..................................Moderator comment.....................................

Thanks to chasm for posting a fix for the language issue. He posted the following, which deoes fix the giveaway versions Russian Only language in game.

He posted the following ''Go into "Soul Of The Devil\www\data" folder, there should be an "/en" (for english) subfolder. Go into it and copy all the .json files, go back into the "Soul Of The Devil\www\data" folder and paste what you copied, replace everything when asked''. This replaces 'most' of the menus and other in game words with English translations. This allows non Russian readers to play the game. The bugs that are still present will cause some play issues, but it is definitely more playable than without the language issue resolved. The game is now virtually the same as the Steam version apart from the initial menu screen that gives you the option of choosing Russian or English via their respective national flags.

Soul of the Devil

In Brief

Soul of the Devil is a retro styled RPG using RPG Maker. This version is the original version before it was updated to include English language options, bug fixes and other improvements. Not recommended unless you can read Russian/русский. I've included screen captures from my game play of both the game giveaway and Steam versions. The Steam versions are usually with English text and the Russian only from the game giveaway version.

Installation:

Soul of the Devil downloads to a 402 MB zip file that unzips to three files, (a setup.gcd security wrapper the set-up file and a read me). The game installs to the following path by default, but can be changed if you wish. The installed game is approximately 534 MB in size. (this is almost 100 MB larger than the Steam version which is 442 MB.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Soul Of The Devil

Five shortcuts are installed to the desktop, four of which can be safely deleted . If you want the games shortcut to be installed to the desktop, make sure the appropriate checkbox is checked. Even if this is left unchecked you will still get the four internet shortcuts installed to the desktop; (i.e. Falco Space - Online Game!, FalconLine Online Games Website, FalcoGo WebGL Games! and Free Games Downloads!). Also, if you don't like icons installed to the quick launch task bar, make sure the appropriate checkbox is unchecked when the 'additional task's window appears (after the Select Start Menu Folder window).

Introduction:

The battle between humans and the devil lasted millenia. Humanity was ultimately victorious. Unfortunatly, a small band of sectarians tried to summon Satan, but it was in vain; however, following the last battle he promised to come back ....

The main character is a plain guy. What side will he decide to accept? Will he want to remain faithful to God or take the power ...

Edited reference accessed HERE. Updated and edited by Whiterabbit-uk 20th March 2019

Key feature :

⦁ Partly non-linear progression
⦁ Huge world
⦁ Sandbox,no one's stopping you do what you want
⦁ There are several various of endings
⦁ Unforgettable adventures
⦁ Many moral choices
⦁ Possibility to visit hell and heaven

The Game:

I've played the gamegiveaway version for over an hour and because I couldn't progress due to the bugs and the inability to understand most of the Russian dialogue I decided to boot up my Steam version, which I purchased over 2 years ago. The Steam version was definitely improved, but was still plagued with bugs and although most of the translations were okay, there were still frequent Russian text that was indecipherable to anyone who wasn't able to read Russian. I've compared both versions (i.e. the Gamegiveaway version and the Steam version), and believe the giveaway version is the original release without the improved translations etc. I was unable to play the giveaway version for the following reasons. 1) ... There was no choice of languages, so had to play in Russian, which was nigh on impossible (I can sympathize with Russian gamers who have no English and want to play the many great games that don't have Russian translations). 2) ... When in fighting mode the enemy was totally invisible. You could see a shadowy circle that moved around each turn of the attack system. Choosing the correct answer from the dialogue menu was almost impossible due to the language barrier and I kept dying. There were a few words such as Attack, which in Russian is ATaKa, that were recognizable despite the different alphabet characters. However, after exploring the accessible building in the opening screen, then moving onto the couple of screens, I wasn't able to progress further after starting a dialogue with an NPC, that threw me into a fight. I ended up in a never-ending loop and had to escape using Cntl, Alt, Delete. This occured several times, so decided to play the Steam version.

Three Steam curators have reviewed the updated Steam version and all have given it a thumbs down, with comments like ''More shovelware garbage'' from Black Metal Steel Legion. ''No out of box controller support; no full-screen; English language still has Russian in it; all stock RPGMaker assets'' from Delete Local Content & lastly, a very basic rpg maker game with a very basic almost non-existent story-line which crash's because of missing files. Not recommended! from Nap'n'Gaming. You can also read the Steam community's comments, which are mostly negative HERE.

