. Though it prompted comparisons to Skyrim, especially with the more open world approach, Nintendo integrated all these elements seamlessly, living up the quality and sense of adventure that the Zelda series brings.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War

Though Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor had enough skill trees and loot, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War deepens this pursuit even further. There are Orc Followers, gems, gear sets, weapons and what have you to collect and customize. You can build entire armies, give them different bonuses and orders and spend hours just grinding levels. While the loot boxes are definitely a mark against it (especially when the highest tier of Orc Followers is tied to them), Middle-Earth: Shadow of War offers a nice action RPG experience with a fun core gameplay loop.

Nioh

Team Ninja’s Nioh is so much more than a Dark Souls clone. In fact, it combines Feudal Japan, Japanese mythology, a Diablo-like loot grind, heaps of customization and weapons, numerous side quests, a sprawling campaign, plenty of difficult encounters and memorable boss fight. The excellent combat is backed by so much customization and content that it’s insane. More than just resurrecting the studio from the waning Ninja Gaiden series, Nioh is proof that Team Ninja can create an excellent action RPG worthy of your time.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Monolith Soft has done it again and while the jury is out on whether it’s better than its predecessors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is still amazing. The series’ tradition of gorgeous open world exploration continues along with the satisfying, responsive combat and a suite of customization options for abilities and party members. The English voice acting may vary in quality and there’s an abundance of fetch quests but Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers a great story with memorable characters and more than enough exploration to keep you busy for hundreds of hours on end.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Ubisoft didn’t just want to revamp the core story and open world exploration with Assassin’s Creed Origins – it tore away many of the stealth mechanics and crafted a huge action RPG with compelling combat. Wouldn’t you know it but this worked. Despite the same trappings like tailing missions and bugs, Assassin’s Creed Origins offers a deep world with some great side quests and activities to pursue. Combat feels a lot better than previous games and while it may come at the expense of innovations in stealth, Assassin’s Creed Origins is a satisfying experience overall.

Pyre

In a year dotted with so many action RPGs, Supergiant Games’ Pyre is something…different. It’s full of colourful characters, immersing you in its dialogue and character interaction that make the oncoming decisions all the more intriguing. “Combat” is a wholly different affair, pitting teams of three against each other in sports-like matches where abilities, cohesion and movement play a big role. Did we mention the spell-binding art design and music? Pyre is everything that one could possibly love from a Supergiant role-playing game and yet, so much more.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

We initially had our reservations about this. A mash-up between Mario and the Rabbids? Mario using guns or energy blasters or what have you? Upon actually viewing it, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a delightful romp full of excellent tactical strategy combat and RPG customization. The sheer range of tactics combined with the wackiness of both franchises provides for a fast-paced yet deeply thoughtful role-playing experience.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar

In this day and age, Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a treat. Inspired by classic console RPGs, it combines turn-based combat with an excellent aesthetic based off the comic books of the same name. The game itself is full of dungeons to explore, some of them randomly generated and thus offering a dungeon crawler to it all. Along with six heroes, some interesting combat mechanics and a unique old-school feel, Battle Chasers: Nightwar offered a fun experience in a year full of open world RPGs.

Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Make no mistake – Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are most definitely retreads of last year’s Pokemon Sun and Moon. However, they add so much more to the games, expanding them enough that they’re worth a look. New activities like Ultra Wrap Ride and Mantine Surf add some much needed spice on the side but you’ll be busy with the new locations, the new Z-Moves and new Ultra Beasts. It’s basically more Pokemon for those who love the games but with enough content and fun gameplay to justify the purchase.

Persona 5

Persona 5 is the epitome of style and substance. The world leaps out at you in vibrant colours, animated menus and sleek combat sequences that can be devilishly tough at times. Heist mechanics, dungeon crawling and an amazing story (albeit one with a slow start) make this stand out from previousgames. But when you talk about a game with an excellent cast, addictive combat and a top-notch story, Persona 5 stands so far above many other games this year that it’s not even funny.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

While Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden, it still provided a great narrative and stellar tactical combat befitting the Fire Emblem name. In fact, the game is so good at balancing plot development with actual gameplay that it’s astounding and the production values, scope and exploration are simply top-notch. This is not Fire Emblem Fates but Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is still a great tactical RPG in a franchise that’s full of them.

