RELEASE DATE TEASER TRAILER! WE LAUNCH NEXT MONTH!
While we still don't have a 100% confirmed release date yet, we wanted to let you know Valfaris: Mecha Therion is launching sometime in November i.e. next month!
We put together this teaser trailer to celebrate the news:
We'll let you know as soon as we have a specific release date locked down.
Playtest feedback - changes, tweaks, and improvements!
Thanks to everyone who took part in the recent playtest. The feedback received was incredibly helpful. Changes and improvements based on the feedback are currently being implemented and include the following:
Addition of manual turn ability
Balancing and improvements to weapons + modules
Difficulty balancing
Various bug fixes
The biggest change is the addition of the manual turn ability, which allows the player to turn 180 and fire in the opposite direction.
Previously, the mech would only auto-turn in specific situations, but the option to turn manually was frequently requested, so now players can choose between auto and manual turning in the options menu. It allows for more freedom and control over how to deal with incoming threats, regardless of which side of the screen they're coming from.
Overall, we feel the playtest has achieved its main objective – to help make the game even better! The final tweaks and added polish are going great and we'll be able to confirm a release date very soon, so stay tuned!
Yep, we're looking for playtesters to put the game through its paces and provide feedback. If you're interested, click the following link and complete the playtest application form: https://forms.gle/ZBSm5QihJP46vjop6
We're looking for a wide range of players, so it doesn't matter if you've never played any of Steel Mantis' previous games, or if shoot 'em ups aren't usually your thing.
If you're invited to participate, you'll be sent a Steam key giving you access to a full build of Valfaris: Mecha Therion ahead of the playtest start date on Tuesday, 5th September. The playtest will take place between 5th and 12th September.
The channel will be the devs' first destination for sharing art and info about their games, as well as shooting the breeze about what they're playing, what they're listening to etc. And, in the very near future, they're going to be putting out a call for playtesters to provide feedback for Valfaris: Mecha Therion, so if that sounds like something you'd want to be involved with, go ahead and join the Discord.
Lord Vroll is our series villain – he's a murderous tyrant, powerful and power-hungry. He previously appeared as the big bad in Slain: Back From Hell, where he transformed into a dragon before making his escape. And while Vroll never actually appeared in Valfaris (the sequel to Slain: Back From Hell), the aftermath of his presence was stark and permeated every corner as Therion doggedly followed his trail.
Lord Vroll returns in Valfaris: Mecha Therion and it's up to Therion (who also happens to be Vroll's son) to finally confront his father for a final, epic showdown.
We haven't seen much of Vroll in Valfaris: Mecha Therion yet, so we wanted to share a few teasers...
Here's Vroll, relaxing in the gardens of his fortress, showing off his favourite villain pose.
Same pose. Different mood.
And here's Therion in his mecha, finally catching up with Vroll. Shit's about to get real.
We'll have more to share soon. Thanks for your support!
CHECK OUT LORD TIBERIUS! PLUS, A BRAND NEW WEAPON!
We've got some cool new GIFs to share! It's a selection that showcases one of the game's formidable mech bosses, Lord Tiberius. He oversees the Oceanic Wastelands and is armed with a pair of devastating chain blades. And there's also a very first look at the Bringer of Chaos – a new Destroyer-class weapon.
Low-poly version of Tiberius
Textured version
Posed and captured in Unity
Mecha Therion locking blades with Lord Tiberius in-game
Mecha Therion equipped with the new Bringer of Chaos, a pulse-beam weapon
Even though the Next Fest is over, we're going to keep the demo live on the store page for a while longer. So if you haven't had a chance to try the demo yet, you've still got time.
Thanks to everyone who has already downloaded the demo (over 7000 of you!), and also huge thanks to anyone that took the time to leave feedback.
It has also been great to see some of the coverage Valfaris: Mecha Therion has received lately. Here are a few highlights:
Come check out some gameplay of Valfaris: Mecha Therion \m/
If you like what you see you can download the demo/wishlist the game here!
Trey | Big Sugar
Valfaris: Mecha Therion METAL STREAM!
Come check out some gameplay of Valfaris: Mecha Therion \m/
If you like what you see you can download the demo/wishlist the game here!
Trey | Big Sugar
DEMO IS LIVE NOW!
The very first Valfaris: Mecha Therion demo is now live and available to download from the game's Steam page!
Here's what you can do in the demo:
Play through the tutorial
Play through the entire second stage, 'Ruins of Anvin'
Try three of the Destroyer class weapons (Hellwraith, Hellhammer, Bringer of Mayhem)
Try two of the Melee class weapons (Bathoryn, Therion's Fist)
Try three of the Auxiliary class weapons (Homing Swords, Electroburst, Bunker-Buster)
Try two of the Module unit suit power-ups (Reaper, Crash-Burst)
It's also worth mentioning that weapons can be upgraded — simply land at a checkpoint and select the 'Upgrade' option. If you have enough resources, you'll be able to increase the rank of the selected weapon. You start the demo with a stash of 30 Blood Metals, which will allow you to upgrade one of your weapons at the very first checkpoint if you want to.
On the first attempt, a single playthrough of the demo will take most players between 15 and 30 minutes. However, it's very much designed with multiple playthroughs in mind, so you can try the different weapon loadouts (and also find a couple of small secret areas).
If you play the demo and have any feedback, please go ahead and drop it here: Demo Feedback
