Demo unpacked for fantasy adventure hybrid Albatroz

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Fantastical third-person 3D adventure with roleplaying elements coming to PC, PlayStation and Xbox platforms

Often games spent in search of missing persons are gloomy, tense affairs, but nothing could be further from the truth in Albatroz, an upcoming vibrant new adventure-RPG hybrid from Among Giants.

It's been a decade since Isla's older brother, renowned for being one of the best backpackers in the world, disappeared without a trace in pursuit of the titular mystical mountain, a place "known to the ancient inhabitants of these lands as 'the walking mountain.'" Now old enough for backpacking adventures of her own but "trapped in a numbing monotonous routine" in the city, Isla decides to embark on a quest to find her missing brother in "The Forbidden Lands," a "mythical and captivating realm where two worlds converge." Throughout your travels as the intrepid young explorer, whether driving or on foot, you will discover a variety of unique villages, each with its own distinct culture. There you can get to know the people, seek information and plan the next leg of your journey, and perhaps even equip yourself with "valuable items and special equipment" for the challenges ahead. Even then it won't be easy, as you must "use your survival skills to traverse beautiful yet challenging landscapes... manage your resources, strengthen your body, and improve your abilities as you face the wilderness head-on." Along the way, you may just discover that the journey is "just as important as the destination" as you learn new things about yourself as well.

Albatroz is a free-roaming, third-person 3D adventure that takes players through a range of stunningly colourful, majestic natural environments, from "scorching coastal regions to freezing mountains, with secrets to unearth and strange occurrences beyond imagination." But don't let the enchanting visuals and "timeless music that sets the tone for the epic and magical adventure" fool you into thinking this will be a leisurely walk in the park. In this personal tale about "knowing when to let go and start over," you'll face "harsh temperatures in a dynamic environment." Success will depend on making strategic use of your resources, so you'll want to stock up on supplies when you can. But as the "demanding environments" become increasingly more difficult, you'll need to "employ thoughtful management of resources by considering the items you carry, using them efficiently and only when necessary." Another resource to use wisely will be the "Travel Points" you earn by "uncovering new areas, interacting with objects, and assisting NPCs with their problems." When you've accrued enough points, you can level up either/both your own skills or the condition of your car to make the expedition less arduous. 

While no firm release date has yet been announced, Albatroz will be published by SOEDESCO on PC sometime later this year, along with both digital and physical versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. In the meantime, you can take your first early steps into this magical fantasy world through the playable demo on Steam, available now to download.