Finally, after what felt like endless nights working on this project, PB&J is finally seeing the light of day. Now I need to start doing the most terrifying part for any project... which is gaining traction — any suggestions from those who walked this path are more than welcome. I think this game is fun and brings some unique things I haven't seen in the genre, and I think those and others should exist. I'll be bringing more DLC (free and paid) to the game as it gains traction.
Players will get to explore five different heroes, each with their own reason for starting this journey. Since this is the base game, it all begins with these five characters chasing the same massive bounty... but for very different reasons.
THE UNIVERSE
The story takes place in a "punk sci-fi" universe where different worlds have their own dominant punk style (steampunk, biopunk, dieselpunk, cyberpunk, etc). Civilization is spread across the galaxy, with different races living on worlds that developed their own identities and cultures.
The adventure starts on a steampunk world. Vapor City had finally achieved peace thanks to a massive energy dome protecting the massive city. That peace lasted exactly one year.
Then someone stole the secrets behind the dome.
With its greatest invention compromised, the government of Vapor City announces an enormous bounty for whoever can capture the terrorists responsible. Five very different people decide to go after it, each driven by their own personal story.
THE HEROES
TARAS KOVAL
THE TANK
The big heavy dude.
He's the slowest hero, but also the toughest, with the highest HP in the game. His weapon of choice is a rivet shotgun.
Taras and his sister were sold into slavery when they were children and spent their lives working in a foundry. Now in his late twenties, strong enough to fight back, he comes up with a dangerous plan: steal an elite guard's hybrid armor, claim the bounty, buy his sister's freedom, and return to their dieselpunk hometown to finally rebuild their lives.
ANGUS IRONLOCH
THE HARPOONER
A hunter of the seas armed with a pneumatic harpoon, specializing in piercing damage.
Since he was nine years old, Angus has sailed toxic waters, fighting pirates and terrifying Deepones. Now in his mid-thirties, sailing is the only life he's ever known. His dream is simple: own his own ship and crew. Winning the bounty is the fastest way to get there.
DIEGO "FUSE" VARGAS
THE DEMOLITIONIST
Former military grid engineer.
After leaving the military, Diego settled with his family not too far from Vapor City. When the bounty is announced, he sees a chance to earn enough money to smuggle his family into the city for a safer future.
KUTU RUST-WALKER
THE SCOUT
An elite warrior of the Chuma Cheusi people from the deserts of Ardhi ya Oksidi (AKA Ardeox Desert).
Together with his loyal companion Rusty, a massive warthog, Kutu is chosen by his village to pursue the bounty in hopes of bringing everyone a better future. Armed with his electrified whip, he'll have to face his sworn enemies, the Vito Warriors, before his journey is over.
MADAME KRAUSE
TRICK SHOOTER
The weakest hero... but also the fastest.
She specializes in ricocheting shots fired from her concealed coil pistol.
Once a member of a powerful criminal organization, she changed her identity and disappeared, hoping to leave her old enemies behind. It almost worked.
After surviving an ambush that nearly killed her, she settled in Vapor City and now works as a techno-mortician, extracting neural cores from damaged robots to help power the blockchain network that keeps Vapor City's financial system connected to the rest of the galaxy.
Then she discovers that her children are actually alive.
Now she and Vapor City share the same enemy. Her goal is to rescue them and escape the city through forgotten passages beneath the Necropolis, leading to the Verdigris Glass Conservatory... and finally, beyond the city walls.
WHO ARE THE VITO WARRIORS?
Well... they don't actually call themselves that.
In their own language, "vito" simply means treasure. People in Vapor City started calling them Vito Warriors because that's the only word anyone ever hears them shouting before they jump unsuspecting travelers in the desert.
"Vito! Vito! Vito!"
If you hear that... you're probably about to lose your valuables.
During your runs, keep an eye on your radar. Every now and then it'll pick up a Golden Vito Warrior. These shiny little thieves love stealing experience crystals, and if you manage to catch one, it'll drop a nice pile of loot.
The catch? They know exactly when they're in trouble.
As soon as you get close, they'll panic and make a run for it. You only have a few seconds to hunt them down before they open a portal and disappear from the battlefield, taking all that treasure with them.
FROM THE CONCEPT ART VAULT
And now... just a couple of pieces of the concept art I never thought I would use for something other than to figure out the game's personality, lore and places... and all of this derived into Taras's biome (The Cinderlock Foundry) available in the Demo:
