Demo Available For Upcoming Puzzle/Action RPG CrossCode

CrossCode is a retro style action RPG with puzzle elements currently in development by German developer Radical Fish Games. A demo was released last week and it's already looking good.

The main gameplay mechanic in the game revolves around throwing energy balls, called Virtual Ricochet Projectiles, both to fight and to solve puzzles. In addition to ranged attacks, there's also close-combat, plus several special attacks built around these core mechanics.

You'll find story, puzzle and exploration modes that you can choose between when you start the demo. The game tells you to start with the story mode as it explains and lets you try out some of the gameplay basics. As the name suggests, this mode also provides some background story. In the puzzle mode you progress mainly by positioning yourself in such a way as to enable you to hit buttons with your energy ball in order to move platforms and obstacles. The exploration mode has the form of a more traditional action RPG, and in this mode you can equip various items and build up your character by activating nodes on a circuit board.

So far there are no trailers for the game but the video below from earlier this year contains a playthrough of some of the game, along with a commentary from the developer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSI0Ssbub1E

CrossCode is made in HTML5 and JavaScript using Impact. To play the demo you need a browser which supports Media Source Extensions, meaning the latest stable build of Firefox will not work. Both Chromium and Opera should work though, and I've tested the demo without issues in both, playing both with keyboard and mouse and a wired Xbox 360 controller. The commercial games A Wizard's Lizard and Elliot Quest are also developed in HTML5 and run well on Linux.

About the game
A retro-inspired 2D Action RPG set in the distant future

Meet Lea as she logs into an MMO of the distant future.
Follow her steps as she discovers a vast world, meets other players and overcomes all the challenges of the game.

Also: Lea can't speak. Nope, no heroic mime. She is actually mute.

• A story about the distant future of gaming - from an unexpected angle. Plenty of characters and plot twists included.
• Master the bouncing ball mechanics and solve a whole bunch of puzzles.
• CrossCode has fast, action-packed combat filled with damage numbers. And we still managed to squeeze some strategy in there!
• Be a proper avatar and master all 4 elements: Cold, Heat, Shock and Wave. What, those are not the right elements? No idea what you are talking about.
• Being a proper RPG, CrossCode comes with tons of skills, equipment, items, NPCs, quests and all those fun little things consuming your precious time.
• CrossCode is full of awesome: huge hostile cyborg crabs, a seaman with a jetpack and head-banging meerkats.

Check out the demo here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.