Focus Home Interactive announces Styx: Master of Shadows, an infiltration game in the works at Cyanide Studio for release this year on Windows PCs. Those hoping for an homage to corporate rock will have to content themselves with RPG elements the game will offer, as this is a Dennis DeYoung-free production where Styx is the name of the goblin protagonist, so dōmo arigatō, but no thanks, Mr. Roboto. Here are some screenshots, and here's word on the game:

Styx: Master of Shadows is an infiltration game with RPG elements developed by Cyanide Studio for PC. After many months in development, Styx: Master of Shadows can now reveal the very first official screenshots: here we see Styx, the playable character in the game, progressing through some of the dizzying levels composing the adventure.

Styx is a Goblin two centuries old... the very first of all the Goblins, he's a master in the arts of stealth, theft, and murder. The depths of the miles-high Tower of Akenash, where Humans and Elves hide and protect the Tree, the source of the Amber, are the best chance Styx has of quickly amassing a small fortune and, perhaps, discover more about his true origins along the way.

Battle your way to the top of the lofty Tower of Akenash through immense and vertiginous levels that highlight the vertical perspective. You will complete numerous missions with various objectives as you climb up - murder, information recovery, theft of precious artifacts, etc - and gradually reconstruct the puzzle that provides the key to the mystery of your origins. The levels are open and the objectives can be completed in various ways: you are therefore free to choose the best way to proceed and the most suitable strategy to employ to achieve and complete your mission objectives. But remember you're a Goblin: if your target is twice your size, or more, you're better off eliminating them silently. and in the back!

The premises of the Tower of Akenash are protected by many: Humans of course, but also Elves whose science of magic cannot be overlooked, huge Orcs who have been victims of (more or less) successful experiments, but also other, stranger creatures. Guards, soldiers and other protectors of the Tower will adapt their behavior dynamically, depending on your actions: you better keep a low profile and prepare your plan of action beforehand. Study the guard patrols closely, use areas of light and shadow to your advantage, lure your target to a secluded area to assassinate him silently, or arrange "accidents" to remain undetected!

Styx: Master of Shadows also includes game mechanics right out of RPG, so as you gain experience you will unlock new skills, special and impressive moves and new and lethal weapons in 6 talent trees! You will also acquire extraordinary powers from the Amber flowing from the Source Tree which will help you out of a tight spot, make you invisible to the eyes of your enemies and which you can use to generate "disposable" clones of yourself! Explore every inch of the levels and not only will you uncover clues about your past but also, and more importantly, valuable treasure that you can steal from under the noses and beards of the guards in the Tower of Akenash!