Chasm (video game)

Last updated

Chasm
Chasm-game-box-art-icon.png
Promotional artwork, depicting the protagonist surrounded by the game's NPCs and antagonists
Developer(s) Bit Kid, Inc.
Publisher(s) Bit Kid, Inc.
Designer(s) James Petruzzi
Programmer(s) Tim Dodd
Artist(s)
  • Dan Fessler
  • Tony Redmer
  • Glauber Kotaki
Composer(s) James Stevulak
Platform(s)
Release
  • Linux, macOS, Windows, PS4, PS Vita
  • July 31, 2018 [1]
  • Nintendo Switch
  • October 11, 2018 [2]
  • Xbox One
  • November 9, 2018 [3]
Genre(s) Metroidvania
Mode(s) Single-player

Chasm is a Metroidvania video game developed and published by Bit Kid, Inc. for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in July 2018, [1] the Nintendo Switch in October 2018, and the Xbox One in November 2018. [4] [5] [2]

Contents

Gameplay

Inspired by Castlevania: Symphony of the Night , Chasm tells the story of an aspiring knight eager to prove their worth, on a quest to a mining town whose resources are essential. [6] Although the story is the same for all players, the exact layout of the world map is unique for each adventure, [7] through the game's use of procedural generation combined with handmade room sequences. [8] Combat (also similar to Castlevania) gives the player an option of a melee weapon and a sub-weapon to do most of your damage. [9] As the players venture down into the mine, they can level up, collect new weapons from swords to whips, and use artifacts which make the environment explorable in different ways for new areas. The boss fights in the game rely on memorizing attack patterns. [10] Besides that, there are rooms with moving or disappearing platforms, environmental hazards and traps, making a balance between combat and platforming. [11] On the journey, there are townspeople trapped in cages. Releasing them sends them back up to the town, with a shop or service offered in the process, and unlocks a new sidequest expanding on the service they offer. [12] Each map is segmented into themed sections like catacombs and gardens. [13]

Development

Initial development started in 2012 with a prototype. The main character was only able to fight and jump, and his design barely changed since then. Maryland, USA-based studio Bit Kid, Inc. hoped they could sell the idea of an old-fashioned game to publishers at the Game Developers Conference, but nobody offered to fund the game. [14] The team decided to crowdfund the game instead through Kickstarter in 2013, which was successful. [15]

Reception

Critical reception for the PC version of Chasm was mixed to positive. [16] [28] [29] Jeremy Peeples of Hardcore Gamer called it "one of the finest Metroidvanias ever created." [27] Tom Marks of IGN said: "Chasm is a lovely and fun Metroidvania with a lot of cool new ideas, even if its randomized maps are uninteresting." [22] Writing for GameSpot , Tom McShea said: "Chasm is a well-crafted adventure" and praised its "superb combat and visual design." [21]

Related Research Articles

<i>Castlevania</i> Video game series

Castlevania, known in Japan as Akumajō Dracula, is a gothic horror action-adventure video game series and media franchise created by Konami. The series is largely set in the castle of Count Dracula, the main antagonist of the Belmont clan of vampire hunters.

<i>Shovel Knight</i> 2014 video game

Shovel Knight is a platform video game developed and published by Yacht Club Games. Development was crowdfunded and the game was released for Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Windows in June 2014. It was ported to OS X and Linux in September 2014, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One in April 2015, Amazon Fire TV in September 2015, and Nintendo Switch in March 2017. Shovel Knight is inspired by gameplay and graphics of platformer games developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

<i>A Hat in Time</i> 2017 video game

A Hat in Time is a 2017 platform game developed by Danish game studio Gears for Breakfast and published by Humble Bundle. The game was developed using Unreal Engine 3 and funded through a Kickstarter campaign, which nearly doubled its fundraising goals within its first two days. The game was self-published for macOS and Windows in October 2017, and by Humble Bundle for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles two months later. A version for the Nintendo Switch was released in October 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sickhead Games</span> American video game company

Sickhead Games, LLC is an American independent game development studio founded in 2002. It is best known for its multiplatform turn-based strategy game ARMED!, its involvement with the MonoGame framework and Torque series of game engines, and the development of several PlayStation 4/5, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch ports of indie games including TowerFall Ascension, Stardew Valley, Darkest Dungeon, Octodad: Dadliest Catch, Slay the Spire, and Axiom Verge. The studio has updated classic console and PC games from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including ExZeus, Enclave, and Grandia, to run on modern gaming systems.

