Retro RPG The Edge Of Allegoria is Nintendon't with its rude words and fat blunts

"Pssst! Hey kid... Want an adventure? asks the store page for The Edge Of Allegoria - a retro RPG in Game Boy style. This game may look like an older Pokemon game, and it plays like one too (minus the creature-collecting part), but it's for grownups. Or teenagers who are discovering the siren songs of games that include swearing and the odd (very) pixelated bob. The store page promises "Nudity, Sexual Content, Pervasive Coarse Language and Alcohol and Drug Use".

Edge Of Allegoria's 'Edge" is very literal. This appears to be a crude parody classic Game Boy RPGs. The world is divided into Pokemon-style "routes" and the combat engine is very familiar. However, there's a lot of swearing and casual use of cigarettes as consumables. Joe, a dungaree-clad country bumpkin, isn't interested in the stakes, which are higher with rampaging monsters that threaten to destroy towns and an ancient demonic force stirring up trouble in the background. He wants to go fishing. And fight.

This game looks and sounds great. The game runs in widescreen, but has a low resolution, with chunky typefaces and simple (but well-drawn) sprites, as well as a genuine commitment to monochrome. The combat is also reminiscent of early Pokemon. Joe, however, is a customizable character with no beastie friends to call upon to fight alongside him. It's nostalgic until the characters start talking.

The demo contains some hints as to what might be going on. Or at least, it's more intelligent than it appears. Joe is not just an arsehole. He's an archetypal murder-hobo who's disinterested in plots when there are things to kill and stuff that can be taken. Joe's house is burned down after he kills a Goblin King, and a forest deity's attempt to engage him in the story leads to casual murder. Will any of it make him care in the end? I'm really curious.

It's hard to say at this point how much self-awareness is in the game, and if it can pull off (an admittedly difficult) feat of telling a RPG story that's worth following, while still being crude, irreverent, and having a Chaotic Neutral hero, but I have my fingers crossed. The Edge of Allegoria will launch on December 4th. A demo is available on Steam. For those who are looking for something a little more mature, but still Pokemon-like, you might want to check out Cassette Beasts.