Planet Stronghold Now Available at Rampant Games

Posted by Rampant Coyote on March 17, 2011

Since I know you guys were only waiting to buy this game until I put it up on my own website… 🙂

Planet Stronghold

Planet Stronghold is a sci-fi story-based RPG… sort of a hybrid Visual Novel and turn-based RPG. You play a young but gifted new recruit assigned to the most heavily defended human outpost in the galaxy. Just as, of course, things start getting really, really interesting. Naturally, you’ll find yourself in a pivotal position choosing sides in a conflict with major repercussions across the galaxy. There’s tons of dialog (written, not voiced), over forty unique enemy types, eight NPCs you can recruit into your party, and six possible romantic relationships — three for each player-character gender. Yes, that’s one more piece of dating sim / VN thrown into the game.

I’ve actually been pretty excited about this one for a while for it’s unusual approach. People keep saying they want something different — not only is this a science-fiction based RPG, and turn-based (woot!), but the whole approach – very conversation-driven – is distinctive. It may be a little too much on the cute or silly side for some – and I know some of you folks can’t stand manga-style artwork – but it’s different. And fun.

The game is built around a Python-based engine, and versions are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux (all from the same link).

Anyway, as always I recommend downloading the demo from the link above and checking it out first, as tastes (and hardware compatability) may vary.

Filed Under: Game Announcements - Comments: 7 Comments to Read

Eldiran said,

I have to point out that I really respect the fact that, at least in that upper screenshot there, the males and the females are wearing the exact same uniform. Only the one dude in the middle has a different uniform. That’s a touch of realism and intelligent character design you rarely see.

(Also, this is my first time posting on this blog — just wanted to say, it’s awesome! Keep it up.)
William said,

Looks like it uses the same engine that Digital: A love story used. Sadly it looks like the link for that is down, though, so here’s a review instead http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/03/17/wot-i-think-digital-a-love-story/
William said,

The engine is called Ren’Py http://www.renpy.org/ , further investigation reveals.
Rampant Coyote said,

Yep, he (Celso Riva of Winter Wolves) has been using RenPy for his last few titles. Science Girls also uses RenPy, so it’s not the first RPG to use that engine… just, I think, the biggest.
Nick Istre said,

Darn it! Why do you keep pointing out these Linux-compatible games! I use Ubuntu on my work laptop partly so I wouldn’t be tempted to play games while working (I have a Windows 7 desktop at home for that!), but you keep pointing out these rather good games that work natively or run on a language implemented on linux (like Python in this case). And the demo works perfectly well on my 64-bit system too.

I guess time to pull the credit card out when I get home. *shakes fist at RC*
Rampant Coyote said,

Heh – I would say, “Sorry,” but you’d know I wasn’t being honest, Nick. 🙂 And I’m trying to do better about pointing out games that are available on Mac and Linux.
Milkman Dan said,

I played the demo, and I’ve got to say, the battles are much more challenging than I expected for a visual novel / RPG hybrid. I tried on Normal, failed a lot, and set it back to Easy until I learned my way around the system. I think the key to the system is managing threat and predicting who the enemy is going to attack.