If you’re a fan of ARPGs and are on the hunt for something new, we’ve got just the game for you. Last Epoch, an indie ARPG developed through Kickstarter, has finally received its official release date. This comes after sitting in Steam’s Early Access library for two years. With the game’s full version in sight, this seems like the opportune time to give you a rundown of what the game’s about. We’ll discuss gameplay, pricing, platforms, and more in today’s article.
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Last Epoch Developmental Journey
Before we dive into what Last Epoch is all about, how about recognising the developers and the hurdles they had to clear in order to get to this stage? The game was developed by Eleventh Hour Games, a company formed by game developers who met online on a subreddit r/gamedevs. It took 18 months of brainstorming with the sole goal of producing an amazing ARPG that could establish itself amongst the ranks. Through Kickstarter funding, Last Epoch generated $250,000 and will be available on 21 February 2024.
In-Game Storyline
With that out of the way, we can finally get started on the topic you’ve all been waiting for; what is the game really about? Being an ARPG, the player will choose a character acting as the protagonist. You spawn in the world of Eterra, a world overrun by the undead immortals. Once ruled by gods and various empires, it has been plundered by various threats from outside.
Last Epoch includes aspects of time travel where you must change the Past and stop the Void, one of three threats faced by Eterra, in order to restore peace and harmony to the land. Failure to do so could lead to the obliteration of humankind as you know it.
The Void, an all-consuming entity that corrupts everything it comes in contact with, is not your only problem as you also need to fend off hordes of the Immortal Empire. This is an empire of Immortals who stole the power of the gods for their own devious means. You also have Rahyeh, god of sun and fire, looking to turn the land of Eterra into ruins at any cost.
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Gameplay
Moving on to what the game actually entails, character customisation is a key selling point for the game. You start off with five base classes that further branch out into three advanced classes each, giving you a total of 15 character classes to choose from. The classes aren’t just divided into ranged or melee, physical or magic. Rather, Last Epoch shows great class diversity by introducing classes like Necromancer and Lich from the Acolyte base class and Beastmaster and Druid from the Primalist base class, to name a few.
Once you’ve chosen your desired class, there are more than 120 skills available for you to choose from. That’s not even where the customisation ends as every skill has an augmented tree that alters its mechanics. So pick whichever skills you want to learn, tailor them to fit your playstyle, and dish out the most damage perfectly.
Getting your character set up with all these customisations can be time-consuming but will definitely be worth it in the long run. Now you’re finally ready to get out there and stop the Void from distorting everything you love.
Pricing and Editions
It’s important to know not just what you’re paying for but also how much you’re paying. If you’re interested in pre-ordering Last Epoch, you have a choice between three editions, Standard, Deluxe, and the Ultimate Edition. With increasing prices, they also have additional limited-edition cosmetics if that’s something you’re interested in.
The Standard Edition only contains the digital base game and the Golden Guppy exclusive pet, priced at $34.99. The Deluxe Edition costs $49.99 and has some added amenities like the game’s full soundtrack and 50 Epoch points. Along with those, you will receive the Adolescent Chronowyrm cosmetic pet, Fallen Ronin cosmetic armour set, and Firefly’s Refuge cosmetic portal on release.
The final, and most priciest version, is the Ultimate Edition. The Ultimate Edition will include 100 Epoch Points, the Temporal Guardian cosmetic armour set, the Twilight Fox cosmetic pet, the Adult Chronowyrm cosmetic pet, and the Celestial Way cosmetic portal on top of the already existing Deluxe Edition bonuses. It doesn’t come cheap though as it is priced at $64.99 for pre-order.
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The Bottom Line
Last Epoch might not be a triple-A game but it definitely has all the qualities we’re looking for in an ARPG. With extensive character customisation and a solid storyline, we don’t think this is a game you’ll get bored of. Hop on with your friends and fight to the death against the Void to prove your might.