Skyrim Switch Edition

It’s Skyrim but in handheld form. Well, Skyrim on the Nintendo Switch can also be played in docked mode but this is the same Skyrim. It has all the DLC, no mod support and pretty much all the same glitches as its 2011 release. Sure, the sheer range of the open world is amazing, the quest system and exploration is fun, you can pursue many different kinds of gameplay loops and it will go down as one of the best open world RPGs ever. But in 2017, the flaws inherent in 2011’s Skyrim go a long way to make it pretty good but far from perfect. At least it’s on handheld though.

Winner: Persona 5

It’s the intro that catches you, that mix of groovy music and sleek animation. At the outset, the familiar school setting, managing one’s personal life, and anime-esque drama seemed typical for Atlus. Persona 5 immediately cast aside those doubts with emotionally effective stories filled with deep characters that you actually grow to care for over the course of the game. The various systems intertwine, making your social interactions enhance your overall effectiveness in combat. This makes the relationships formed with your Persona and comrades all the more personal.

Of course, the new hand-crafted Castles and intriguing combat hooks add even more stakes to the story as your rogue-ish band pushes forward. The fact that there’s so little Persona 5 gets wrong and so very much it gets right while having almost no bugs is simply astonishing. When you consider the amount of competition it’s had this year, that’s definitely no small achievement and we’re proud to crown Persona 5 as the Best RPG of 2017.

Note: GamingBolt’s Game of the Year categories, nominations and awards are selected via an internal nomination, voting and debate process. You can check the rest of categories and the respective winners here.

Pyre is a fantastic new action RPG from Supergiant Games. it’s finally out on the PS4 and PC, and if you haven’t had the chance to go and play it for yourself already, stop everything else and go get it. In a great year full of great games, it stands out as one of the best.

Now, if you are playing Pyre, maybe you need help trying to get through it. Or maybe you just want to see a playthrough of the game before you commit to it. All understandable reasons for being here. Which is why here, we have a full video walkthrough of Pyre for you, from the start to the end.

Now, it goes without saying that this will have full spoilers– so if you want it, either be sure that you aren’t jumping ahead of where you are in the game, or that you are comfortable with having the story spoiled.

After all these years, Supergiant still has a certain quality to its titles. Bastion told stories of hatred and prejudice but also of understanding and new beginnings. Transistor was about deception and retribution but also love and sacrifice. Pyre is arguably about so much more but still incredibly sophisticated. There are undertones to read, clever bits of lore tucked here and there, and many themes working at a subliminal level.

"Rest assured, more individuals will join your ranks, further diversifying the tactics that can be employed as well as the banter around the blackwagon."

You begin Pyre as a Reader, cast out from the great city of the Commonwealth into the Downside with the other Exiles. A group of said Exiles happens upon you and enlists your talents for the Book of Rites. This book channels the ancient Rites wherein two teams battle over extinguishing their opposing Pyres. What is at stake in these competitions, organized by the mysterious and powerful Eight Scribes? Why, the right to battle for freedom. First you have to be in good standing and that itself is a perilous undertaking.

Your group are the Nightwings, a motley organization formed from various races. Hedwyn is a nomadic human that’s easy-going but stern when the situation calls for it. Jodariel is an imposing, horned woman who can be militaristic but still has a heart and the ability to laugh (sometimes). Rukey is a mustachioed cur who talks tough but moves quick. Each Nightwing has their own distinct abilities and traits to bring into Rites which we’ll get into shortly. And rest assured, more individuals will join your ranks, further diversifying the tactics that can be employed as well as the banter around the blackwagon.

Unlike past Supergiant games, you’re moving from one Rite to another, talking to your companions and learning their concerns, and making decisions about which route to take. If you’ve played The Oregon Trail, you’ll know what to expect (minus the dysentery, of course). It’s a very menu-driven experience but one that’s full of colour and personality. When you’re not deciding to take the low road and unearth some valuables or be blessed by the Eight Scribes, gaining other benefits for your companions or yourself, you’re learning more about the game’s world via the Book of Rites.

"It doesn’t just seem like you’re in a dirty place with dangerous critters lurking in the dark. You actually feel like it and the various reactions from your teammates support that."

