For its setting and combat system, Aether & Iron is definitely one of the most intriguing titles out there.
It’s a narrative RPG developed by Seismic Squirrel, dropping us into a highly original take on 1930s New York, one that floats in the sky thanks to anti-gravity technology. Unique, right?
I had covered it a while back in one of my Indie Showcases, and today the developer has shared a new trailer featuring fresh gameplay sequences.
The game follows Gia, a smuggler drawn into a conspiracy in a city transformed by the discovery of “aether,” a material that powers anti-gravitational technology and has turned New York into a vertical metropolis.
The trailer highlights the blend of systems that define the game. Players can bluff their way through conversations with dice-based dialogue checks, recruit companions, and customize aether-powered cars for turn-based vehicular combat.
Skills such as Hustle, Smarts, and Brass influence how encounters play out, but success is never certain, with dice rolls determining outcomes in both social and combat situations.
Combat takes place on gridded maps with customizable vehicles that serve as both transport and weapons.
Cars can be outfitted with armor, smoke dispensers, hidden compartments, and flamethrowers, and environmental hazards play a role, as ramming opponents into traffic can shift the outcome of a fight.
Alongside combat, players will smuggle contraband, navigate secret routes, and manage the risks of attracting unwanted attention from powerful factions across the city.
I think the strong point is the narrative, as the story shaped by player choice, branching paths, and multiple endings is written by a team with credits on Mass Effect, Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Sovereign Syndicate.
The narrative features full voice acting and a cast that reflects the city’s underground life, from crime bosses to old allies. The world is inspired by 1930s detective comics and art deco style, with factions modeled on historical groups such as Tammany Hall and the Pinkertons.
Aether & Iron is planned to deliver around 20 hours of play, combining tactical battles with a branching storyline and a “Heat” system that tracks how visible or wanted the player becomes.
The game is available to wishlist now on Steam. I don’t have a release date to share, but you can find the new trailer below.
