A DEDICATED DEVELOPER AND PUBLISHER

The gaming industry is a very interesting one indeed. I often look at and marvel at the relationships that often form between a publisher and a developer. It is only through a successful relationship between both parties that a game can have any chance at success. Recently I have been looking at such a relationship. One that will result in the release of an interesting RPG called Harbinger. Developed by Silverback Entertainment and soon to be published by DreamCatcher, this intriguing RPG is one that is full of many engaging elements. While this will be the first game released by Silverback Entertainment, DreamCatcher is a well known publisher of a variety of games. DreamCatcher began by publishing adventure games but they have gradually started to branch out to other genres and this RPG is an excellent example of this. Silverback Entertainment has worked on this game for several years now, polishing their first game to the point where it is to be released soon.

Arizona based Silverback Entertainment is a small company consisting of about ten people who have worked very hard these past few years to create Harbinger. I admire this small developer because they show the world that it does not take a huge budget or a huge team to produce an excellent game. It takes teamwork, dedication to the task, and overcoming the many challenges that come along the way that make a game what it is. It is also about seeing a vision reach completion and giving gamers a memorable and enjoyable RPG. DreamCatcher is to be applauded for giving these small development companies the opportunities that they truly deserve. I have always had faith in the choices DreamCatcher has made, as they also published the very successful Riddle of the Sphinx adventure game which was developed by an even smaller company. After spending some considerable time with the beta, I must compliment the entire development team for achieving a wonderful and immersive game in Harbinger. If the beta is any indication of the final game then RPG gamers will be in for an exciting gaming experience once it is released. Read on dear readers to understand why I have faith in the success of Harbinger.

AN ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND STORY

Harbinger is a sci-fi action RPG with a very interesting story. You begin the game aboard the warship Harbinger. A ship with immense power that leaves destruction everywhere it goes. It has power of such magnitude that it can destroy entire planets. On the planets that it conquers it takes the inhabitants living upon them as slaves to work on the ship. A captain by the name of Steve Wulf commands the ship and is now calling himself the Overlord. One can only wonder what devious plans the Overlord has in mind with the command of Harbinger in his iron grip. Many of the species you shall meet upon the ship such as the Scintilla are an example of a conquered species. Eventually you will be able to leave the ship and venture to the surface of the planet below. The word Harbinger can be defined as something that foreshadows what is to come and as you get deeper into the story you will realize its true meaning. The interior of the ship is huge and many species have made their home somewhere within the immense complex. We have the Scintilla, a race of creatures that have psychic abilities. We also have the Vantir, a species clad in armor who craves the special powers possessed by the Scintilla and are also masters in engineering.

It seems that the Vantir continually assault the Scintilla in their quest to obtain the special powers that they possess. There are other characters you will come across such as the human Torvus, and the creatures Wik and Silus. Torvus is a human that loves creating things, such as gladiators, huge mechanized walking robots. Wik is an impressive and very funny creature, that is able to see visions if he takes a drug called Lotosypherine. Silus is a creature that is a friend to Wik and warns you not to give Wik anymore of this narcotic drug because he feels that it will kill him. Yet Wik feels that this is the only way that the visions will come to him and the only way he will be able to help you in your quest. There was a humorous scene that involved Wik taking the drug and chanting what was supposed to be a prophetic chant. Your character even comments that it does not sound very prophetic. Wik actually seems to say something in Spanish that translates to "I do not know anything. I am in the clouds. I like girls.” When I read this the first time I burst out laughing. This is an excellent example of the wonderful personality given to this memorable character as well as to others. There was another hilarious scene which shows a character that apparently is dieing but he keeps talking to you as if nothing is wrong.

