Hello, there!
TL;DR: I've just released a preview for Mythology, which is due in the next quarter (the preview is pretty much the final version already). It's a nice cross-over between a breakout and a pinball simulator with a special care for the artwork and you can immediately play it for free in your browser or get one of the desktop versions, which automatically entitles you to the final release.
Now for the long story behind this game...
Wow, it's been now almost 10 years since I've properly released a brand new game. Time flies! And while many factors have been "brewing around" to culminate at this point, it's still a very long time. I really hope it doesn't take that long next time.
Mind you, I usually keep it super low profile about these things. Writing a blog post about it? Not my thing, honestly. But I think this one deserves a story. It's a first for me on many aspects:
- It's the first time I write the background tracks for the game myself, the only thing I was traditionally unable to provide. But at some point during the last decade I've decided to get my hands dirty with music (again) and for real. Not the stuff I tried before, like guitars and microphones, but synthesizers. I've always thought a good 80s' style synth was the heart and soul (and probably one of the main reasons) why I've got into games in the first place (the background track for Nemesis 2 comes to mind). You can actually listen to the EP with just the soundtrack here, as I thought it was a project in itself that deserved its own space;
- It's a change from the classic video game look and feel I've intentionally pursued on my previous releases. I'll always love that style, but it tells my age, it's not that popular anymore and I couldn't be more happy with the modern approach to graphics with this one. The influence from that one Tetris game for the PC with the nice changing visuals in the background is undeniable;
- I've made my peace with the fact that a gamepad or keyboard is not for everyone. Fine, you can play it just as well with mice or touch screens, now. It feels nice to coalesce on a gameplay that can work just fine with this multitude of input methods, and it wasn't even that hard to come with the right compromise. And it's ok, it's a sign of the times, I guess.
Ok, too much text! Let me share some screen shots that showcase why I'm proud of this recent creation:
Gorgeous background graphics with colorful elements and visual effects. The HUD also reveals a bit of the game's unique scoring system.
A nice title screen to match the game. Have you ever seen a game that announces so many different input options? I might as well have just said "press anything", as it wouldn't be far from the truth.
Who's keeping score, anyways? Well, in this game you must, because the score is also your life. At each hit (or swing) at the ball you're making a bet.
So how does this game work and what makes it so unique? Isn't it just another breakout or pong clone?
First and foremost, the game is a hybrid between that and a pinball machine. The mechanics are just different. There's a gravity factor involved and it makes it possible to play curve balls. Plus, how you touch the ball with the user-controlled paddle can apply a multitude of effects that can have a sensible result in the ball's course. And let's be honest, there's something just satisfying about following the movement of the metal ball in the marble frame, you have to try it to understand.
The scoring system is also your life. You hit zero and you're out. So what matters is what was your top score on each stage, should you have a hard time afterwards. Accumulating score also gives you extra balls, as soon as you have more than it costs to lose one.
To add more complexity and dynamics to this scoring system, you can also combo your hits, which will increase your multiplier. Meaning that you score more if you can make use of a domino effect. But be careful, the higher the bonus the higher the stakes, as it will also cost you more if you miss the ball after a huge combo. The color of the HUD will tell you if you're at risk or not. If you drop the ball when it's red, it's game over for you.
So, I hope I entertained you enough with this post for you to at lest give the game a much deserved spin. I'm addicted to it already, my friends are addicted and I warn you, you might as well get hooked too.
PS: Couldn't choose a tag because all of them are valid:
- Free/Browser: yes, the browser version will be always free to play;
- Sale: yes, you can also purchase one of the nice downloadable versions;
- Demo: did I mention it's still in its "preview" version? So I guess this one also applies.
Thanks for reading this far. See you around!