First look: Cleric

Texas-based game developer Plutonium Games has begun work on Cleric, a first-person survival horror game built on the 3D engine used in Croteam's award-winning shooter, Serious Sam. Cleric is set in 16-century Russia, and it will let players assume the role of a priest sent to a remote mountain town plagued by the mysterious disappearances of several young girls. As the town's spiritual leader, the player must rid the town of its evil plague.

Cleric will include a combination of action, role-playing, and puzzle solving. The storyline will have multiple endings, and players' actions during the game will affect the overall outcome. Players will have two holy symbols that are powered by the gods to use as weapons. Different gods and holy symbols will have different powers, and players will have to balance their use of competing powers. Some of the miracles that players will be able to invoke during the game include wind, flight, danger sense, drain life, animate dead, gaseous form, faith healing, and summon beast. The game will also have traditional weapons, such as swords, maces, and early muskets, that players can use if they choose.

No official publisher or release date for the game has been announced. We've posted some early screenshots from the game in the gallery above. For more information, visit the official Plutonium Games Web site.