Swedish developer Fatshark is playing to the old school crowd with its next PC title, Krater, a post-apocalyptic top down RPG combining elements of squad control and tactical combat. Old favorites like Syndicate and X-COM are given as sources of inspiration, but personally I’m most reminded of Black Isle and vintage BioWare classics like Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale–although Krater definitely appears to be heavier on action. Either way, it’s shaping up to be one wicked-awesome modernized throwback RPG.
Beginning this week, you can sign up to try out a pre-alpha build of Krater, a testing phase Fatshark is calling the Playable Vision:
“The concept of alpha and beta has been watered down over the last couple of years that is why we have chosen to name the current version Playable Vision, as it hasn’t reached what we consider alpha yet. We also want to stress that we listen to gamers and incorporate feedback that they give us.” says Martin Wahlund, CEO and Executive Producer at Fatshark. “We have a clear vision for the game, but the way to get there has already changed upon the feedback and suggestions we have received from our community on the initial game concept. The Playable Vision is the next step towards the final game.”
So go join up, give plenty of feedback, and help Fatshark realize their true vision for Krater. For an introduction to the world of Krater, watch the following developer diary video in which Game Designer Victor Magnuson discusses the basic concept behind the game. Underneath that you can find a new batch of pre-alpha screenshots.
Matt Litten is a 28 year old from-the-womb gamer turned video game reviewer/blogger and current editor/owner/operator of VGBlogger.com. Matt got his first taste of gaming as a youngster on the NES and Atari, and the rest is history from there.
In 2004, three years removed from high school and still looking for a career direction in life, Matt landed his first gig in the video game review business writing for the now-defunct website BonusStage.com. After the sad and untimely close of BonusStage, the former staff went on to found VGBlogger.com, and after a short stint as US Site Manager for AceGamez Matt turned his attention to VGBlogger, and to this day is dedicated to making it one of the top video game blogs in all the blogosphere.
Matt is a fair-minded reviewer and lover of games of all platforms and types, big or small, hyped or niche, big-budget or indie. But that doesn't mean he will let poor games slide without a good thrashing when necessary. 
