There’s a fairly extensive character creator with which to build you avatar. Not only does this give you someone to face the dangers with, but allows you to work together to complete feats too towering for a single traveler.
As with Journey, you can meet and team up with other players for periods of time. The unique selling point of Book of Travels is something I’ve sadly been unable to test pre-launch. Without food you can’t heal, and although you can rest, specially brewed tea or prepared food gives bonuses to stamina. Travelling anywhere can be dangerous, and you’re required to provision accordingly for each journey.
Sometimes you’ll find fishermen who need help pulling in their latest catch, or you’ll be asked to deliver missives and gifts between loved ones or guard stations. For example you can chat to one guy lounging at the teahouse but not the fella next him. You can talk to most people but not all, though at the moment it seems a little arbitrary in some respects. Book of Travels: settlements and teahousesĪs you venture out into the world you will come across settlements with stores and teahouses, soldiers and craftsmen and citizens. But you’ll also fight the elements, as there’s a strong survival theme to Book of Travels, too. You’ll hike the length and breadth of the land, forming friendships and alliances, helping NPCs with their tasks and occasionally fighting for your life with blade and staff. You explore its beautiful, water-colour world as a solitary traveller. Finding middle ground somewhere between PS3 classic, Journey, and a more traditional MMO.
Book of Travels from Might and Delight AB is an ambitious title, and a perfect example of why some games release into early access before a full launch.