Seven: The Days Long Gone

Overview

Seven: The Days Long Gone is an isometric RPG set on the open world prison island of Peh. Set in a post-apocalypse after technology has been rediscovered and civilization brought back up to a cyberpunk dystopia, the player takes control of Teriel, a master thief who falls victim to an elaborate plot that gets him caught during a heist and thrown onto Peh. From there, the player is free to explore nearly the entire island by utilizing cunning, stealth, and a surprisingly robust and mobile parkour system. The player is free to pickpocket or backstab whoever they see fit, so long as they can get away with it.

Gameplay

Seven: The Days Long Gone is played from a freely rotating isometric camera. After a brief tutorial set in a futuristic cyberpunk city, the player is captured while attempting a heist when the object they were seeking turns out to be a technological daemon that possesses the player. Waking up on a ship headed to the prison isle of Peh the player is processed into the system and welcomed to the first town, at which point the game opens up the rest of the island so long as the player is up for exploring it. The island is divided into several zones, each of which requiring a higher level visa to legally enter. Just because the player doesn't have the appropriate level visa, however, doesn't prevent the player from entering and exploring an area.

Exploration is facilitated generously by a parkour/free-climbing system that allows the player to climb almost anywhere they can see. From the very start of the game the player is allowed to climb up and over into guard posts, restricted areas, and higher level visa zones freely. The game encourages this exploration with abundant pipes, ducts, and other makeshift routes to maneuver around the intended thoroughfare.

The game also has a strong emphasis on stealth with the ability to sneak past and around guards and other enemies, pickpocket anyone in the game, pick locks, and do strong backstabs and drop attacks on unaware enemies. The player can also acquire full sets of clothing for many of the game's factions and disguise themselves to blend in.

Combat is simple but has variation within the weapons the player has equipped. While daggers are quick and allow for mid-combat backstabs, a slow axe will hit much harder. The game strongly encourages stealth with the player being outnumbered in most encounters.

RPG Elements

Though being classified as an isometric open-world RPG, the actual RPG gameplay elements in Seven: The Days Long Gone are fairly light. The game has no leveling or experience to speak of. Likewise, the dialogue has few options and no opportunities for persuasion. Skills are found scattered throughout the island and can be equipped in a limited capacity. The RPG elements mostly stem from the fact that, after being loosed onto Peh, the player is free to use their toolset to explore the island as they see fit. The player can pickpocket from anyone (including entire inventories of shopkeepers) and, provided they have high enough thieving skills equipped, open almost any door.