With the release of the Asterigos: Call of the Paragons expansion right around the corner, Hilda can step into Phantasma - a mysterious new realm full of danger and untold legends.
In today's devlog, we want to open up the mystery a bit and tell you about Phantasma and the challenges you will have to face.
The breathtaking Phantasma
Phantasma is the realm of the Ascended Paragons, the heroes and heroines of Aphes' past who ascended and rested among the Gods of the Stars. We really wanted the area to resemble and be associated with myths and mystique of cosmic proportions.
Hence the color blue, the purple night sky, and the many interstellar phenomena, as if Hilda had stepped into an alien world where everything simultaneously looks so exotic and yet familiar.
A realm full of stories
When we were designing the world of Asterigos, we had many stories to tell. These include the struggle for the lives of the citizens of Aphes, the bravery of the Northwind Legion, and the story of the City of Stars. However, there are many stories we haven't had time to tell, especially the myths of Aphes.
So this time, with Phantasma as the central location for the DLC, we finally get to tell the story and build the adventure around it.
The challenges Hilda will face are those of the Paragons. These legendary heroes rested among the Gods for eons until their sleep was disturbed by an unknown dark force. When Hilda entered Phantasma, the paragons perceived the stranger as an intruder and thought she was the one behind unleashing the dark force.
Hilda must prove her innocence by passing the harshest trials of the Paragons, the one of which we are about to tell you.
Facing the Legendary Heroes of the Past
One of the seven heroes Hilda will face is Hippocrates. Founder of the Phalan Academy. The tenth Archon of the Legion.
Despite his noble origins, Hippocrates did not possess the arrogance and haughtiness inherent in other Aristoi. He was rude, impertinent, and unashamedly critical of his opponents. This character helped him get along with his peers in the legion in no time.
Believing that warriors should be well-trained in combat, magic, and wisdom, Hippocrates quickly put his thoughts into practice after joining the legion. He endowed his shield with Starite magic and controlled the shield's levitation with magic, taking his enemies by surprise during battles. This was unheard of in those days for Aphes, and Hippocrates was the first warrior to use Starite magic in his battle weapons.
Seeking to encourage the use of Starite in weapons, Hippocrates even used his family's wealth and lands to conduct research and eventually developed various types of astral ballistas, which were considered very advanced at the time.
Some could release a continuous astral beam to trap or obstruct enemies' movement, but the beams trajectory could not be altered during use.
Others could track enemies and destroy them in a matter of seconds, but their range was limited, and they used a much larger amount of Starite.
Due to the limitations of Starite magic technology, the design of astral ballistas was far from perfect, and they were expensive to make. While they could not be made widely available, they were still valuable research material for generations to come.
And though Hippocrates' tenure as the tenth Archon of the Legion was very short, he lived up to his credo and laid the cornerstone for the future of Aphes.
The Trials of Hippocrates
For the Hippocrates challenge, the battle begins with the first phase, an endurance test. Many projectiles like laser beams will be aimed at Hilda, and shields of judgement will fall from the sky, all under the constant onslaught of Hippocrates' minions. Only when Hilda can defeat them can she come face to face with Hippocrates himself.
This is how the second phase begins - a strength test. Hippocrates has a floating magical shield that constantly surrounds him and blocks any incoming attacks. This gives him the advantage of being able to push through. And that makes Hippocrates a formidable foe.
Try to figure out the right battle tactics and find his weaknesses!
Upgrade your weapons
We have also introduced a new game system: Weapon Mods. It allows Hilda to further customize her weapons with strong and unique powers. For example, the Brilliant Sun Blades allow Hilda to deal extra damage with her dual blades at the cost of stamina, while the Sword and Shield of the Starry Sky unleash a magic blast with every shield attack.
The new weapon mods can be unlocked by collecting rare materials from Phantasma and across the City of Aphes.
Vulcan will be happy to upgrade the weapons for you in the Shelter!
Join our community
Make sure to join the official Discord server to chat with fellow travellers, and follow us on social media to stay up to date with all the news!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1731070/Asterigos_Curse_of_the_Stars/