We’ve had no shortage of good-looking action-RPGs taking cues from Diablo over the years, but few have managed to leave a big mark on the subgenre. With Loulan: The Cursed Sand, Chinese studio ChillyRoom aims to do things a bit differently, and it’s looking awesome so far.
For starters, Loulan’s approach appears to be that of a story-driven single-player adventure which may be inspired by some of the biggest Soulslike games in spite of the familiar camera positions and commitment to evolving the action-RPG tradition of old. What we see in the reveal trailer (shared below) is fluid and not limited by Diablo-like conventions, so we’re curious to see how ChillyRoom is juggling DNA from a number of subgenres to give it a voice of its own.
On the narrative and world-building front, Loulan also seems to be exploring an often overlooked setting: that of the Silk Road in the Western Regions of China:
“Loulan: The Cursed Sand is an action RPG set along the ancient Silk Road in the Western Regions of China. It tells a tragic love story of an exiled royal guard who returns to the fallen kingdom of Loulan amidst the chaos of war to find his beloved princess. You play as the skeletal warrior known as “The Cursed Sand”, mastering the power of sand to explore and solve puzzles in a perilous top-down world. Engage in realistic melee combat against overwhelming odds, defeat powerful enemies, and confront the fate of your own cursed existence.”
Some players have been quick to point out recognizable nods to the Prince of Persia series, and while they might be intended indeed, we also believe ChillyRoom is smartly tapping into mythology that’s been buried in popular media and the history of the ancient Loulan Kingdom. That alone already gives this action-RPG a head start. Plus, we enjoy the idea of playing as a skeletal warrior with sand powers.
For now, Loulan: The Cursed Sand has set a PC (Steam) and PS5 release at some point in the future. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one and hoping for more news soon.
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