1999 Studio Blue
Platforms: PC Windows
Back in 1999, a cool looking isometric role-playing game was being developed by a new studio called Studio Blue. The game was Deliverance From The Dark, and it was looking pretty neat and very much like Diablo II which came out a year later. Sadly, after a few previews in magazines – the game would disappear and never see the light of day.
PC Zone magazine described the title as follows:
“Hot on the heels of Icewind Dale and Diablo II comes another isometric role-playing game in the form of Deliverance From The Dark from relative unknowns Studio Blue. Apart from the fact that there will be no classes within the game (a warrior can become a wizard given time) there isn’t much in this game that sets it apart as far as we can see. However, with real-time exploration and turn-based combat it will offer a more tactical game than most and X-COM fans hankering for a similar game in a fantasy setting will be well served.
Also quite interesting is the game editor, which as well as allowing dungeoneers the chance to create maps, items characters and scripts, will allow players to create their own spells making Deliverance From The Dark virtually limitless in its scope.”
On Studio Blue’s old website on Wayback machine we learn that the game was meant to be the first entry in a planned long-running series. Designed as a 2D isometric, party-based role-playing game, it focused on deep systems, non-linear storytelling, and extensibility rather than cutting-edge 3D technology.
The game itself was set in a dark fantasy world scarred by ancient wars, fallen orders and sealed demonic portals, and the game opens amid a spreading wave of mysterious murders linked to shadowy supernatural forces. As fear grips rural towns and even major cities, the player character answers a desperate call for help, gradually uncovering the nature of the darkness and the powers behind it. The narrative aimed to balance traditional combat with investigation, moral choices and character-driven quests where violence was not always the best or only solution.
Here are some of the key features overall that were gleaned from the site:
- Isometric, sprite-based tactical RPG with pre-rendered 3D graphics
- Real-time exploration combined with turn-based, party-controlled combat
- Single player-created protagonist with recruitable NPC companions (up to five)
- Skill-based character progression with no fixed classes
- Flexible, script-driven magic system supporting many spell types (damage, support, summoning, AoE, etc.)
- Character-driven quests with multiple possible solutions beyond combat
- Dynamic lighting, fog of war, line-of-sight, shadows, and transparency effects
- Interactive environments, including containers, breakable objects, and usable items
- Random Scenario Generator creating entire worlds, locations, and quests for replayability
- Comprehensive editor tools for creating maps, items, characters, dialogue, scripts, and scenarios
- Windows 95 / DirectX 5 support, 640×480 16-bit visuals, MIDI music and digital sound effects
Deliverance From The Dark was a technically and creatively ambitious indie RPG that aimed to rival major genre titles in depth and flexibility rather than presentation. However, its scope, repeated engine reworks, lack of early publishing support and reliance on a very small team strongly suggests why development may have proved prolonged and difficult, and why the project struggled to reach completion. Studio Blue sadly wound up around 2001 time.
We hope to learn more soon from those involved in the project, but if you know anything more – please do get in touch and hopefully some day something of this promising title will be saved.
With thanks to Gameplay Retrogames World for the suggestion + research and archive.org for scans and screenshots.
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