Rue Valley preview from a closed presentation. A hybrid of Disco Elysium and Groundhog Day

In 2019, Disco Elysium showed that modern RPGs can do without a combat system. Many fans of the genre liked the ideas of the guys from the ZA/UM studio, so they were upset when they learned about the cancellation of the sequel. But now other similar projects are being developed. For example, Rue Valley, another role-playing game where you will explore the world, communicate with characters and try to understand your own psychological problems. But this time, what is happening is twisted into a time loop. We attended a closed presentation of Rue Valley and got acquainted with its alpha version. We are in a hurry to share the details.

First, it is worth telling what a time loop is. We are talking about a closed cycle of events that the main character must experience over and over again. He can try to change something and even die in the process, but the next morning history will repeat itself. We saw something similar in the films Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow and Happy Death Day.

But if in the movies we just watch from the side, then in video games we are forced to personally experience the same events over and over again. At the same time, it is important to draw your own conclusions and try to move further than during the previous attempt. For example, to manage to reach the target and eliminate it, like in the shooter Deathloop. If it doesn't work out, you will have to try again. At the same time, the key items that you took during the previous cycle can be saved in the next one. This is exactly how things were in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

The game begins with choosing the main character's features. We distribute points between various skills, such as determination, sociability and sensitivity. As a result, the character of our protagonist is formed. He can be impulsive or calculating, attentive to other people or indifferent to them. There are no incorrect or incorrect options, because each of them opens up unique dialogue lines and, as a result, special paths through the game.

Over time, you will have the opportunity to increase the skill values. And they can change dramatically under the influence of external events. For example, after unpleasant memories, the hero will suddenly become extremely sensitive, but will not be ready to make serious decisions. Such situations do not happen often.

Each loop in Rue Valley lasts 47 minutes of game time, excluding pauses. After that, you return to the psychologist's office, where the main action began. There you can summarize the temporary results of the investigation and understand what new things you have learned. In some cases, you will have to hurry, and sometimes, on the contrary, it is better to fast forward the time. Such a situation can arise when you need to wait for the girl to talk on the phone. But the same situation can be resolved without wasting precious minutes if you have pumped up impulsiveness.

The memory map plays an important role in understanding what is happening. It marks all the significant events that the main character remembers. They are saved even after restarting the cycle. To get a complete picture of what is happening, it is advisable to explore the world and talk to all the characters, and if possible, choose different lines. In this case, you will see more options for the development of events.

In addition, there are hidden memories that play an important role in the plot. They are available from the very beginning of the game, but to interact with them you need motivation points, which are an important resource in Rue Valley. Without them, you will not even be able to start a conversation with some characters. You can get them as you go.

In all other respects, the game evokes memories of Disco Elysium. It has similar graphics that resemble a watercolor painting or pages of a classic comic book. There are no battles with opponents in the usual form, and all actions are performed in dialogues. At the same time, the available lines directly depend on skills.

In addition, at the beginning of the game, the main character does not remember anything and tries to figure out what is happening. Periodically, we hear his monologues like in classic noir films. And wrong decisions can lead to unpleasant consequences, for example, an attack of nausea.

However, you should not think that we have a rough repetition of other people's ideas. Based on the results of acquaintance with the alpha version of the game, I want to call it a worthy successor to Disco Elysium, we have a competent development of the ideas of ZA / UM. And the time loop brings an element of novelty to the familiar mechanics. The release will take place in 2025.

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Will you play Rue Valley? Or do you not like role-playing games without battles? Share your opinions in the comments!