Hey everyone, David here, with our first set of major design reveals for Hazewalker. As the October 15th Kickstarter gets closer, I can begin revealing more concrete information about the game and how it will play.
Hazewalker at its heart is an action-adventure Metroidvania sidescroller with a surprising amount of depth in its roleplaying game elements, with gameplay that should feel familiar to anyone that's played Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Let's dive into the stats that shape how your character will play.
The capabilities of your character will stem from four base Attributes that you will improve as you level up your character. By choosing which to improve, you can tailor your character to your preferred playstyle.
Strength: How physically powerful and imposing your character is.
Dexterity: A measure of how quick, precise, and composed your character is.
Attunement: How in-touch your character is with their inner powers.
Endurance: Your character's physical fortitude, survivability, and grit.
You also have two main resources, represented by the gauge cluster in the upper left of the screen.
Health / Focus HUD element
Health (Red Bar): How many hits the Hazewalker can take before dying. Restored by items and using Shrines.
Focus (White Bar): How many special actions you can perform in a short period of time. Restores over time.
Tactical weapon- and shield-based gameplay will play a big role in Hazewalker, and the Attributes mentioned above shape how the game will play by modifying Stats, some of which are shown below (with more to be revealed soon).
Attack: Determines damage done on a successful hit. Modified by Strength OR Dexterity (weapon-dependent).
Defense: Determines damage taken when hit. Modified by worn Armor and Endurance.
Block: The additional Defense granted when blocking with a shield. Modified by your shield.
Stability: Determines how far you are knocked back when hit with attacks with great Force, and reduces Focus loss when hit. Modified by Strength OR Dexterity (armor-dependent).
Crit %: How easily you score critical hits, which lead to status effects on enemies depending on your weapon choice. Modified by Dexterity.
There are Resistance values for Bleeding, Crushing, and Wounding, improved by your Strength. Resistances to Poison, Disease, and Daze are improved through Endurance. Attunement will have its own set of magic-based resistances that it improves as well.
The Hazewalker's character-defining power, and one of our main gameplay features, Hazewalking, will be the subject of our next design blog update. It's an awesome looking and useful gameplay mechanic driven by our next-gen particle engine that will let you fight with speed and power as you flow effortlessly into and out of combat.
We will continue to reveal more about our combat, growth, exploration, and reward mechanics between now and Kickstarter.
Kickstarter Picks
Another week, another round of awesome games we'd love to see funded. Take a look!
Boss Monster Digital: "Every part of Boss Monster feels absolutely spot on. Every turn you have interesting decisions to make, and the gameplay rewards both strategic thinking and tactical responsiveness. Combined with the lovingly rendered art and references that send you back to the days of classic gaming, this is a game that you don't want to miss." - Adam
Kona - "This is a game with a clear vision and a mysterious setting in 1970 Quebec. The exploration, puzzle solving, narrative, and survival gameplay elements have me intrigued. I'll be watching this one." - David
Jenny LeClue - "Jenny LeClue oozes style and sass. Presenting as a hybrid of Limbo and Phoenix Wright, Jenny promises more 'choosiness' than your average sleuth game while dazzling you with a unique aesthetic." - Rob
Until next time,
- David (Chesko)
