Developers Astrolabe Games announced that a playable demo of their latest retro sci-fi visual novel adventure title Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is available now on PC via Steam. The game is scheduled to launch in 2023, supporting English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese language options.
The demo covers the introductory parts of the game and shows off some of the point-and-click style gameplay players can expect in the full release. Taking the role of a protagonist (which you get to name!), players will complete the initial boarding procedure and meet with fellow crew members aboard for the first time.
The announcement came alongside a trailer that shows off the game’s unique retro-style visuals that aim to capture the aesthetics of visual novels from the 80s’. The trailer briefly also mentions the newly introduced Studio Mode that changes all character sprites between two different art styles.
Clocking around an hour, the demo also ends with a survey that asks players for any feedback on the experience. Completing the demo and survey will unlock the extra Jukebox Mode that allows players to change the soundtrack playing during gameplay.
Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog’s PC-98 style art style and UI design filtered through a color palette resembling the original Gameboy make for a striking aesthetic, alongside a sci-fi story heavily inspired by the look of 80s anime and similar titles of the era such as Snatcher or Policenauts.
