Iliad

Description

Iliad is an epic exploration adventure, a Metroidvania that borrows more than just unlocking new powers from it's retro origins. Classic map mechanic are weaved into the design of the game, from teleporting between map edges to obscure clues from unexpected NPCs. In order to complete the trial ahead you will travel across two worlds tightly linked together, that grows as you discover new powers and defeat bosses, using their attack patterns against them. 

Story

As the heir to the Iliad throne you must prove your worthiness by going through a trial that will have you travel between Olympus and the Underworld in search of new powers. Your Trial will place you on a path through the five Guardians protecting Medusa, who's soul is roaming over the land. Only a true hero will be able to gather all the Guardians' Souls to lead Iliad in peace and prosperity.  

Features

• ~5h of gameplay.

• Power ups and light backtracking, with a map and waypoints.

• Over 300 screens to explore across 2 handcrafted worlds.

• More than 20 types of enemies, and at least 6 bosses.

• Two endings. 

• Cryptic messages from NPCs instead of a tutorial (That's a feature).

• Inventory and map with a waypoint system.

• Steam Deck compatible.

Backstory

Iliad was the largest game I made for a defunct platform, and and probably one of the largest made for it. It might have been a smashing hit if not for the fact that it was originally made in 2007... the year of the reveal of the first gen iPhone at Mac World. Everything changed overnight, and by the (short) time I finished and shipped Iliad the platform had been sold and bought and merged into larger things, so very few people actually played it in the end.

This is a port that I started a decade ago from the original Java code, first as a "drop in replacement" for C# of the original SDK it was built on, and it slowly just became the game. I have "upgraded" the game with some QOL changes and new mechanics, a few more boss attacks too, mainly because no one will ever be nostalgic about the original so I took liberties.  

19 years in the making (but maybe 6 months of work, I had other stuff to do...), here is Iliad!