Explore a world teeming with subtle mysticism
Witness the shattering of Gaia, a world on the brink of destruction and war, through the eyes of an Elysian - a member of an ascended species of higher-dimensional beings -, sent to restore balance before it is too late.
A curse befell him on his path to incarnation; now, he is stuck between realms - a disincarnate essence, a mere shadow on the wind, tasked with redeeming the destiny of an entire world. His powers are spent, and now he must become one with the very essence of the world he lives on by witnessing the Echoes of heroes long past, and learning their ways, if he has any hope to succeed. Will you grant him the chance to try?
Featuring many mystical motifs and rich lore, the game puts an emphasis on subtle plot hints, which are carefully hidden in the nooks and crannies of the world, waiting to be discovered by both yourself and the main character, as you trek along the winding paths of Gaia.
Game features
- Traditional side-scrolling action gameplay.
- RPG looting with a twist - instead of better gear, you get to possess fallen enemies and use their weapons and abilities. Master your enemies' movesets to defeat them, then claim them as your own to spell the doom of those who oppose you.
- Traditional souls-like gameplay loop: you may choose to return to a safe Shrine to restore your health and energy, and it will be safe so long as you backtrack. Expect your foes to do the same when you do so, however!
- Explore 7 unique environments: The Swamp, home of Lizardkin; The Plateau, home of the Aviankin; The Depths, home of Insectkin; Mushroomland, home of all things funky and lethal; Redwood, beautiful pristine forest, where the elements find themselves at home; Deepwood Forest, home of the wise and ascended Elvenkin; Evercrest Castle, shattered symbol of unity, deserted, but not bereft of dangers.
- Witness your powers growing as you commune with Echoes of Elysians long past and find ways to use your ascended abilities in this lesser form. Gain new mystical abilities. Learn to dash through the enemies' shadows. Control their bodies without ever touching them, from a distance.
- Talent trees as trinkets - defeat bosses and acquire talent points. Unlock talents which facilitate more diverse approaches to combat, such as remote possession, synchronized spirit attacks, summoning conquered bosses as minions to deliver a heavy blow and many more!
- Beautiful, hand drawn and composed landscapes, featuring tight parallax, which give the world an exquisite sense of depth.
- Fully grass roots, and built out of passion and a desire for expression. Everything, from the drawings to the haunting musical scores, has been hand crafted with love by no more than 3 indie devs.
Player skill reigns supreme
Elysian Echoes is a metroidvania game, born out of passion, emphasizing exploration through atmospheric vistas, skillful platforming, and learning enemy skills and movesets.
The game features a unique gameplay mechanic called "possession", through which the main character assumes the physical body of defeated enemies, allowing you to take control of their skillsets and abilities. The game takes the classical progression formula and adds a twist; unlocks are now split between upgrading the main character, his possession powers, and the strength of the bodies he takes control of, instead of searching for better weapons and armor to utilize.
The game follows the souls-like pattern of harsh and unforgiving enemies, with clear telegraphed movesets that can be learned and exploited, and punishing bosses. Player skill reigns supreme - great emphasis has been placed on the ability to play the game as you like, even without utilizing the core "possession" mechanic, or getting upgrades. If you know the paths, are an able platformer, and can learn the enemy patterns, nothing can stop you!
