If you’ve been missing the cheeky charm of retro RPGs, Shadow Layer Games is here to resurrect your interest. Literally. Their cult classic, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning, is making a grand comeback as a completely reimagined adventure, aptly titled Breath of Death VII: The Beginning Reanimated. Hitting Steam on the 12th of December 2024, this remake promises to be an absolute steal at just $5 USD.
Originally released as an Xbox Live Indie Game in 2010, the OG Breath of Death VII topped the charts and remained a fan favourite until the platform’s closure. Now, Shadow Layer Games has gone back to the crypt and given the game a complete makeover—new visuals, new music, new game modes, and a much sleeker, streamlined experience.
What’s new in reanimated?
“Breath of Death VII: The Beginning Reanimated is a complete, ground-up remake,” explains Bill Stiernberg of Shadow Layer Games. The updated version features vibrant 16-bit sprites, smoother animations, and a fresh soundtrack composed by HyperDuck SoundWorks (known for Dust: An Elysian Tail and Cosmic Star Heroine).
Expect a host of new features, including quality-of-life upgrades for controls and UI, plus two fresh modes to keep things lively (well, undead-lively). Dragonduck Mode offers a quirky 2600-style quest for Dem, the skeleton knight, while Hard+ Mode dials up the difficulty for anyone craving a challenge.
Meet the cast of characters
Breath of Death VII transports players to a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is long gone, and the undead are the new rulers of the earth. The story follows a loveable group of undead heroes:
- Dem, a bone-crunching skeleton warrior with a sharp sense of justice
- Sara, a ghost historian with an otherworldly sense of humour
- Lita, a vampire tech wizard who puts the “byte” in “fight.”
- Erik, a zombie prince on a quest for purpose and adventure
Classic combat, revamped for today
The turn-based combat system keeps things fast-paced and exciting, with Combo Hits to charge up powerful attacks and Unite Techniques for devastating team abilities.
When’s it out again? Not long to go, on the 12th of December. Grab your copy on Steam for just $5.
Breath of Death VII The Beginning Reanimated
Price: $5.00 USD
Platform: Windows / Steam
Genre: RPG
TL;DR: Breath of Death VII: The Beginning Reanimated is the reimagined version of the cult classic Xbox Live RPG. Launching on the 12th of December for $5 on Steam, it features updated 16-bit visuals, a new soundtrack, revamped gameplay, and extra modes.
