Posted July 22, 2025 by PARADIUS STUDIO
#Major Update
Hello everyone!
It’s been a long time coming, but I’m excited to finally share a major reintroduction to Lightbound! This is not just a content update — Lightbound has undergone a full engine transformation, shifting from its original Ren’Py visual novel format to a completely rebuilt experience in RPG Maker MV.
Over time, development in Ren’Py began to hit serious limitations — especially when it came to adding mini-games, interactive elements, and expanding gameplay features beyond text choices. With limited resources and experience in that area, it became clear I needed a more flexible framework. So, I made the big move to RPG Maker MV.
This public build covers the same scope as the old Ren’Py demo — but with major enhancements:
The story has been rewritten for better flow and structure
Some scenes have been cut, while new content has been added between old sequences
The prologue is now more linear, with clearer pacing and buildup
Development on Chapter 1 is already underway, and progress is expected to be quicker (life permitting)
If you’ve played the original demo, I recommend starting fresh to see the improvements.
New QTE Combat Mechanic: Inspired by Helldivers 2's Strategem inputs, the combat system is currently based around quick input sequences — with more mini-games and interactive systems planned for future builds.
2D Exploration: Roam the world and cutscenes in a hand-crafted 2D style.
3D Cinematics: Key scenes will still feature 3D visuals for added drama and presentation. Character portraits are now rendered and featured throughout.
Note: Alfee and Jimmy’s models are temporary and will be updated in future builds due to rigging limitations.
New music, both original and royalty-free, to enhance the atmosphere while lightening production load
New Character Sprites in 2D!
This is the first RPG Maker MV build, so think of it as a fresh start.
No major bugs have been found during testing, but you may discover leftover assets from the Ren’Py version or some inaccessible, unfinished maps. These aren’t reachable in normal gameplay.
If you notice any uncredited assets, please contact me — it’s not intentional, and I’ll make sure they’re added properly in the next build.
You can leave feedback directly on the Itch.io page for now. If enough people join in, I’m considering opening a Discord server to better connect with the community and keep communication smooth.
Thanks for your patience, support, and interest in Lightbound. This version marks the start of a new chapter — not just for the game, but for how I develop and share it. I hope you enjoy what’s here and stick around for what’s coming next!
— [Gani / Paradius Studio]