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Narborion Saga is an upcoming iOS and Android gamebook full of choices and dice

Out this winter

Narborion Saga is an upcoming iOS and Android gamebook full of choices and dice
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| Narborion Saga

Narborion Saga is the latest in a long line of gamebook adventures that have been popping up on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

This one isn't based on a classic from the physical heyday of the genre though, it's set in a fantasy world built from scratch. And it sort of shows. The build we've played is a little clunky in places, and could do with a proof read.

That's not to say there aren't some great ideas here, and some new tweaks to the formula that are likely to cause controversy.

It'll certainly be interesting to see the reaction when the game lands on the App Store and the Google Play Store later in the year.

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You play a young squire, leading him through a series of adventures and side quests as you decide his ultimate fate. There are dice to roll and tough choices to be made.

Everything is presented brilliantly. It's sort of like scrolling through a weathered roll of parchment.

The art is solid, and the whole thing feels a little closer to a pen and paper RPG than a gamebook.

You build your character by spending points in a number of characteristics, then it's off into the world to release a demi-goddess from her prison.

The world reacts to your decisions as well. You might take a few days off your quest to pursue another line of the story, and come to find your actions have changed the possible outcomes of other aspects of the narrative.

There are gold coins to spend on armour, weaponry, and other gear as well. You can also buy more coins with real-life cash, if things get too difficult for you.

Outside of the game itself, there'll be 'bard contests' that allow players to compose songs and poems to try and earn some extra in-game cash.

Just registering on the game's site bags you an extra 350 gold. Which is enough to buy 35 swords. Although I honestly can't imagine why you'd want 35 swords.

Narborion Saga will be free when it lands on the App Store and the Google Play Store in the not-too-distant future.

It's definitely worth a look at that price, but it'll be interesting to see whether or not some of the little problems are ironed out before launch.

Harry Slater
Harry Slater
Harry used to be really good at Snake on the Nokia 5110. Apparently though, digital snake wrangling isn't a proper job, so now he writes words about games instead.