DEMO: https://akabaka.itch.io/chromatose
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChromatoseDev
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/2JTWKxJ
Overview: 2D RPG that follows the story of 10 strangers trapped in a world within their collective minds.
Emphasis on meaningful decisions, character relationships, and a compelling overarching story.
Brief Outline: The player is informed that they are currently falling to their death by an unknown narrator. The narrator continues by explaining that the circumstances leading to the player’s imminent death were uniquely inexplicable, and asks the player a series of questions about the kinds of decisions that they make. Before the narrator can finish, the player hits the ground. Leroy, the player character, suddenly finds himself in an unfamiliar world in an EMT uniform and with no memory of his past. He discovers that although he survived the fall, he is trapped in a coma with 12 ‘hours’ to escape or else he (and the 9 other strangers lost somewhere in the world within their collective minds) will never wake up.
Gameplay: The player must manage their time effectively and explore the memories within each of the visitors’ minds while helping them through their pasts. Exploring memories, recovering sanity, or bonding with visitors spends time, which is limited and puts a strain on the player to be productive and efficient. Whenever the player learns a virtue (bravery, patience, focus, etc) from an NPC through interacting with them, colored cards are transferred to the player’s deck, which are used in this game’s engine to defeat the nightmarish figments that guard memories in a rapid-fire, real time, asymmetrical battle system (See: attached images/video). Certain cards are more effective in certain visitors’ minds (i.e., while in the mind of a character who struggles with fearfulness, cards that came from the visitor that is brave would be effective, and cards that came the fearful character would be ineffective or even detrimental) so the player must strategize on how they approach the various challenges within each memory.
Tone/Direction: The story, despite the dark subject matter, horror-esque nature of the game design and plot, and the fact that the entire character roster consists of people with tragic downfall backstories, the dialogue and metagame is hopeful, fun to play, and aesthetic-driven and spends no time dwelling on melancholy. The darker themes primarily act as backdrop for character motivations and to drive the pace/plot while meaningful, enjoyable character interactions and adventures take center stage. Nearest neighbors: Angel Beats (anime), Persona (videogame series), Catherine (videogame)
I would talk about the cast and story further, but since meeting the strangers and figuring out who they are and what their personalities are like is part of the game, I can't say too much. Instead, I'll post a few art resources and screencaps so that you can see how this all looks, with spoiling as little as possible
Ask me anything. Questions/comments/critiques all welcome.
Cheers