Audio-Only Adventure The Vale Steam Demo Available Now

One of the most mind-blowing experiences I had at PAX West 2019 was away from the convention in a hotel room where I played a game that was entirely audio. The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is a full-fledged game, just without the visuals. Players move around in the world, make choices, and battle foes all through extremely clever sound design. It’s one of those games that has to be experienced to truly understand and now anyone can through a newly released Steam demo. 

Developed by indie studio Falling Squirrel, The Vale is the story of a blind heroine navigating a world pitched into war. Even though what I played last year was still a work in progress, those early moments established a vision for something truly special. This is a story that shatters the boundaries of traditional games, enabling a much wider audience. The developers also explained at the time that they were working closely with all sorts of groups to ensure that their game meets their needs. I was surprised by just how much depth there was in traversal and combat. In a way, The Vale feels like a simpler version of an Elder Scrolls game but done entirely through sound. 

According to a recent press release, features included are: 

• Accessible Gaming For All: Haptic controller feedback, binaural audio technology, and professional cinematic voice acting guides players through real-time combat, exploration, and quests, and cut scenes, making this a gaming experience that is accessible to visually impaired and sighted players alike.

• Diverse Soundscape Environments: The bustle of busy villages, the gentle rustling of leaves through the trees in the forests, the eerie echoes of the unknown in dank caves — full 3-dimensional sound surrounds players from all sides as they adventure in over 20 diverse locations ripe for exploration.

• Immersive Medieval Combat: Players become engaged in the action in a way that is entirely refreshing as a diverse set of enemies attack with random and story-based encounters, boss battles, and more. Intuitive battle clamor guides players towards enemies as they attack and defend against their foes.

• Meaningful RPG Elements: Presented with a choice of combat styles, players will guide their fully-voiced hero and build their potential as they unlock branching magic paths, loot enemies, hunt animals for valuable items, and visit shops to purchase weapons and armor — each with unique sounds and stats.

• A Story for the Ages: With branching paths determined by player choice, over 20 side quests, and more than 70 audio cutscenes, players will uncover twists and surprises as they travel the land and speak with the many unique and fully voiced characters they encounter.

Again, this is a game that needs to be played to be understood. I highly encourage playing the demo. I also recommend using a good set of headphones, a controller, and maybe even a blindfold for a truly wild experience.

The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is releasing on Steam and Xbox One in Q1 2021. More information is available on the official website.