<i>Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night</i> 2019 video game

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by indie studio ArtPlay and published by 505 Games. The game is considered a spiritual successor to the Castlevania series, and was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, in June 2019, for Amazon Luna in October 2020, for Android and iOS in December 2020, and for Stadia in July 2021.

<i>Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom</i> 2018 video game

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is a 2018 platform game developed by Game Atelier and published by FDG Entertainment. Part of the Wonder Boy series, it was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in December, for Windows in July 2019, for Stadia in July 2020, for PlayStation 5 in December 2021, and for Xbox Series X/S in August 2022. It was generally well received by critics.

<i>Elliot Quest</i> 2014 video game

Elliot Quest is a side-scrolling action-adventure platform game by Mexican developer Ansimuz Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows in 2014, followed shortly by a Wii U port in 2015, and later to other platforms throughout 2017. It is similar to such games as Metroid, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

<i>Odallus: The Dark Call</i> 2015 video game

Odallus: The Dark Call is a 2015 action-adventure platform game in the vein of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, developed by Brazilian indie studio Joymasher. The game was originally released for Microsoft Windows, and was later released for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

<i>The Banner Saga 3</i> 2018 video game

The Banner Saga 3 is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Stoic and published by Versus Evil for macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the final installment in a trilogy of games that began with The Banner Saga (2014) and The Banner Saga 2 (2016).

<i>Dead Cells</i> 2018 video game

Dead Cells is a 2018 roguelike-Metroidvania game developed by Motion Twin and Evil Empire, and published by Motion Twin. The player takes the role of an amorphous creature called the Prisoner. As the Prisoner, the player must fight their way out of a diseased island in order to slay the island's King. The player gains weapons, treasure and other tools through exploration of the procedurally-generated levels. Dead Cells features a permadeath system, causing the player to lose all items and other abilities upon dying. A currency called Cells can be collected from defeated enemies, allowing the player to purchase permanent upgrades.

<i>The Messenger</i> (2018 video game) Action-platform game

The Messenger is a 2018 action-platform game created by indie developer Sabotage Studio and published by Devolver Digital. The player controls the eponymous ninja, who is appointed by a great hero to deliver a scroll. As the Messenger explores levels and defeats enemies, he gains a currency called Time Shards used to purchase useful upgrades and abilities. The game begins as a linear adventure featuring elements of time travel, with the audio and visuals changing from an 8-bit style to 16-bit to represent the ninja's journey from the past to the future. In the second half, The Messenger becomes a Metroidvania-style game where the player revisits previous levels to find key items.

<i>Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon</i> 2018 platform game

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a 2018 platform game developed and published by Inti Creates. It is a companion title to developer ArtPlay's 2019 game Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and was conceived to fulfill the promise for a retro-style accompaniment to Ritual of the Night after its Kickstarter campaign exceeded crowdfunding goals. Curse of the Moon follows Zangetsu, a cursed swordsman hunting down demons for revenge, as well as three other playable characters named Miriam, Alfred and Gebel. It features an 8-bit aesthetic and gameplay style similar to Castlevania games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), particularly Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989).

<i>Deaths Gambit</i> 2018 video game

Death's Gambit is a side-scrolling action role-playing game developed by White Rabbit and published by Adult Swim Games. It was released for Windows and PlayStation 4 in August 2018. An expanded edition of the game titled Death’s Gambit: Afterlife released in September 2021 for Windows and Nintendo Switch, in November 2021 for PlayStation 4 and in May 2022 for Xbox One.

<i>Grip: Combat Racing</i> 2018 racing video game

Grip: Combat Racing, often shortened to Grip, is a racing video game developed by Canadian studio, Caged Element and published by Wired Productions for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Warp Digital ported the title to console, and was released for all four platforms on November 6, 2018.

<i>Cyber Shadow</i> 2021 video game

Cyber Shadow is a side-scrolling action-platform game developed by Finnish indie studio Mechanical Head Studios and published by Yacht Club Games. Using an 8-bit aesthetic, the game follows a cybernetic ninja named Shadow who sets out to rescue his clan in a world overrun by machines.

