Manga and light novel powerhouse Kodansha, through its Creators Lab, has launched a couple of new indie titles, IGNISTONE, by MONO ENTERTAINMENT and In His Time, developed by Tearyhand Studio.
IGNISTONE looks to be a cute, colorful roguelike that takes inspiration for its overall aesthetic from games like Paper Mario and Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling. The game tasks players with finding the titular IGNISTONE by reaching the 100th floor basement of an enigmatic dungeon. Based on the trailer, the game isn’t afraid to have fun with itself and be goofy; there’s a full on dance break at the end.
If you’ve played other roguelikes, such as Moonlighter, the loop is pretty simple: as you make progress in the dungeon, you’ll periodically be given a choice to either return to the surface and regroup, or continue onwards — but if you choose the latter, you stand to risk everything you’ve achieved. It’s a choice that will probably be different every time it’s presented, if you’re anything like me.
IGNISTONE is now available for PC via Steam, iOS and Android. If you decide to pick it up by October 9, you can take 20% off the top and add it to your collection for $6.39 (it’s normally $7.99).
In His Time, on the other hand, is a faith-based narrative platformer where you play as Olly, who’s not at all having a good time. Not only is he dealing with the loss of his father, but his mother is also sickly. As the responsibilities pile up around him, and as his grades start to suffer, Olly is pressured into breaking and entering an old mansion, he is caught by the mansion’s owner Joseph the Clockmaker. Olly has to do whatever is necessary from that point on to make up for his mistakes and right what has been wronged.
In peeking at the trailer, I could see influences from other 2D puzzle-platformers such as LIMBO, Little Misfortune, and even deep indie cuts like HEAL that are less platform-based and more puzzle-based. I really dig the aesthetic, what with the characters all being represented by dark gremlin people with unnerving white, pinhole eyes. It gives this game a cartoony feel, while also keeping a level of unease in regards to what’s going to happen next.
In His Time is now available for PC via Steam. Like IGNISTONE, if you decide to pick this one up by October 9, you can nab it for $7.99 which is a 20% cut from its normal price of $9.99.
