BEAST: Everything We Know

Beast is a Gear Tactics-inspired adventure in the heart of Carpathian legends. The Carpathian Mountains, etched in centuries-old history and folklore, have long been a wellspring of mystery and intrigue. Over the centuries, countless myths and legends about these historic mountains have been told. These mountains are home to numerous folklore, from tales of bloodthirsty vampires to shapeshifting werewolves and the enchanting machinations of witches and deities. It was only a matter of time before a game took inspiration from these tales to create an enthralling RPG experience.

The wait is finally over. False Prophet has unveiled their upcoming masterpiece, Beast‘ With just a trailer and a Steam page offering a glimpse into the game's essence, it's enough to pique your curiosity. Before you rush to hit that coveted Wishlist button, let's unpack what this upcoming title has in store. Here's Beast:Everything We Know.

What is Beast?

Beast is an upcoming tactical turn-based RPG. The game takes the face of a dark, medieval world plagued by warfare and a grimdark epidemic. Players will lead their troops through a holy quest to end the vile Prophet King's demented rule. However, you must also brave your demons before they commandeer you and your allies. 

Story

Inspired by the Carpathian Myths, the story unfolds from the protagonist's perspective, Anton Sabbados. As a long-lost veteran, Anton returns home after a decade of slavery. Upon his return, everything is amiss. The King Prophet, Lurius, appoints him to lead a mission against the plague in the Carpathian Mountains. You take on the protagonist's role and attempt to free your people from the shackles of evil that reign. 

But all is not gold for Anton. He must fight his inner demons with every battle, lest he succumbs to darkness.

Here's the game's Steam description:

“Long presumed dead, a veteran returns from a 10-year-long Ottoman slavery.

His Carpathian homeland is feebly reigned by the demented prophet-king, its lands ruined by raiders and cursed with a hellish plague.

Everything he loved and cherished is either gone or has changed beyond recognition. All he has left is his soldiers' loyalty – and a holy quest to end the plague.

Facing hordes of enemies and his inner demons, you must help him see it through, no matter the cost!”

Gameplay

The gameplay infuses three primary features: Beast system, insanity and brutal melee combat. The Beast system is a choice-driven technique where you decide whether to exercise or exorcise your inner Beast. 

The game's reference to inner beasts resembles Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Senua is a traumatized warrior who ventures through hell, tackling her inner demons and battling the Norse mythology manifestations. See the similarity? If you've dabbled in Hellblade before, you'll feel at home with this upcoming title. 

Moreover, the game's Insanity system amplifies the Beast system. Players will have to make hard moral choices during combat. Speaking of combat, you will lead your troops in gridless, fast-paced battles. The combat is turn-based, meaning you can anticipate your adversaries' attack and retaliate with a deadlier one. 

Furthermore, the game is mission-based, with every mission having one or more objectives. The cinematic cutscenes give more depth to the story and objectives. Also, players will have access to campsite management- a concept similar to Gears Tactics.

User ‘Psycholl', presumably a development team member, described the game as ‘Gear Tactics meets Mordheim: City of Damned' on Discord. The reference fits the game's dark atmosphere and its gameplay. 

Here's a run-down of the key features you can expect in this upcoming title:

Unique Beast System – Exercise or exorcise your inner Beast – you decide. The system pushes players to make difficult moral decisions during combat.

Insanity in the Dark Ages – Atmospheric, story-rich, grimdark world inspired by Carpathian legends. There is only evil – greater or lesser.

Brutal and Dynamic Melee-Focused Combat – Command your squad in fast-paced, gridless, turn-based tactical battles. Advance and survive intense and visceral encounters.

Development

False Prophets studio is seeing through the game's development and publishing. Founded in 2019, this is the studio's breakout title. The studio has amassed great industry experience by contributing to games such as The Medium, Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts and Shadow Warrior 3. 

Moreover, the game already holds an Official Selection award during the Fear Fest 2023 awards, which saw Resident Evil 4 bag the Horror Game of the Year.

From the horse's mouth: 

Developing BEAST has been nothing short of a transformational experience for us. We are pushing the boundaries of tactical RPGs by offering unprecedented gameplay mechanics and a rich, mature narrative. Our team of over 30 dedicated professionals has meticulously crafted this atmospheric experience, and we can't wait for players to step into this complex, morally ambiguous world.” Piotr Pacynko, Founder of False Prophet.

The developer is keeping the game's details under wraps. However, if you want to keep up with the game's progress, you can join their Discord server here. From the conversations, it's clear that developers are considering Early Access and beta tests. More will be unveiled in the coming weeks. 

Furthermore, the developer is inviting fans on their development journey. For any feedback, be sure to join the Discord discussions.

Trailer

False Prophet unveiled the Beast's official trailer during the Fear Fest 2023. The video showcases the game's intense and dark atmosphere and gameplay. The cutscenes do more than grab your attention. They also rope your anticipation for this upcoming title. It leaves you wanting more and works up your appetite. You can check out the trailer in the video embedded above. 

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Beast is set to launch in 2024. The game will be available in all languages on PC through Steam (with Steam Deck support). The developer is yet to unveil the exact dates for the launch, meaning the game could still be in its early stages of development.

Moreover,  information about special editions is still in the wind for now. But granted the game's intensity, there could be more than just the standard edition. In the meantime, you can follow the game's progress by keeping an eye on the developer's official handle here. 

So, what's your take on Beast? Will it live up to the hype? Let us know your thoughts on our socials here.