Alstan

This is not so much a review as it is a message to the creator. As far as the my review thoughts go, Its good, Its short, and in an unfinished state. That is clearly stated at one point in the game. It is basically a demo. A GOOD one. If this game (as others have stated) is in fact a student project, then I think it's pretty clear that you passed the course. I saw style, creative ideas, and mechanics that beg to be expanded upon. This game is dripping potential all over the place. I guess I can understand if you have already moved on to bigger projects. Even if that is the case, then I have to say that I will be very disappointed if it ends here. Those last little cut-scenes at the end when the doors open gave me chills. I truly hope that I will get to play the finished version. Don't let it die.

an incredible yet awfully short game, my favorite thing here is the character design, especially of the protagonist. i wish i could give money to this because it well deserves it, and I also wish that i could see more of this world as i feel i've only seen a sliver of what could be.

Alstan is a short third person action adventure set in the Idnan Desert, and the first thing I noticed is how much effort has gone into making the setting feel different from the usual fantasy world. I play as Alstan, a young nomadic warrior who loses his sister to a mysterious curse known as the Mark of the Desert. From there I head into the desert looking for answers and revenge, eventually learning about Rahim, an ancient Djinn connected to the curse. The story is fairly straightforward, but the combination of desert folklore, Djinn and the Amazigh and Tuareg inspired setting gives it a lot more personality than I expected. The combat is where most of my time goes, and I think it works quite well for what this game is. I have to fight different enemies using close range attacks while also making use of Alstan's sand powers. The sand ability is easily the most interesting part because it is not just another attack that does more damage. I can use it to create powerful shock waves and propel myself through the environment, so it becomes useful for both fighting and movement. The combat is fairly simple overall, but I like having that extra ability to work around rather than just …

Great concept, lots of opportunities for improvement, and overall a decent game.

Alstan is a compact third-person action-adventure that builds its identity around desert exploration, supernatural powers, and a revenge story shaped by loss and corruption. Developed and published by Mirage Company, the game was created by a student team as a graduation project and is presented as a vertical slice rather than a full-length commercial adventure. That distinction is important because Alstan is primarily a demonstration of a larger concept, bringing together combat, traversal, exploration, environmental storytelling, and fantasy mythology within a deliberately limited experience. The story follows Alstan, a young nomadic warrior whose life changes when his sister dies after being afflicted by the mysterious Mark of the Desert. His grief turns into a desire for vengeance against the Djinn associated with the curse. After encountering a strange traveller, he learns about Rahim, a legendary Djinn who has supposedly remained imprisoned inside an ancient temple for centuries. Alstan subsequently crosses the dangerous Idnan Desert in pursuit of answers and revenge. The premise is straightforward, but an important complication gives the protagonist greater depth: Alstan ca…

Despite the game's need for deep polishing and optimizing, it's fun. ..And it's free !