SKALD: Against the Black Priory

SKALD is one of those games that brings a smile to your face when you’re playing it despite the dark and mature content. The design evokes fond memories but also adds enough modern sensibilities and systems to make playing comfortable and approachable. The graphics and sound take root in your psyche and you are drawn to the title in much the same way the main character is drawn into the island’s mysteries. It’s not perfect; the frustrations with the combat and technical bugs preclude that, but it’s still a wonderful reminder that sometimes the old ways are best. Just like the Great Old Ones promise.

The old school style of Skald: Against the Black Priory is a tribute to classic RPGs. The game's narrative shines through and its retro design will trigger nostalgia. However, this lovecraftian darkness adventure may not be for everyone and I wonder to what extent it is just a look into the past while failing to deliver something special for players.

Inspired by great classics of the past, SKALD isn't just fueled by nostalgia but is a proper good CRPG in its own right, one that fans of the genre should probably consider playing.

SKALD is loving, expertly crafted, niche experience. It's Commodore 64 games and H.P. Lovecraft stories, so you'll have the best experience if you love both.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a dark, gloomy and atmospheric role-playing game that primarily offers the most important thing in such a game; an exciting story and a mysterious world you want to explore.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a lovely surprise of an RPG. After a bit of getting used to it and some visual tweaks, I enjoyed my time with the game on Steam Deck using touch controls. If you’ve wanted an old-school RPG experience that’s built for today without compromising on the vision but one with some accessibility options, SKALD: Against the Black Priory is for you.

Anybody who has ever enjoyed a turn-based RPG and fancies a trip down memory lane will find themselves delighted with SKALD: Against the Black Priory.

Skald proved to be a great trip down memory lane, thanks to its visuals that are authentic to the Commodore 64 era. On top of that, it offers a well made cRPG experience that even though it doesn't offer anything new it will please fans of the genre.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a narrative-rich adventure that takes everything great about creative 8-bit RPGs and heightens the experience for modern players. It’s enjoyably grim and sometimes grotesque, but through strong game design, I was rarely confused about how to progress amidst an experience that doesn’t hold your hand. The combat also sees some depth through character customization and job classes that each focus on unique loadouts and abilities which complement the strategic battles. I’m glad this game exists and I had a great time playing, so maybe keep it on your radar if you’re in need of a weekend adventure through the unknown.

Yet even these rough edges work in concert toward something singular and idiosyncratic. Indeed, the story becomes hard to pin down in the lead-up to a truly audacious ending, and the occasional abandonment of combat fortifies the horror undertones far more effectively than simply killing everything in your way. Skald may be easy to distill to its overt influences, but its best moments use those touchstones to build something new.

Skald: Against the Black Priory captures the spirit of your favorite old-school RPGs while serving up deep side quests and memorable lore, but its combat and progression systems eventually run into trouble and its overarching narrative never quite takes off.