Sometimes, you’ll be able to pursue your own “vocations” and can either enhance one of your innate passive skills (such as increasing your teammates’ auras, speed and decreasing banishment time), or choose to mentor a companion, thus bestowing tons of “enlightenment” aka experience on them. A traveling salesman named Ron holds different Talismans to confer various perks for your Exiles. He also sells materials for strengthening Talismans so it’s always worthwhile to keep a few Sol handy for when Ron comes calling.

Much of your time traveling sees you immersed in a variety of environments, tackling issues like new party members like the moon-touched girl who’s name you decide. Different routes can offer different benefits along with detriments towards the next Rite. Each setting is simply breath-taking in its splendor. Some environments offer volcanic and rocky passes that are tough to traverse.

Others see you traveling through ghastly plains that can sap the hope from your Exiles. I won’t spoil some of the cooler environments you get to traverse but suffice to say that the art direction and visual fidelity in Pyre is simply phenomenal. This is especially so because even if much of the splendor is confined to a traveling screen and character interactions, it creates an all encompassing sense of immersion. It doesn’t just seem like you’re in a dirty place with dangerous critters lurking in the dark. You actually feel like it and the various reactions from your teammates support that.

"It sounds simple and quite frankly, I found it deceptively so when first starting out."

The Rites themselves are where the action’s at. Essentially, you select three Exiles, take possession of the Celestial Orb in the center of the field, juke around your opponents and attempt to dunk it in the enemy Pyre while protecting your own. It sounds simple and quite frankly, I found it deceptively so when first starting out. However, each Exile has their own Aura.

These can be used to dispel opposing team members for a set period of time (known as banishment), thus clearing the way. These Auras can also be cast to attack from a distance. Possessing the orb renders your Exile vulnerable and without an Aura but you can still pass to teammates. Alternatively, the orb can be flung aside while you attack or re-position your allies better.

To give you a better example of how this works: Hedwyn starts off possessing the orb. He passes to Jodariel who creates space by jumping up and landing near enemies, throwing them off balance. Fling the orb aside and go back to Hedwyn to mop up your foes. However, Hedwyn can also receive the orb and leap over them into the Pyre. Or maybe you’ll take advantage of Rukey’s quickness to quickly flank around enemies and score while they’re distracted.

Stamina is used for sprinting and jumping so passing and knowing when to survive while setting up plays is of utmost importance. If that weren’t enough, each time you score, that Exile in question is banished for a long period of time, thus turning the next round into a 2 vs. 3 affair. Don’t worry though because when the enemy scores, the advantage is on your side at that point.

"Perhaps the most amazing thing about Pyre is that the game doesn’t end if you fail a Rite."

As you progress through the Rites, each Exile earns enlightenment with new skills unlocking at higher ranks. Jodariel may regain stamina from killing foes or increase their banishment from the field. Hedwyn gains the ability to revive banished Exiles at the spot they fell while also adding stamina regeneration to his teammates. Rukey can double-jump and deal more damage when diving into the enemy Pyre. Different Exiles add their own abilities and morph your strategies accordingly. Similarly, different factions will have their own abilities and influences on the land to gain an advantage.

The sheer range of groups is something to behold from bloodthirsty curs and fiendish bog-dwellers to sycophantic tree people and noble wyrm knights. However, it’s the characters themselves that can be simply amazing, whether it’s Hedwyn’s mysterious yet kind nature, Ti’zo’s flitting about and wise disposition, Pamitha’s seductiveness or the sheer enigma that is Volfred. Every single character is uniquely designed and compellingly written. The game also tells a great story with lore emerging with key parts in the dialogue.

While I may currently prefer the music of Bastion and Transistor, Pyre‘s soundtrack makes a fairly strong claim. Tariq’s tunes are lilting and endearing, expressing the vulnerable nature of your journey, while the background score ranges from catchy to surreal. There are rock intonations existing side by the side with the simple, melodic background score that you can’t help but smile at.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Pyre is that the game doesn’t end if you fail a Rite. In fact, there are twists to the supposed end goal as well. Rest assured that you’ll be replaying the game, revisiting key locations and teams that have been beaten already (albeit with new techniques and abilities) while unlocking more information on them. The characters grow and evolve in their personalities with special “trials” being held to add powerful exclusive Talismans to their repertoires.

