Merge Games UK and Digerati Distribution USA today announced that the eagerly-anticipated, high-speed action platformer, The Joylancer: Legendary Motor Knight, created by alpha six productions, is launching on Steam Early Access on November 7th, 2014.
Joylancer is an extremely fast retro-style side-scrolling game, with deceptively simple combat controls. The Early Access version include three multiplayer modes (for up to 4 players locally, and support for AI opponents), a sample of the main game’s adventure stages, and the challenging survival mode (The Dark Palace), which includes over 50 floors at launch, with more being added over time. The full game is due for release in February 2015. Be prepared for retro gaming at its finest!
Joylancer features 2 simple button controls, reminiscent of those good old Game Boy days, a jump button and a lance button. With the lance button you control the Joylancer – an awesome, motor-powered, divine weapon that combines a drill with a lance, allowing you to easily overpower your opposition, charge your strength on the fly and fling foes into each other. The Joylancer can also be revved up and used as a means of transport, smashing everything in its path!
Joylancer features lots of options so you can customize the game to your tastes! Play in one colour, a portable-inspired green tint palette, a huge selection of pre-set colours, or activate DX Mode, for even more options. Joylancer also provides the player with multiple soundtrack styles and customizable effects such as slow-down and screen shake.
Joylancer is designed to be easy to pick up and play, with lots of intricacies and tricks that the player can learn and perform as they improve. The difficulty system offers a variety of challenge options for all kinds of players, so everyone can find just what they’re looking for.
MULTIPLAYER:
•Joylancer has a large selection of local multiplayer components, allowing up to four players to play at the same time, in almost every game mode. In some modes, players can also pick other characters, including many of the enemies in the game.
•Get up to three friends in the action in the MAIN GAME by giving their souls to your weakened foes! (Press SELECT on the other controller during a Drive-Counter.)
•Cooperate with your friends to complete the mysterious DARK PALACE mode
•Battle against each other in various types of brawls in the MOTOR COMBAT mode. Compete in free-for-all or team battles
•More multiplayer modes are planned for release, including some sports variations of the game, like throwing enemies into baskets and targets, racing to the finish, and a unique spin on the rules of American football!
KEY FEATURES & MODES (EARLY ACCESS):
•Save ANTORIA CENTER CITY, home of the MOTOR KNIGHTS, from the threat of the Roselian Army (AREA 1)
•Make your way through the FOREST OF DECEPTION and defeat the beast corrupting the forest (AREA 3)
•Try to conquer 50 floors of the DARK PALACE – Battle enemies, collect power ups, and try to survive with no continues
•Play with up to 4 players in MOTOR COMBAT – Time Combat, Divine Combat, and Crystal Combat modes
•Six difficulty modes – Enjoy unlimited continues, relax with generous checkpoints, or prove your skill under no continues and no retries!
•Lots of visual customization options; aspect ratios, outside-window borders, a variety of colour settings, and effect on-off switches.
PLANNED FEATURES:
•Explore over thirty different stages in six main areas of the world of Antoria, crawling with secrets divine and dark
•Fight a huge variety of bosses, from small characters to huge, screen-filling beasts
•Experience the story of The Joylancer with stylized story cut scenes and action-packed set pieces
•Equip your knight with various items that add bonuses, techniques, or change the way your character works
•Conquer 100 floors of the DARK PALACE! The palace goes even further than before, featuring an even deeper series of horrifyingly tough challenges
•More multiplayer modes – fight in new ways in Motor Combat, or challenge each other to a variety of challenges in the Academy Sports League!
Release date
Friday 7th November 2014 (Steam Early Access)
Price
$9.99USD, £6.99, €9.99 (Plus 30% off launch week promotion)
Publisher
Merge Games and Digerati Distribution
Developer
alpha6 productions
Formats
PC and Mac
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
PC Minimum:
OS: Microsoft Windows XP or above
Processor: 1.4GHz processor
Memory: 1.5 GB RAM
Graphics: DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 250 MB available space
Additional Notes: Microsoft XBOX 360 Controller or DirectInput-compatible controller
PC Recommended:
OS: Microsoft Windows XP or above
Processor: 2GHz processor or faster
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Graphics: DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 250 MB available space
Additional Notes: Microsoft XBOX 360 Controller or DirectInput-compatible controller