It isn't often that I lend my money to a crowdfunding program. To listeners of the GamerKulture podcast, part of the GrandGeekGathering network on podbean.com, you may have heard me state that i'm not a fan of pre-order, or giving my money to something whose finished state i've yet to see. So it came as a great surprise and pleasure that I finally found a game I feel so strongly about that i'd hand over cash just for the chance to see it finished. That game is the upcoming action/RPG Indivisible by developers Lab Zero Games and 505 Games.
Set in a world inspired by Southeast Asian cultures, as well as a variety of pure fantasy locations, the story follows a girl named Ajna, a tomboy raised by her father to be tough but fair, and trained in martial arts to defend their home. When her town is attacked by warlords, Ajna discovers the ability to absorb others into her being, then summon them to battle as Incarnations. The game will follow her as she seeks to confront these warlords, as well as explore her new powers.
Sitting down to the prototype, I had no idea what to expect in terms of gameplay. The games claims to garner inspiration from Super Metroid and Valkyrie Profile, two games I've never played. The exploration of levels is done through side-scrolling and vertical movement, dropping down pits or ascending via platforms and wall to wall jumping. Obstacles in your path can be overcome through a variety of weapons Ajna can unlock as she gains strength, such as an ax to clear out vines. Enemies roam the halls, and when they touch you, initiate a combat mode that seamlessly transitions from free roaming to fixed screen. Fighting is done, as i've read, similar to Valkyrie Profile, as both Ajna and her Incarnations are mapped to individual buttons. Holding up or down changes the kind of attack they perform, and each can be commanded to block an attack headed their way.
The game is visually beautiful. The same talent that brought such life to Skullgirls shines through, although its own uniqueness is not lost. Legendary video game music composer Hiroki Kikuta has gifted the game with his music, including three tracks you can hear on the prototype. The game's hub is located in a special extra dimensional space of Ajna's creation that will grow as she does, starting as a few rocks in nothingness and growing to a small town. The time I spent with the sample game was short, letting you get a feel for the combat, environment, and a few good fights, and while I learned I should not be trusted with the freedom to map my own keys (as it has you do when you start the game), the combat is immensely refreshing, being allowed to control each character's accrued actions carefully.
Lab Zero Games is claiming to need $3.5 million to complete the game, but is only seeking $1.5 million, with 505 Games covering the rest. As of today, October 9, 2015, they are 12% complete with a little over a month to do. The game is looking at a 2017 release. I've never felt so strong a desire for an Indie game to succeed, so I will include a link to their Indiegogo page below, and I strongly urge any fans of RPGs or good games in general to give their page a look, as they provide much more information than I can include here. So how about it everyone, are you as excited as me? Do you enjoy funding these idie projects, or do you hold as firm to waiting as I usually do? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks everybody, and stay Kultured!
-Kuma