"There’s nothing quite like it but if there were, the charm of Supergiant Games shines like a beacon throughout."

The mysteries of the world begin to unravel and you learn about the Commonwealth that emerged from a fallen empire. The Eight Scribes are revealed as more than just mystical figures. Those well-versed in the standard Supergiant length of games can expect a somewhat longer experience this time around, especially if they attempt everything.

Pyre is a spell-binding traipse through a mystical world, one who’s store speaks to the player in hushed tones as it does melodic outbursts. It’s a game with a heart that’s as strong as it is firm, always by your side and yet never patronizing you with its plot. While I will throw out the standard “not for everyone” tagline (and not as a negative, don’t worry), it is a game who’s characters, story and exploration are worth endearing yourself to. Each battle is like a learning experience and the toughest battles often feel the most rewarding. Though an uneven frame rate could be spotted (my system is an Intel Core i5-4440 with 8 GB RAM and a Zotac GeForce GTX 770 for reference), it happened on a few occasions and was never game-breaking.

As a whole, Pyre is polished, refined and offers the perfect narrative blend between its radical world and outlandish combat. There’s nothing quite like it but even if there were, the charm of Supergiant Games shines like a beacon throughout.

This game was reviewed on PC.

The upcoming RPG created by Bastion developers Supergiant Games, Pyre is almost here, and we have some interesting information for you if you’re looking forward to the game. Supergiant’s Greg Kasavin recently posted a blog on the PlayStation Blog, giving a number of details on the upcoming release, including its performance details on the PS4 Pro.

Pyre will run at a native 4K resolution on the PlayStation 4 Pro, as well as being locked at 60 frames per second, Kasavin has confirmed. This is, of course, exciting news, and it’s great to see a developer taking full advantage of the system’s capabilities. Kasavin also assured owners of the base PS4 model that the game will look great even if you’re not playing it on a Pro.

Additionally, Kasavin also talked about Trophy support for the game. While the list of Trophies for Pyre was not released, it has been confirmed that the game will have a total of fifty trophies, and Kasavin said that these will “open your eyes to new ways to play and create a really exciting game-within-a-game experience”. This is, incidentally, the highest amount of trophies in any game by the developer- which makes sense, because this is also the longest campaign of a Supergiant developed game.

Pyre launches in two days, on July 25 for the PS4 and PC. Stay tuned for continued coverage on the game.

Supergiant Games’ Pyre is prepping for release and will bring the developer’s biggest, most imaginative world yet to players across the world. In the most recent launch trailer, you’ll see the kinds of allies that can be recruited, enemy factions to battle and the kinds of Rites you’ll undertake. Check it out below.

Even with its catalog of strange titles like Bastion and Transistor, Pyre has to be Supergiant’s strangest game till date. It mixes in sports, RPG-like progression, narrative adventure-like choices and a mystifying art style that draws you in. And remember – it’s all for the sake of freedom, as you read books and drag your cohorts into the Rites within. Trust us – it looks as weird as it sounds.

Pyre is currently available to pre-purchase on Steam for $20 but those who pick it up now can avail of a 10 percent discount. You can also pick up the game for PlayStation 4 via the PlayStation Store.

Supergiant Games’ Pyre, a party-based RPG with elements of sports and choice-driven narrative, will be releasing on July 25th for PS4 and PC via Steam.

Known for Bastion and Transistor, the developer also revealed some new information about the game. It promises its “biggest and most imaginative world yet” witha variety of playable characters.

Taking place in Downside, the cast of Pyre will have their own unique stories motivating them. The battle system consists of Rites wherein teams of three characters battle to extinguish their opponents’ flame. Talismans and Masteries will be available to make this easier.

Interestingly, Supergiant is promising a story without a Game Over screen. Regardless of winning or losing, the story will continue and apparently, no two players will have the same experience.

Along with the campaign there will be a two player, local Versus Mode where you can choose from 20 characters to partake in Rites. These Rites can be customized in various ways with different stages that have their own effects on gameplay. Furthermore, you can play against a CPU opponent to sneak in some practice.

Thoughts on Pyre releasing in July? Let us know in the comments.