Astra: Knights of Veda, the first video game from the company behind K-pop megastars BTS, looks like a 2D Elden Ring
Hybe, the company behind immensely popular K-pop stars BTS, is getting into video games. The first release from the Korean company’s newfounded games publisher Hybe IM (with IM standing for “Interactive Media”) will be Astra: Knights of Veda, a 2D RPG with more than a touch of Dark Souls and Elden Ring to its heavily-armoured bosses and big scary dog monsters, if its first gameplay trailer is anything to go by.
Astra is billed as a 2D dark fantasy RPG that mixes together the real-time combat of beat ‘em ups with the progression of a roleplaying game as you toughen up your squad of four knights by chopping through its fantasy world of Planis. The game is built around a story that will have over 200 cutscenes and full voice acting, with developers Flint promising a “rich” narrative.
The game’s reveal trailer shows off characters wielding swords, spells and bows - while dodge-rolling for their lives - against a variety of enemies including knights in hulking armour, red-eyed knights on horseback, a hairy dog beast straight out of Bloodborne and a mountain of muscle that reminded me of Elden Ring’s Hoarah Loux.
There are also brief glimpses of more monstrous creatures, including a flappy demogorgon-like nightmare and a sort of eyeless humanoid decked in massive gold necklaces, who I can only assume is the rich cousin to the child-eater in Pan’s Labyrinth.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you of Astra’s “...but Dark Souls” credentials, there are also some shots of gothic cathedrals, dragons, big golden doors that open verrrrrrry slowly and some kind of weird fetus that ties into the game’s story surrounding a dark plague, mysterious rituals and a Mad King.
Arguably less of a riff on the Soulslike formula is the
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