Dungeons of Hinterbergby Austrian developer Microbird Games is looking to deliver a unique narrative experience that blends real-time action with more relaxed, social-simulation gameplay similar to that of thePersonagames. But whileHinterbergseems to mirror some of thebest aspects ofPersona’s Confidant system, it’s shaping up to be a radically distinct and synergistic experience that feels fresh for even the most dedicated fans of Atlus' flagship JRPG franchise.
Put simply,Personais supported by two major pillars: dungeon-crawler sections with turn-based combat, and grounded, narrative-focused social activities. These two pillars feed off each other, as a player’s decisions in the narrative-focused sections, such as which NPCs they choose to spend time with, can greatly influence their combat abilities in the action-packed stretches of gameplay. This balance is something thatDungeons of Hinterbergis attempting to capture, pitting players against various threats during combat while allowing them to soak up charming NPC dialogue in the game’s hub area. Like inPersona, the social-simulation elements ofHinterbergwill shape how players interface with the rest of the game, which will hopefully make for a consistently engaging, varied experience.
Dungeons of Hinterberg Is Shaping Up To Be a Treat for Fans of Persona-Like Games
How Dungeons of Hinterberg’s Social Aspects Impact Its Gameplay
AlthoughDungeons of Hinterberghas little in common withPersona’s typical JRPG framework, the way it handles NPC interactions definitely feels familiar. InHinterberg, players alternate between venturing out into the monster-ridden Austrian Alps and spending downtime with friendly NPCs in a cozy mountain town. Each NPC has a corresponding “relationship level” that can increase after repeated interactions. With each increase in relationship level comes a new skill or perk, such as an increase in stamina or a windfall of cash.
Of course, this ishighly reminiscent ofPersona’s bonding system, which encourages players to form connections with various NPCs by awarding them with increases in their Arcana level. Choosing to build relationships with one NPC over another will result in different Personas growing more powerful, making for a unique approach to standard RPG build-crafting, elegantly linking NPC interactions to the combat that forms the backbone of the gameplay. Having said all that,Hinterberg’s NPC relationship system does quite a bit to stand out againstPersona, despite its obvious similarities.
Dungeons of Hinterberg’s Social Simulation Aspects Are Unique in Their Own Right
The most significant way thatHinterberg’s social-sim-combat synergy differs fromPersona’s comes down to how the former approaches gameplay.Dungeons of Hinterbergis more like a hack-and-slashgame or action-RPG, emphasizing real-time combat and clever use of special abilities. This impacts the rewards that the game doles out for bonding with NPCs: they seem to be static, all-encompassing upgrades that make the player more effective in general, rather than the compartmentalized approach ofPersona’s Arcana system.
Like inPersona, players will have to manage their time inDungeons of Hinterberg, as they can only hang out with a handful of NPCs throughout any in-game day. However, the sandbox design ofHinterberg’s hub area is notably different from the more linear, zone-based structure ofPersona’s overworlds, encouraging players to explore the village and encounter friendly NPCs organically, rather than waiting for specific opportunities. This changes the way that the game’s social-simulation sections function, making them more holistic and immersive.
Make no mistake,Dungeons of Hinterbergis far from a’Persona-like' game. Its real-time combat, environmental puzzles, exploration, and general style make it a wildly unique project that takes inspiration from a number of different sources, includingThe Legend of Zelda. At the same time, the wayHinterbergpromises to fold seemingly low-stakes NPC interactions into the broader systems of gameplay might just scratch thePersonaitch, giving players a fun, well-rounded narrative experience to enjoy.
