In an era of the stealth genre taking a backseat, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream emerges from the shadows. Is this stealth adventure worth your time? Or are you left wishing it had stayed hidden?
One With The Shadows
Upon loading up Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream, you would have thought this game had been made by a large AAA studio but to my shock and pleasant surprise, it is the complete opposite. Developed by River End Games, which consist of just 19 members based in Sweden, Eriksholm is the studios debut title, and what a debut it is. Set in Eriksholm, a city with clear Nordic inspiration in the fictional Kingdom Of Rosemark, the story follows the tale of protagonist Hanna. Having been orphaned from an early age, Hanna lives with brother Herman, as they struggle to make ends meet in this harsh city that is in the midst of dealing with a disease outbreak named Heartpox. Right at the beginning of the game, Herman disappears and the police come knocking at Hanna’s door, setting in motion the narrative of Eriksholm.
The plot of Eriksholm is nothing particularly new or fresh but what the story sets out to achieve, it does with some wonderful storytelling. It’s a tale of conspiracies, alliances, rebellions and betrayals but what makes it all come together are the fantastic characters. Hanna is a superb lead, voiced so brilliantly by Rosie Day; every line spoken by Hanna really feels full of emotion and it’s hard not to root for the character by the time the credits roll. Hanna isn’t the only playable character though, as you can also control resistance leader Alva and Sebastian, a city outcast. The dynamic between these three characters across the eight chapters is what makes the story feel so emotional and layered. This is all perfectly encapsulated by the absolutely stunning cutscenes which often take place at the beginning or end of a chapter. Every scene feels important and momentous, making each segment a must see, certainly a game where you should not skip cutscenes! The overarching plot of Eriksholm is nothing that hasn’t been told before but if you’re looking for an adventure tale of mystery and discovery, with a brilliant cast, this story is for you.
Crouch, Wait, Sneak, Repeat
Eriksholm sets out to achieve a puzzle stealth adventure from a top down isometric view and it succeeds, for the most part. Throughout the first few chapters, the game seeks to limit how you can control Hanna in order to force you to learn the basics. The basics of cover, utilising shadows and creating distractions with sound are all core fundamentals of this stealth gameplay. Running creates sounds for guards to hear, walking over glass or metal surfaces can garner fatal results, making it a very tense experience from the start. It’s a long game of cat and mouse throughout each level, as you dodge and weave your way through factories, towns and other environments, avoiding the police. Further along in the story, you are rewarded with new abilities, such as a pebble for distractions, a blow dart to stun enemies or a chokehold ability when you are controlling a specific character.
Speaking of different characters, each one has unique abilities and skills which help diversify gameplay and keep things fresh. Hanna can squeeze through small apparatus-like vents; Alma can climb up drain pipes and Sebastian has the aforementioned chokehold ability. Each area playing as these characters feels different from the other, making some really unique moments for each character. It’s just a shame some of these abilities are unlocked far too late in the story for them to produce maximum affect.
The world of Eriksholm is designed as a sandbox in both combat and exploration. Many levels have a puzzle or two for the player to decipher and this once again keeps the game feeling fresh and innovative. The puzzles are particularly troublesome but provide a different challenge for the player to overcome. Speaking of challenge, the most disappointing part of gameplay is the lack of player choice in combat and stealth. Most levels require you to follow a very specific path which the game has mapped out for you, for example, watching a guard moving from point A to B and then making a move. It’s your bog standard stealth gameplay loop, which for some veterans of this genre will become tedious and boring by game’s end. The game also sports an overly generous checkpoint system which can eliminate any sense of real difficulty for certain levels. Overall, it’s a solid effort for a first attempt at stealth adventure gameplay by River End Games.
Exquisite, Enchanting, Eriksholm
Let’s get one thing abundantly clear when it comes to presentation. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream may just be the best looking non AAA game I have ever seen. Everything in this world looks drop dead gorgeous. The Nordic themed city has some steampunk inspired visuals in places, but carves its own unique beauty. The design and architecture of the buildings is mesmerizing along with the excellent colour pallet selected for each area. The wonderful streets, alleys and even fortresses are illuminated with superb lighting. All of this beauty is at its best when you utilise the camera. Throughout the game you can manoeuvre the top down view to make sure you are seeing every nook and cranny and this really heightens the game’s beauty. And I must not forget the character models: Hanna, Alva and Sebastian all look simply stunning with their facial design and animations. This is particularly evident in the beautiful and cinematic cutscenes. This is a monumental effort in visual presentation by a small developer. I am blown away.
Similarly, the sound design and soundtrack elevate the game to further heights. Every door opening, glass smashing, floor creaking and guard shouting sound phenomenal and help to heighten the tension during the stealth combat encounters. This design really captures the desperation the characters feel. The real star of the sound design is the previously mentioned voice cast. Each member of the cast manages to pour life and soul into each character, making every conversation memorable. A fantastic effort across the board from the whole cast in bringing these characters to life. Finally, the soundtrack of Eriksholm delivers with a brilliant score from composer Lelf Johnson. It’s a score which encompasses the early 1900’s era blended with modern sounds to capture the feel of the city and the tone of the story.
Verdict
River End Games have achieved something special with their debut title Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream. This stealth adventure has a solid story driven by superb characters and a gorgeous setting. Whilst the gameplay may not be challenging enough or provide enough freedom for some players, it is still a tightly crafted stealth experience. Mesmerizing visuals, a great soundtrack and truly memorable voice acting make this game my biggest surprise of the year so far. In a genre that has fallen to the wayside, River End have injected some much needed life!