<i>Timespinner</i> 2018 video game

Timespinner is a video game developed by Lunar Ray Games and published by Chucklefish. It was funded through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter in June 2014. Initially scheduled for release in November 2015, growth in the project's scope necessitated a later release date of September 2018.

<i>Skatebird</i> 2021 skateboarding video game

Skatebird is a skateboarding video game developed by American studio Glass Bottom Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Amazon Luna on September 16, 2021. Versions for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were later released in 2023.

<i>Kunai</i> (video game) 2020 action-platform video game

Kunai is an action-platform video game developed by TurtleBlaze and published by The Arcade Crew. The game was released on February 6, 2020 for Windows and Nintendo Switch. In the game, the player controls Tabby, a robot tasked with defeating Lemonkus, an AI that nearly causes the extinction of humanity. In July 2020, The Arcade Crew partnered with Limited Run Games to release physical copies of the Nintendo Switch version. The physical copies were released in October 2020. The PC version received generally favorable reviews, while the Nintendo Switch version received mixed reviews.

<i>Alwas Awakening</i> 2017 video game

Alwa's Awakening is a Metroidvania video game developed by Elden Pixels. It was first released in 2017.

<i>Alwas Legacy</i> 2020 video game

Alwa's Legacy is a Metroidvania video game developed by Elden Pixels and first released in 2020. After saving the land of Alwa in Elden Pixels' previous game, Alwa's Awakening, series protagonist Zoe attempts to return home to her original world.

References

  1. 1 2 Michael McWhertor (9 July 2018). "Indie Metroidvania Chasm, in the works for six years, hits July 31". Polygon . Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 Phillip Stortzum (5 October 2018). "SwitchArcade Roundup: Will Nintendo Switch Things Up with the Switch?". TouchArcade . Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. "Buy Chasm". Microsoft Store . Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. Bit Kid, Inc. (28 August 2018). "Chasm is coming to Switch, PAX West 2018". Kickstarter . Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  5. Ed Orr (29 August 2018). "Chasm comes to Nintendo Switch". GameSpace.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. Chris Moore (13 August 2018). "Prairie Nerds: Game Review - Chasm". Tulsa World . Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  7. Patrick Klepek (31 July 2018). "The Randomness of 'Chasm' Makes It Impossible to Know If It's Any Good". Vice Media . Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  8. Andy Kelly (31 July 2018). "CHASM REVIEW". PC Gamer . Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  9. Neal Ronaghan (11 October 2018). "Chasm (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  10. Ethan Gach (1 August 2018). "Chasm: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku . Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  11. Mike Williams (31 July 2018). "Chasm: Symphony of the Mines". USgamer . Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  12. Mitch Vogel (11 October 2018). "Chasm Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  13. Chris Carter (5 August 2018). "Review: Chasm". Destructoid . Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  14. Chase Cook (12 August 2018). "'Chasm': A story of a game designer's dream, and the sacrifice needed to make it work". The Capital . Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  15. Bit Kid, Inc. (11 April 2013). "Chasm by Discord Games LLC". Kickstarter . Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  16. 1 2 "Chasm for PC Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic . 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  17. "Chasm for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  18. "Chasm for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  19. Carter, Chris. "Review: Chasm". Destructoid . Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  20. Reeves, Ben (July 31, 2018). "Chasm – Lagging behind greatness". Game Informer . Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  21. 1 2 Tom McShea (31 July 2018). "Chasm Review: The Battle Below - GameSpot". GameSpot . Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  22. 1 2 Tom Marks (July 31, 2018). "Chasm Review". IGN . Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  23. Vogel, Mitch (11 October 2018). "Chasm Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  24. Ronaghan, Neal (31 July 2018). "Chasm (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  25. Kelly, Andy (31 July 2018). "CHASM REVIEW". PC Gamer . Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  26. Williams, Mike (31 July 2018). "Chasm Review". USgamer . Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  27. 1 2 Jeremy Peeples (4 August 2018). "Review: Chasm". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  28. "Chasm for PlayStation 4 Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic . 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  29. "Chasm for PlayStation Vita Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic . 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.