The below info is outdated and a new version of Anathema is in development. You will find this thread evolves over time into the new version, and it has been left intact so that the evolution of the game is documented. You can grab the demo at any of the following links:
STEAMhttp://store.steampowered.com/app/375390/Anathema/INDIEDBhttp://www.indiedb.com/games/anathema/downloadsITCH.IOhttps://esperware.itch.io/anathemaOFFICIAL WEBSITEhttps://www.anathemagame.com/NEW TRAILER----OLD VERSION----Hello everyone,
After working endlessly for the last 4 months, it is time to officially unveil what I have been working on.
---TRAILER---
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy4Rw7HxyEU---OFFICIAL SITE---
http://www.anathemagame.com---STORY---
During the late 14th century, the angel of death, Azrael - fell out of favor with God and launched a campaign to create an army using the souls he was meant to deliver for judgement. He unleashed a terrible plague that devastated millions, giving him the souls he needed to wage war on humanity. During this time, a rancher and squire named Corbin Delacroix endeavored on a quest to slay the fallen angel. He was successful in his task, and with the angel of death destroyed, Corbin inherited the powers of Azrael. He journeyed throughout the continent, liberating the souls that were once under Azrael's dark spell.
Many years passed, and Corbin's divine task began to take a toll on his body. A cult led by a vampire sorceress named Aeron sought to restore power to Azrael saw their opportunity, and killed the weakened Corbin. However, Corbin's powers transferred into his next of blood - his daughter, Aurora.
Now, using the deathly angelic powers she has inherited, alongside the whip her father crafted from the bones of Azrael, she seeks out to avenge the death of her father - and slay the resurrected angel once and for all.
---GAMEPLAY---
Developed using a custom platform engine, players will use a gamepad (designed for Xbox 360 gamepads) to traverse stages in various settings, using multiple subweapons with special powers and her whip to swing across chasms and slay enemies. Players can expect classic platformer action with modern graphics and sound running at 1080p 60fps.
---SCREENSHOTS---
---THE BIG IDEA---
I have always loved the Castlevania series, in both the classicvania and metroidvania incarnations. The problem is, Konami has not issued a new Classicvania style game since 2009's Castlevania - The Adventure Rebirth. That was almost 6 years ago. Some may abhor the fact that I am trying to somewhat make it feel like Castlevania. I make no contest that this game is heavily inspired by the aforementioned title, but my whole heart is in the fact that Konami has left the Classic/Metroidvania styles out to dry for quite some time now. My hope is that fans of the series will enjoy this game, if nothing else, to tide us over until Konami issues an official 2D Castlevania.
So there you have it. Anathema in a nutshell. I hope that you all will look forward to this project as it develops.
Presently, there is an alpha demo that is being polished, and will be at the 2015 GDC, but until it is further developed and I launch the Steam Greenlight campaign, it isn't available for download yet.
Thanks, everybody for reading!
If you want to keep up with the project, you can like my page on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/esperware and Twitter @esperware
-Matt