These were very funny scenes which I found amusing and thank the developers for their inclusion. It is this kind of detail and attention that is found throughout this game. Along the way you will also encounter a mysterious character that you refer to only as Smiley. Actually you can only talk to Smiley at computer terminals that are scattered throughout the areas. Smiley appears on these screens as a happy face. But who could this character be that knows your every step and continues to help you along the way? I found this to be a welcome and suspenseful addition to the game. There are other characters for you to encounter in this game beyond these with intriguing personalities. I have to compliment the writers of Harbinger because they have created some wonderful sequences as you go into each new area. There are instances where you will go into a new area and your character will comment on what is happening. I loved this aspect of the game and I hope that the developers will use this throughout the entire game. I enjoyed reading my character's thoughts and understanding them as well as the world around me better through this. This is the very interesting setting of Harbinger, one I am quite sure will hold your attention until the end.

GRAPHICS AND MUSIC THAT IMPRESS

Art and music is equally as impressive as the story in the game. The artists have done a superb job in creating the creatures, environments and effects used throughout the game. Music is used well and helps to complement the game as you are playing. Harbinger is an RPG where the dedication to creating beautiful art is readily apparent. As I went through the areas battling the enemies and completing quests I had to stop many times to take in the beauty of effects and visuals used to create each and every area. In one area you will see machinery running in the background or in another robots that are attached on hooks twitch as you get near them. In one instance you will see a crashed ship lying in your path with smoke billowing from it. It was then that I knew that the artists created each of these environments with care and attention. As you go through each area, it is as if you discover something different that they used to surprise and excite you. Even the creatures you go up against are rendered with impressive detail and care.

LIKE THREE GAMES IN ONE

It is like getting three games in one because you are able to play Harbinger as one of three different characters, a human, a gladiator and a Culibine. Each of these characters follows somewhat of a similar storyline but each branches out in different and interesting ways. Each character also has their own unique interface and look as well as different abilities and upgrades. As you play each character you will also appreciate how each of them responds to the environment and enemies differently. Your human character struggles to make a living aboard the ship as a mercenary who can use mines and plasma weapons such as those uniquely named, “Valentine” or “First Love”. The gladiator is a walking mechanized warrior that wreaks havoc upon the enemies with its impressive guns and fierce blades and seeks to find a purpose in life. The Culibine is from a unique species and seems to draw energy from within to attack than through any external weapons and is a fierce female character that vows to avenge the betrayal of her people. The Culibine emits a wave of energy that can damage a group of enemies to regular bursts of energy that she can unleash on individual enemies. I enjoyed playing through the game with each of these characters because they each offered very different and fun playing experiences.

You can go forth on many interesting quests given by such characters as Torvus at the beginning, which may involve finding a missing individual, to recovering specific items. You are awarded a specific amount of Uan, which is the currency used in this world, when you complete your objectives. You travel to other areas in what are referred to as Umbilicals. These are gateways that transport you to other areas and need specific codes. Each code that is entered will send you to a different area within the game. You will come across many diverse enemies such as the Vantir in many forms of strength and difficulty, fierce gladiators, Scintilla and creatures known as biters with huge teeth waiting to bring you down as well as many others.

It is often on these enemies or in chests that you will find many valuable upgrades for each of your characters as well as items that will restore your health. As you defeat enemies you gain experience, and eventually when enough is reached, you will be able to level up and allowed to attribute a few points to specific categories. In the event you ever get lost within the world of Harbinger there is an easy to use map feature that overlays itself on the screen and that is easy to follow. Ever had a problem where you ran out of storage space in your inventory but did not know what to do when this happened? Well, in this game there are storage bins where you can leave your extra items for later retrieval. The interface was also designed in such a way as to make it as easy for a player to understand and control.

A UNIQUE RPG AWAITS YOUR ENJOYMENT

Harbinger looks to be a very engaging and interesting RPG. Even more impressive is that Silverback Entertainment as a small developer has created a memorable and unique RPG world. You will appreciate the story, the three character classes that you can choose from as well as the art and special details that grace every facet of this unique sci-fi world. I eagerly anticipate the final polished product when the entire story will unfold as well as finding out the identity of the mysterious figure behind the smile. Harbinger is indeed an RPG worth waiting worth for and one you should keep a close eye on when it releases!

Official Harbinger website