IGN writes: "Before the days of $20 million game budgets, many a creative game was made DIY-style. What these low rent titles lacked in production values they made up for in fun. With their home-spun adventure game, Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches, three-person indie development team Arberth Studios is out to prove that even in a stable full of blockbusters, there's still room for a dark horse.
Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches embraces the point-and-click style game play and spooky settings made popular by games like Barrow Hill and Scratches. Arberth Studios is located in rural Wales and, not coincidentally, so is the game. The story revolves around Ty Pryderi, a nearly thousand-year-old farmstead, and the resident family's teenage daughter Rhiannon who is tormented by an unseen presence. Disbelieving but distraught, her parents take her away from the house, asking you to monitor the on-site construction team who's in the process of restoring it."
Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches is possibly the only adventure game you'll ever play that's based on the Welsh cycle of myths called the Mabinogion. Before this game is over you'll have learned all about the folk hero Pryderi, taught yourself the ancient ogum alphabet, and become an amateur mage wise in the magical properties of trees. It's a shame, then, that Rhiannon is held back by poor controls and even worse graphics.
Gamertell has posted its weekly update of new casual style games.
This week's highlights are Millenium 2: Take me Higher (PC), Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches (PC) and Youda Fairy (PC).
Welsh developer Arberth Studios is looking for Welsh people to translate Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches into Welsh as the company can't spend over £16,500 on doing it commercially.
"Although the company is based in Wales, all three members are England born and raised and what little Welsh we have is not up to the subtleties of the 30,000 or so words contained in the Rhiannon materials." said co-founder Noel Bruton.
You can find anyone willing to do anything when PC gaming is concerned. Fan translation on the way.
