Castle of Heart: Retold vs Loulan: The Cursed Sand

• Perspective: 2.5D Side-Scroller
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Slavic Mythology
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 (TBA)
• Unique Feature: A unique curse mechanic that acts as a timer, where the player's health constantly depletes and must be replenished through aggressive combat, creating a timed-runner feel.

• Crystals of Mokosh: Four hidden gems are scattered throughout each of the game's 20 levels. Collecting them extends Svaran's maximum health.
• Stone Hearts: Floating pickups found throughout levels and dropped by enemies. These are essential for replenishing Svaran's constantly draining life bar.

• Lore Items: Found through exploration of the ruins, these items will provide context on the lost Kingdom of Loulan and the 'Xiaohe Princess'.
• Sand Abilities: Likely unlocked by defeating bosses or solving puzzles, these are new skills for use in combat and exploration.

• Dark Fantasy
• Slavic Mythology
• Action Platformer
• 2.5D
• Indie
• Curse

• Action RPG
• Chinese Mythology
• Top-Down
• Hack and Slash
• Fantasy
• Romance

• Sword: Primary Melee
  Svaran's main weapon for close-quarters hack-and-slash combat.
• Secondary Melee Weapons: Torches, Hatchets
  A variety of melee weapons that can be picked up and used for a limited time. Svaran drops his secondary weapon if his first health bar is depleted.
• Secondary Ranged Weapons: Javelins, Crossbows
  Ranged weapon options that can be found in the levels for engaging enemies from a distance.

• Knight's Armor: Svaran wears a suit of armor, but there is no traditional armor system with defensive stats. His durability is determined by his health bar, which is extended by collecting Crystals of Mokosh.

Progression is based on in-level pickups and collectibles. Players can find dozens of different melee and ranged secondary weapons throughout the levels. Collecting the four 'Crystals of Mokosh' hidden in each level will extend Svaran's maximum life bar. There is no traditional skill tree; progression is tied to player skill and health upgrades.

The core of the progression system is the 'Cursed Warrior of Dual Forms' mechanic. Players can freely switch between a balanced 'Sand Form' and a relentless, heavy-hitting 'Bone Form,' which wields a massive sand blade. This system unlocks different combat capabilities and is also used for puzzle-solving. Players also wield a variety of 'Sand Abilities'.

The game is a linear 2.5D platformer. Players will travel across 20 levels set within four distinct, Slavic-inspired landscapes. Most levels have been completely rebuilt for the Retold version, featuring new animations and more detailed environments.

The game is not a full open world, but features large, handcrafted, and atmospheric levels set in diverse regions. Players will journey through vast deserts, ruins, and flowing rivers of sand, reimagining the iconic landscapes of China's Western Regions.

• Svaran: Playable Protagonist
  A noble Slavic warrior who is cursed and turned to stone. He must fight against time to defeat the evil sorcerer and save his beloved.
• Mira: Key NPC
  A priestess and Svaran's betrothed. Her tear brings Svaran back to life, and her rescue is his primary goal.
• The Sorcerer: Antagonist
  The main villain of the game. A servant of the evil god Chernobog who cursed Svaran and rules the land with dark magic.

• The Cursed Sand: Playable Protagonist
  A skeletal warrior and resurrected royal guard on a quest to find his lost princess. He can switch between a balanced 'Sand Form' and a powerful 'Bone Form'.
• The Lost Princess of Loulan: Key NPC
  The object of the protagonist's quest and the heart of the game's tragic love story.

• Main Story Campaign
  A linear, narrative-driven campaign following 'The Cursed Sand' on his tragic quest to find the lost Princess of Loulan, battling powerful factions and colossal bosses along the way.
• Environmental Puzzles
  A recurring objective where players must use their unique 'Sand Abilities' to manipulate the environment, solve puzzles, and open new pathways.

• Q: What is Castle of Heart: Retold?
  A: It is a complete remake and definitive version of the 2018 Nintendo Switch exclusive action platformer, Castle of Heart. It features massively improved graphics, rebalanced combat, and a reimagined story.
• Q: What is the 'curse' mechanic?
  A: The protagonist, Svaran, is cursed to turn to stone. This translates into a unique gameplay mechanic where his health constantly drains like a timer. He must stay aggressive, killing enemies or finding pickups to replenish his health and survive.
• Q: Is it a hard game?
  A: Yes, it is designed to be a challenging 2.5D action platformer, similar in feel to classic games like Super Ghouls and Ghosts. Precision platforming and strategic combat are required.
• Q: What's new in the 'Retold' version?
  A: Almost everything has been enhanced. Most levels are rebuilt, graphics and lighting are overhauled, controls are more responsive, combat is rebalanced to be more tactical, and every line of dialogue and every cutscene has been remade.

• Q: What is Loulan: The Cursed Sand?
  A: It is a single-player action RPG from the developers of Naraka Bladepoint and Diablo Immortal. It is set in a world based on the ancient Silk Road and Korean/Chinese mythology, featuring a unique dual-form combat system.
• Q: What is the combat like?
  A: It's a fast-paced, top-down 'one-against-many' melee combat system inspired by the classic God of War games. The core mechanic is switching between a balanced 'Sand Form' and a heavy-hitting 'Bone Form'.
• Q: Is it a 'Soulslike' game?
  A: While it features challenging, skill-based boss fights, its core combat is described as being closer to a classic, fast-paced action game like God of War or an arcade slasher, rather than the methodical pace of a Soulslike.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: No official release date has been announced yet, but it is in development for PC and as a PlayStation 5 console exclusive.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. These specifications are for the rebuilt 'Retold' version and are relatively modest.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will be excellent on modern hardware. Most gaming laptops from the last few years will run the game at high settings without issue.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.
• Game Name: Castle of Heart: Retold

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS are To Be Determined (TBD). The game is being developed on Unreal Engine 5, so modern hardware is expected to be required. The following are hypothetical projections.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The game's fast-paced combat and detailed environments will require stable performance.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5 and the effects-heavy combat.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and 'one-versus-many' enemy encounters will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced action game.
• Game Name: Loulan: The Cursed Sand

• G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5 and the effects-heavy combat.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and 'one-versus-many' enemy encounters will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced action game.