Old Skies Preview – Skies the Limit (Demo)

Old Skies by Wadet Eye Games

Old Skies generally follows the formula of other Wadjet Eye Games. Like Unavowed or the Blackwell Series, there is a heavy emphasis on narrative.

Think point-and-click adventure game with light puzzle-solving and a strong focus on dialogue interactions. Characters and their plot threads are the stars here, and thankfully the writing in this demo is superb throughout.

There is a real sense of focus when it comes to the narrative. Most characters are more than one-note stereotypes. Deeper interactions dealing with characters’ feelings really make you care about them. Wadjet Eye has always had a knack for creating engrossing characters and narratives, and this demo is no different.

Fighter from the Future, Pugilist from the Past

The demo revolves around Chloe Sadar, a boxer who, with the help of our time-traveling protagonist Fia Quinn, goes back to the 19th century to seek advice from her hero, a historic fellow boxer. The demo revolves around the search for the famed boxer and only takes about 30 minutes, but I found myself itching to learn more when it was over.

As mentioned, most of the game revolves around dialogue along with some light item-use to get more information out of other characters. There is also a historical archive you can search, which allows you to look up characters’ names to find out more information about them. This unlocks new places to explore or new dialogue options for certain characters.

Old Skies also features a trippy mechanic: when you die, you can time-loop back to prevent your own death. These mechanics combined make for a cohesive and immersive point-and-click experience. I felt like a time-warping agent with real agency – not just clicking dialogue options to progress.

Old Skies and Old Inspirations

I’m a fan of the game’s more cel-shaded, cartoon style. It gives the game a classic look reminiscent of older adventure games like King’s Quest VII and Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars. I really like how simple yet detailed it is.

Environments are more detailed, while character design is simplified. Instead, it’s the voice actors that bring each character to life. Vocal performances are fantastic across the board, which is unsurprising from Wadjet Eye Games. They enhance the writing by offering pointed inflections and a depth feeling to each character, from the downtrodden boxer looking for solace to the determined but confident performance of the protagonist. The voice acting continues to be a standout for this developer’s catalog.

The music is another standout. It’s a cool, moody jazz ensemble that gives off a fitting noir vibe that makes the world feel a bit more mysterious. Dramatic moments have the right gravitas and looming dread thanks to deep stringed instruments and synths. The score makes the demo’s atmosphere much more compelling.

The Verdict:

There is a lot of potential here, and this is possibly shaping up to be the next great point-and-click adventure. Coming off of how excellent Unavowed was, I’m excited to see how Old Skies turns out.

I recommend you check it out if you’re a fan of narrative-driven games. I enjoyed this demo immensely, and I’m looking forward to the full game’s release.

A demo for Old Skies is available via Steam.

Check out the official trailer for Old Skies below:

Related