PLATFORM: PC (EARLY ACCESS) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Set in the 1700s, Windrose casts players as an unnamed salty sea dog who recently had a run-in with the infamous Blackbeard. Starting you off on an island with little more than a broken sword and the rags that you washed ashore in, your task is to survive long enough to figure out what exactly your nefarious foe is up to. To do this, you’ll need to forage for materials, build a base, craft various tools and eventually cobble together a ship that will allow you to take to the seas in search of plunder and booty and all that other piratey stuff.
Currently in Early Access, Windrose contains around 50% of its planned content. You’re able to fully explore around 30 procedurally-generated islands across three distinct biomes, all with unique loot, enemies, bosses and side quests, and there are three types of ship along with upgradeable weapons and armour. You’ll level up by discovering new materials and fully looting hand-crafted points of interest on many of the islands that you’ll discover, allowing you to push further into the harsh terrain and take on increasingly perilous enemies – the local wildlife can be especially vicious, and that’s before we even get to the rival pirates, mutated sailors and undead monstrosities that roam the islands. Enemies hit very hard indeed, so those who enjoy a challenge will be in their element, but there are some handy options that allow you to make things less stressful if you prefer an easier ride.
Windrose allows up to eight players to join a single game, which can make for some really fun co-op mayhem. A solo adventurer can easily make their world available to other players without starting a new game if you suddenly decide you want to bring some pals in, and it’s quite pleasing that while the game recommends sticking to a maximum of four players, during this review there weren’t any noticeable issues with a full complement of eight. Main story quest progress is shared between all players, but it’s worth tinkering with the settings before you really get going – enemy health is increased for each additional player in a game, making things very difficult for anyone who finds themself in a fight without any backup…
With at least 50 hours’ worth of content in its current build, Windrose is well worth investing in even before it reaches its final form. Its story takes a back seat to the action a lot of the time, and occasionally it might feel like upgrading your weapons doesn’t always feel like you’ve got a whole lot stronger, but all of the game’s mechanics, from its crafting and survival to its land and sea combat, are extremely well done, forming a ridiculously addictive package that could well steal entire days of your life if it gets its hooks into you.
