The day's finally here, the full release of FOUNTAINS! For those of you who came in late, FOUNTAINS is a souls-like action-RPG I've been developing for the best part of five years. It's my take on the game I've always wanted to play - high-skilled combat, mysterious vibes, item-based progression, and most importantly, a world that feels like an interconnected labyrinth.
The combat in FOUNTAINS is meant to be tight and snappy, with each fight being a carefully timed dance with your opponent. It takes inspiration from the best action games ever made: Dark Souls, Hyper Light Drifter, and Hollow Knight. I tried to pick-and-choose the best elements of combat from my favourite games, and turned them into a Frankenstein which somehow feels coherent.
Progression in FOUNTAINS will feel familiar to fans of the "metroidvania" genre. The most exciting upgrades come from defeating bosses and stealing their powers. Each upgrade is not only a key which unlocks new parts of the world, but also a tool that can be used in combat. To name a few, you'll be unlocking a laser, a hookshot, a bomb, and a dashing slash. Finding interesting ways to combo your abilities is key to dominating boss fights.
If there's any reason to play FOUNTAINS, it's the world design. This is the part of the game I'm most proud of. Each "area" is so tightly connected with the rest of the world that it's hard to define clear borders between them. Throughout the game, you'll be finding shortcuts and tools to make traversal easier, while gradually filling out your map. You can also read notes left by other players for hints about secrets and shortcuts which might be less obvious.
Thanks for reading about FOUNTAINS! I hope you give it a try, and let me know what you think.