While relatively unknown compared to its Norse counterpart, this is not the first time that games have been inspired by Finnish mythology. A prime example being the Rune Bears in Elden Ring taking inspiration from the Finnish mythological perception of bears. So revered were they that even the word for bear was considered too sacred to say. Even though Elden Ring’s Rune Bears were quite a challenge to fight, it’s doubtful that bears will be the main threat in Lempo.
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The trailer shows a distant and deformed figure move erratically before the screen starts to warp, revealing the title card with the prompt to wishlist on Steam, GOG, and Epic Games. The video then shows a mass of writhing flesh in a church, with a voice claiming that their church is “a safe place for all,” followed by a reveal of several figures with glowing eyes watching the player character from behind. The voice making announcements seemingly over a radio gives the off-screen character a tone similar to Bioshock’s Andrew Ryan, while the exploration-based gameplay seems similar to titles like Soma and Amnesia.
The bulk of the trailer shows the player exploring several dark and creepy locations with only a lighter or lamp in hand. At one point, there is the text “obelisk activated, you feel refreshed,” implying that the player may have to find safe spots or activate these as checkpoints to progress. Some comments on the video bemoan the apparent lack of combat, while others praise the focus on atmosphere with the emphasis on scares rather than combat. With a variety of horror games releasing in 2023, it’s safe to say that horror fans will be able to find a game that suits their play style. While the release date is yet to be announced, for Lempo, it seems that the style is delving into the unknown.
Lempo in Finnish mythology is a complicated character. Recognized as the god of love and fertility, Lempo is also considered a fiend with an erratic nature. As the embodiment of love, Lempo is said to be able to take control of a body and lead them to destruction. Lempo also defeated Vainamoinen, the central hero of Finnish mythology, and because of these actions, Lempo is even considered a curse word in Finnish. Though, game devs have been known to make changes to suit narratives, such as the changes to Freya in God of War Ragnarok, so it is possible that players will see a different imagining of Lempo.
Lempo is set to release on PC at an undisclosed time.
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