Stories: The Path of Destinies

Stories: The Path of Destinies in an action RPG told as a fable. The roguish fox pirate Reynardo once plundered the Floating Isles of Boreas, but then swore to his mother his rover days were over. Over time the emperor that rules the lands changed, however, participating in strange rituals and working with Imperial Ravens who round up entire villages. So Reynardo returns, assisting the rebels to overthrow the emperor and his Ravens.

This game takes a different approach to tell its story. A single game consists of five levels and at the end of the first four a choice needs to be made. Reynardo can chase after a mighty weapon called the Skyripper, be lured by the Iblis stone, hunt after his lover-turned-enemy Zenobia, seek scientists, assist the rebels, rescue his friend Lapino and so on. The combination of the four choices leads to 19 unique stories with different story sequences. When one is completed, a card is added to a board with an overview of the choices, a summary, and the type of hero Reynardo has become. That means the game is meant to be played many times to experience different endings. At the same time, however, truths can be learned while playing. Truths make sure the consequences of actions are remembered in future playthroughs, signaled through icons, and this changes the dialogue, story events and possible choices. A single game is 'completed' when four truths are combined, leading to different endings. After a while an optional 'truth seeker' option is unlocked to find the untrodden paths.

Supporting both direct control and point-and-select, Reynardo is steered through five levels based on ten available themes for each run. Not only is each level slightly different for each sessions, a Metroidvania aspect is also incorporated in the level design. Reynardo can collect up to four different swords that are used to open specific doors. Sometimes there are also branching paths, secrets, different teleport options and parts that were once locked are suddenly available. Reynardo needs to fight enemies using a combo and counter system. As he earns more experience and goes through different stories, a skill tree with up to four levels is available as skill points can be spent at altars on seven categories: combat, combo, dash, hook, stats (x2), and time.

Regular and epic chests can be looted for ore and other materials to craft and upgrade four swords (Firestorm, Hero Sword, Void Blade and Winterthorne), at workbenches. Each sword has a different fighting style and can be swapped on the fly. Each sword also has a unique fighting style based on fire, ice etc. tied to an energy meter. Certain parts in the environment can be destroyed for health, ore and energy. While fighting there are often multiple enemies, using spells, shields and so on. Reynardo can also use a dash move and a hook to bring enemies closer. The hook is also used while exploring to cross gaps. Certain levels have small puzzle elements based on levers, avoiding projectiles and stealth to defeat floating eyes. When dead, there is an unlimited amount of continues and checkpoints are set automatically.

Finally, the combat and playing style can be customized through gems. When these are found they can be equipped at workbenches in one of the three slots to provide additional resistance, faster speed, the ability to break shields etc. Gems have different levels that are upgraded when a second one of the same type is found. While certain environments are revisited multiple times in different configurations for the stories, the progression for items and enemy difficulty is tied to the overall progress.