With respect to the Gamegiveaway version; if you are a Russian speaker or can read Russian, the game is 'playable' despite the bugs, but as the original is full of bugs, you'll probably be pulling your hair out in frustration shortly after starting the game. RPG Maker is a basic game engine, but there are thousands of assets available and I've seen some brilliant games released using this game engine. This is at best an attempt by an inexperienced user to create a game for sale on Steam. I hate giving games a big thumbs down as its obvious a lot of effort has been put into this game, but after struggling to play this game via both versions; plus, seriously wanting to like the game as I do love this type of RPG (it takes me back to my early days of computer gaming) I cannot recommend this game.

Whiterabbit-uk 20th March 2019

Key Bindings:

⦁ Arrow keys = movement
⦁ Shift = Sprint
⦁ A = Attack with primary weapon
⦁ Space bar = Open chests
⦁ X or Esc = Inventory to equip items
⦁ LMB = menu select

Conclusion:

Soul of the Devil is virtually unplayable partly due to the language barrier, but also due to disappearing adversaries, NPC's changing and disappearing. Unable to escape a dialogue when chatting to an NPC and also when in battle. Even the Steam version was fraught with problems, including more bugs, partly translated menus etc. I've played far better RPG's created using RPG Maker. Despite the big update in 2017 a year after Soul of the Devil was released on Steam (June 2016), serious bugs still remain. I had to give up after over 3 hours of game play (split between the Gamegiveaway and Steam versions), feeling frustrated and not having accomplished anything of note. A big thumbs down from me.

Suggestions:

After you've had an opportunity to play today's giveaway please take a few moments to give some positive or negative feedback; for example, what you liked or disliked about the game, or how it could be improved. If you don't like the genre at all, please explain why and if any, what improvements would change your mind? If you don't have time to post a comment today, please do so at your convenience, thank you. If you wish to post a review or comment about the game later, you can access the comments section by going to the game giveaways home page, then scroll to the bottom of the page where it says Archives and select the date the giveaway was live (giveaway days are in bold type). This will open the appropriate page for you to post your comment or review. Alternatively, you can google the name of the game and include Gamegiveawayoftheday in the search. This should give you a list of links to whenever this game was given away.

If you miss today's game giveaway and think you'd still want to play the game you can always get the game via Steam HERE for £1.99/$2.99/€ 1.99/₽ 79.

Problems getting the game to work:

If you're having problems installing or activating or getting Shout at the Devil to work please visit the FAQ's Thread HERE and read through the communities comments because sometimes fixes may have already been posted.

If for any reason you want to contact the giveaway team, for example, you have a game to offer the community, or are unable to download the latest game or other issues that the FAQ's thread or these comments don't cover or solve you can do so HERE

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the developer Ziga Games and the distributor Falcoware Games for giving away Soul of the Devil and also to the game giveaway team, as always, for securing other ways to get free games.

Useful Information not related to today's game giveaway:

If Soul of the Devil doesn't interest you, but you still hanker for something new to play, you'll find details of some game deals whether they be sale items, indie bundles or games being given away for free HERE (I've not updated the thread in a while, but most of the links still take you to the latest deals).

The rest of the information that used to be posted in the game review can be found in the forums HERE. Finally, check out Delenns threads for details of other free games and offers HERE and elsewhere in the game discussion forums HERE, (usually on the first page of the game discussion forums). The free game over at Epic Games is Slime Rancher a first person sandbox action adventure game with management elements and a female protagonist. It's free until March 27th. worth £14.99/$19.99/€19.99, this will be replaced with Oxenfree a supernatural thriller about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift, ( worth £14.99/$19.99/€19.99). Indie Gala also have a new showcase section with 20 free games listed at the moment including adventure, RPG, Simulation, strategy and casual games Games are replaced by new ones weekly, so some of the games listed may no longer be available, but will have been replaced by other games. (I don't have time to yupdate the list every day, but will as time permits). You'll find Memetown USA, The Great Story of a Mighty Hero, Camp Sunshine, Five Nations, False Birth, GOR - Gorilla Office Rampage, Home is where Chip is, Age of Fear: The Free World, Die Legende von Saya: Befehl aus der Dunkelheit - (The Legend of Saya: Command from the Dark), What Never Was, The Last Humans: Awakening, Childhood, Dunwell, Safe Not Safe, Hi Hotel, Bugs Must Die, Cuadradito y Circulito, Hellino, Hovership Havoc and Wake Up , or you can find them all HERE. Finally, there are some excellent bargains on sale via Steam HERE (71 pages with 25 per page).