P.M. Studios' Fabio Belsanti has penned a post-mortem on their comic-styled action/RPG, Etrom, for RPG Vault:

As I mentioned before, our main objective was to create a 3D Diablo-like game with an original story and setting, including some innovation in the gameplay. With such a mix, we would have tried to captivate both Diablo players and the most demanding RPG fans. In theory, we - and I particularly - would have been better off targeting more of a niche audience, but our inexperience led us to try to create something that would appeal to almost anyone who loves narrative games with some RPG elements. So wrong! By crossing all target audiences, we attracted, but at the same time disappointed, almost everybody.

Italian indie P.M. Studios' Etrom has been smashed by GameSpot who awarded a paltry 2/10 in their review.  Here's the opening:

To Wild Hare, the publisher of Etrom: The Astral Essence and a seemingly new face on the PC game-publishing landscape, a note of advice: hire more play testers! This hack-and-slash RPG should never have been let out the door of developer P.M. Studios, as all sorts of design flaws, crash bugs, an atrocious camera system, and PS2-era presentation values make it basically unplayable.

 Gamer's Hell is hosting a video from Etrom: The Astral Essence. Weighing in either at 68Mb in hi-res or 42Mb in lo-res, you can download it at the link above.

Italian P.M. Studios has signed with Hare Entertainment and Alten8 to bring their action/RPG Etrom: The Astral Essence to North America, although no date was given.

Head to GamesIndustry.biz for the full press release.

 

3D Gamers has a patch to bring the Direct2Drive version of Etrom up to speed with the recently released v1.1 upgrade.

The first patch for Etrom: The Astral Essence is now available at <a href="http://www.gamershell.com/news/31051.html" target="_blank">Gamer's Hell</a>. This brings the game to v1.1. <p>P.M. Studios sent over a press release, so here's a snip with some details on the patch:</p><blockquote><em>We made this patch according to players and reviewers suggestions. This patch is a step forward for this Hack and Slash videogame with dark, deep and detailed background. P.M. Studios is proud to invite you in our Techno-Fantasy Universe.a ? - Fabio Belsanti Managing Director & Lead Designer-P.M. Studios.<br><br> About the Patch V. 1.1<br><br> Compatibility: Only English Retail (Digital Delivery version patch will be released further from Direct2Drive and TotalGaming.net) <br><br> NEW FEATURES: <br><br> - New Control System (F1 to activate the Auto-Camera) - Config. Auto-Save - Direct Link to the Hangan's Gun Shop: Active the cheat-mode Ctrl+PM and then press H (use this only if the "equipment" mission is accomplished or you may experience crashes)</em></blockquote>There are also additional launch options and bug fixes - check the full notes for details.

A very brief announcement from P.M. Studios informs Strategy First will no longer be the NA publisher and talks with other companies are in progress. Etrom can be purchased online at any rate.