Cursed Companions
Horror games tend to lose their scare factor when co-op is introduced. But the potential for humour increases significantly, especially with the right group of friends. That's where Cursed Companions comes in, a co-op horror game full of humour, charm, and memorable moments.
We all have the ability to be little devils. Especially if it may lead to hilarious moments with our friends. Throw in a game that actually listens to what everyone is saying and reacts accordingly, and you have a recipe for excellent comedy. Side effects may include a rift in your friend group or affected team members looking to pay you back in kind. Cursed Companions is a game rife with opportunity for experiencing laughs and panicked moments.
One of the more intriguing features in Cursed Companions is that the game is listening in on players and how they play. Now, I don't mean the game is actively listening to every single thing players say, but it is always listening out for key phrases. In Cursed Companions, your voice is your greatest tool. Traps and puzzles can be overcome by simply saying a command. Sounds simple, right? Well, if you aren't careful, you could accidentally cause a friend to plummet to their death or draw the attention of something big and nasty you don't want to. As funny as it will no doubt be for you to cause your friend who's lagging behind to get caught in a trap, it could also end your run prematurely. It's all about teamwork, after all.
The trailer showcases some of the phrases and what might happen when you say them. There are some great benefits, such as casting spells to light the way forward (well, a torch) or to heal your teammates should they have fallen victim to one of your poorly-timed trap activations. Choose your words carefully, as even asking your team to follow you can result in dire consequences. Knowing what words to avoid can be the difference between surviving or ending your run. Unless you intentionally want to try and complete the game solo, in which case have at it.
No two runs will be the same. And that's not counting the times you end your run because you want to see what would happen if you kill off half your team. Each dungeon you dive is procedurally-generated and they get deeper the further your team progresses. The more you play, the higher chance you have of getting lost, meaning you'll have to keep going if turning back isn't an option. The next room might just have the treasure you must seek to please the Dark Queen, who reassures you the dungeons and their denizens are safe.
Players serve the Dark Queen in her quest for treasure. And like any rightful queen, she sends minions to do all the hard work and plunder ill-gotten gains in her name. Returning the treasure safely results in you earning favour with the Dark Queen. Failing to do so, or to hit the required amount, can result in extreme consequences. Said treasure just so happens to be cursed, too, making things even more challenging. Speak the forbidden words on the treasure and risk damage or even death to you and your team. But you wouldn't want a boring run with nothing happening, right?
And that's if you can pry the lustrous loot away from the creatures blocking your way. Not every monster is inherently hostile; some are just content to get in the way. But if you rile them up, you better hope you can get outta Dodge fast. Some of the critters hunt by sound, though, so running isn't always a good idea. Maybe if you try to shoo them away or send them to their room, you might just survive long enough to bring the treasures home.
Additional loot can be found along the way. While the cursed treasures go to the Dark Queen, there's nothing wrong with pocketing a little loot here and there to make your efforts worthwhile. Cash in your findings to upgrade your skills and buy fresh equipment. But be sure to keep some of that gold aside, as you can use it to upgrade your home base and make it more than just a place to relax in. That's if your friends have forgiven you for that last stunt you pulled.
If you're not one for teamwork, you can always switch to Cursed Companions’ Traitor Mode. Leaving behind the camraderie and somewhat trustworthiness, Traitor Mode lets you turn on each other. The traitors have two unique abilities that other players won't have access to: the ability to see the health and death curses of other Companions (kinda like Shinigami eyes from Death Note) and the ability to dole out death curses to whomever you wish. It's up to the Companions to track down and vote out the Traitors before they all get eliminated.
There's no set release date for Cursed Companions just yet, but it is due to launch in Early Access on Steam sometimes this year. Once I have a release date, I'll be sure to share it with you. But until then, Have You Heard Of This?
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