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An inside look at Phantomgate, the new side-scrolling RPG inspired by Norse myth releasing very soon

An inside look at Phantomgate, the new side-scrolling RPG inspired by Norse myth releasing very soon

Netmarble is a mobile publisher no stranger to releasing games that players can sink their teeth into. Having already taken the world by storm with fantasy MMORPG Lineage 2: Revolution, given players control of their favourite heroes in Star Wars: Force Arena and Marvel Future Fight, and ventured into uncharted waters for realistic fishing simulator Fishing Strike, their new game Phantomgate is set to release very soon.

Before it does, however, we thought it useful to give you an inside look at what to expect from the new 2D side-scrolling adventure. Heavily inspired by 19th-century Finnish fairy tales combined with Norse mythology, Phantomgate looks to offer thought-out combat, lots of characters, and fully-featured PVP battles.

A fairy tale adventure inspired by Norse mythology

Placing you in the role of courageous young Valkyrie Astrid, Phantomgate’s story focuses on her attempt to rescue back her mother from the evil clutches of Odin – in this game, a mad god. In order to be victorious, you’ll need to collect and evolve creatures known as ‘phantoms’ who’ll fight alongside you in the many imminent battles you take part in.

From a game play perspective, Phantomgate takes the form of a side-scrolling adventure filled with plenty of puzzles to solve, all while giving classic turn-based combat a unique twist. The game’s melding of classic fairy tales and Norse mythology are what looks to give it a distinct feel, both in terms of influencing Astrid’s story as well as the overall aesthetic of the game.

Puzzles to solve and mysteries to dig deep into

It won’t be too long after loading up Phantomgate that you’ll notice how Astrid’s mission is often halted by ancient Dwarven traps and puzzles. The only way to overcome them? By taking down the many phantoms which plague the land, eventually harnessing their power for herself. Souls stuck in limbo between life and death, they have spilled into the world of Midgard via a dimensional rift – so it only makes sense to bring them over to your side!

Classic turn-based combat

Turn-based combat has remained an RPG staple for decades, with it being very rare that the core conceit ever changes. Phantomgate is hoping to provide players with a unique twist on the classic formula, however, through what’s known as the bubble system. It works like this: during battles, bubbles with buff and debuff effects will spawn randomly. To make the most of the positive bubbles, players are required to quickly drag them to either Astrid or one of her allies, all while keeping their head in the fight.

Of course, it’s only fair that the detrimental bubbles are draggable to your enemies, and thankfully they are! You’ll just need to watch that your opponents don’t try something similar, but if they do, there are tactics you can deploy to keep the bad red bubbles away. The strength of your party in Phantomgate is still crucial – but bubbles hold the power to turn any fight into victory or defeat.

Real-time PVP matches with up to 8 people

Though the combat is primarily turn-based, Phantomgate’s PVP multiplayer is asynchronous and therefore emphasises tactical decisions made in real-time – such as how bubbles are deployed, for example. Two teams of four go head-to-head with three phantoms each by their side. Damage taken or felt is influenced by the varying elemental strengths and weaknesses of the party loadout you take with you into the battlefield – just be sure to stay vigilant of those pesky bubbles.

If you want to experience a healthy mix of side-scrolling, puzzle-solving, and don’t want to miss out on Astrid’s ambitious adventure to unite her family again, watch out for when Netmarble’s Phantomgate releases on the Google Play (pre-registration available here) and App Store later this September.