In a teaser released earlier this year, covered by Spencer, AstralShift clued us in on an impending new release, Hell Maiden. AstralShift has a very strong pedigree having released both Little Goody Two Shoes and Pocket Mirror, creating impressive narrative RPG experiences. The new release, Hell Maiden, received a full trailer and steam page release this morning. Showcasing AstralShift’s signature art style and the gameplay mechanics of their new deckbuilder meets Vampire Survivors.
While their previous titles were RPGs focusing on heavy narratives, specifically horror narratives, Hell Maiden appears to be AstralShift’s attempt at exploring new genres. And why not a horde survival deck-builder set in the world of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy? I never considered, for a second, that I’d ever be writing those words. The roguelite, and yes, it is a roguelite, adds deck-building mechanics allowing players to collect, stack, and merge cards to build unique hands.
The goal of Hell Maiden will be to conquer the nine circles of Hell, with the help of some of Dante’s friends of course. Shown off in the trailer is Dante represented by an anime girl, which rules. Alongside Dante will be Virgil, Dante’s guide through the abyss, and the poets. Of course, attempting to thwart her existence is Queen Minos, who will no doubt prove a thorn in Dante’s side for a while. The gender bending is an interesting focus, having The Divine Comedy played out by cute anime girls is certainly a choice, but it’s one the tickles me on a primal level.
Dante’s allies, aside from words of encouragement, provide Dante with Blessings and Signature Weapons that will provide unique abilities, perks, and ultimate attacks. No doubt, all enhanced by the hundreds of tarot-inspired original card illustrations. The Touhou comparison can be extended to the colorful cast of characters as well as the beautiful hand-drawn environments. The art style is iconic for AstralShift, making Hell Maiden apparent as an AstralShift game immediately at first glance.
AstralShift is considering Hell Maiden a direct sequel to the Divine Comedy, sending Dante back to Hell with all her memories gone. Ah, video game set ups, never change. The player’s goal is to help Dante climb her way back to Heaven in a search for answers about her memory. Accompanied yet again by Virgil, Dante will also run into, again, the four poets Homer, Ovid, Horace, and Lucan along the way. There’s a promise as well of Beatrice making an appearance. Move over, Virgil.
Hell Maiden is currently without a release date, but don’t let that deter you from heading over to the Steam page and adding it to your wishlist. Keep an eye on the MonsterVine front page for more information about Hell Maiden and other AstralShift titles as news comes out. We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as Hell Maiden has a release date.
