Hooded Horse and developer Amplitude Studios have released a free demo for 4x strategy game, Endless Legend 2, ahead of its Early Access launch on September 22. But there’s an annoying catch — the demo is only available this week, August 11 through August 18.
As a busy adult with a job and family and very limited gaming time (even for someone who literally writes about games!), I find these limited-time events a tad annoying.
Still, 4x strategy games don’t typically offer demos at all. The Endless Legend 2 demo includes two playable factions, and a game length of about 90 turns, which sounds pretty darn significant.
The two factions are the Kin of Sheredyn, and the Aspects. The remnants of an interstellar empire, the Kin of Sheredyn are newcomers to the planet. They specialize in defense and isolationism, capable of constructing advanced fortifications, and utilizing military formations.
The Aspects are cyborgs with a uniquely symbiotic relationship with coral. To expand their territory, they must place and expand Coral Spores, transforming the world around them. The faction specializes in diplomacy, and folding in minor factions into their Chorus.
The demo also includes the Necrophage, another faction, though only as an enemy combatant, as well as 15 minor factions to ally with, or destroy.
The sequel is set on the ocean planet of Saiadha. Saiadha experiences Tidefalls, with the ocean rising and falling and creating (or eliminating) new pathways.
Amplitude Studios are hoping to garner feedback, including bugs and localization, during this demo event. The Early Access release was originally slated to release this week, but was delayed to September 22.
