Though the COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous changes and often hardships, it has also allowed many of us a fresh take on life, reevaluating our priorities, indulging in new hobbies, or setting new aspirations. For some, it has lead us down completely different paths than we were set on pre-pandemic. This shift happened for Weatherworn developer Jeremy Waltman. As a filmmaker and artist, Jeremy decided to transition into game design as these strange times began setting in. Now we are excited to get this first look at his debut indie project, Weatherworn.
Weatherworn is a bite-size retro RPG, with turn-based adventure game paying homage to classic titles like Zelda, Dragon Warrior, and Final Fantasy. "My friends and I are fans of those games, but people kept asking if there was one that didn’t take a hundred hours to play," Waltman says. "So I made one with an original story, modern pacing, shortened playtime, and its own look."
Players will take on the role of Pup, following the guidance of their astronaut mentor, Pap, after the two crash-land on a mysterious and primitive planet. Canadian actor Dave Pettitt plays the role of Pap, bringing with him a wealth of experience.
You may recognize Dave Pettitt as the voice of Master Asia from Mobile Fighter G Gundam, or the narrator of the Valiant Hearts video game. He has also voiced multiple roles in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT, as well as lending his vocal talents in a few episodes of Inuyasha. Other voicework featured throughout Weatherworn is courtesy of Victoria Hogan (Kingdom Come: Deliverance) and science educator Justin Shaifer.
Graphic novel fans, rejoice! Jeremy has also written a prequel comic, Weatherworn: The Adventure of Pap & Pup - Issue 1, to check out along with the game. The comic uses the same hand-drawn style of the creatures and cut-scenes seen in the game.
It also features full-color pinup art of Pap and Pup from artists worldwide, including styles such as manga, chibi, and classic childrens' books. It’s even got a piece from Livio Ramondelli, Transformer illustrator and the creator of the science-fiction book series “The Kill Lock.”
As far as the game is concerned, the endearing storytelling and the beautifully artistic stylization unique for this genre rope you in right from the start. The appropriately corny anecdotes and proverbs delivered by Pap add to the game’s quaint charm, making the experience more personable in a subtle way. And the cutscenes, simplistic in their execution, are all the more captivating for the choice in style.
But granddad jokes and puns aren’t the only part of this story. The creator has worked in some fantastical catalyst lore involving a legendary Konungur; the inspiration behind Pup's handmade mask. Though you'll have to track down the mythical beast in order to learn more about it. Not to mention there's a catalog of other strange encounters such as Sturkers and Komododons and Bearwolves. Oh my!
There's also a strong underlying empathetic theme running throughout the game. At the start of the adventure, Pap will teach Pup that not every encounter should be perceived as a threat.
Sometimes, besting a helpless or innocent creature won’t earn you any experience anyways, taking away the incentive for senselessly hacking away at everything you come across. Though Pap and Pup’s goodwill can sometimes leave an opening for the creature to strike first, it seems even the predators on this planet understand how to live and let live.
Valuable resources can be collected from some encounters, such as the healing vittles dropped by Snakes. Collecting a good store of vittles will ensure Pap and Pup can maintain their health during longer excursions away from their cabin - this means they can’t spare every creature that may not mean them harm, unfortunately.
A few more key features and gameplay mechanics truly bring Weatherworn to life, such as the map, which shifts with the seasons, blocking off some routes and revealing others that were previously obscured by past seasons' foliage. The game keeps to a Pokemonesque pacing, with random turn-based encounters hidden in the tall grass. There’s even a little mini-game of catching Lightning Bugs at night.
Speaking of nighttime, the whimsical ambient music playing in the background will change from day to night, adding yet another subtle detail to keep you engaged, making for a relaxing yet epic adventure.
Though wistfully bite-sized, Weatherborn is brimming with passion, delivering heartfelt underlying themes and unique art, which all contribute to its overall charm. If you’re looking for a title that provides a strong sense of nostalgia along with some fresh twists, you will definitely want to check this one out.
Weatherworn is set to launch on September 27, 2021 and will be available for $9.99 on Steam.