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Ackk Studios announces Y2K, an Earthbound and Haruki Murakami inspired RPG

Posted by chat Annette and Ashley www.shensugor.com on April 11th, 2014 | 0 Comments | Tags: Ackk Studios , Y2K

Motivated by a recent playthrough of Persona 4 Golden and Earthbound, the team at Ackk Studios decided to make a Japanese-styled role-playing game. Y2K sees players take on the role of an unemployed college graduate that takes to 1990s message boards after an elevator claims the life of a young woman. His quest for answers leads to more questions as his research points him to a mysterious van the internet has dubbed the “Death Cab”. This vehicular oddity roams the game’s city and countryside. Who is driving it? And despite the death toll surrounding the vehicle, why does no one seem recognize its threat? The “Mother series” and Japanese author Haruki Murakami provide inspiration for the quirky characters and the thought provoking script.

Y2K aims to bring what you’d normally expect from a JRPG like a gripping narrative, an expansive world, memorable
characters, as well as an emotionally moving score and merge that with their experience in action, platforming and meticulously designed dungeons. In addition those, the game has “The Mind Dungeon”, a series of randomly generated dungeons that contain puzzles, story elements, and opportunities for the characters to level up beyond the standard leveling experience that is expected from battle.

The combat engine has players use magic to change the condition of battle. One of the spells called “Panda-barrier
” allows the player to summon a magical stuffed panda that will absorb the enemies’ blows and protect the player for four turns. As the game features enemies that are significantly more powerful than the characters, the player must strategize and choose spells that will strengthen the characters or weaken the enemies to level the playing field. Other spells can limit the way the characters attack, heal, increase their health, or temporarily grant them special abilities. Different spells can also be combined to make the characters even stronger. One of the spells currently in development will force the enemy or the player to use one elemental-based magic for a set number of turns. This spell can be paired with other spells to increase the character’s health when attacked. The player can also use “Trap Spells” that activate in very specific situations.

Ackk didn’t specify which platforms the Unity powered Y2K was heading to, beyond a vague comment about exploring all current-gen hardware. But it looks like Vita has been confirmed to receive the game. Which makes sense given the Persona 4: Golden creative spark. If you’re in the area of PAX East, stop by booth #797 to play the game on PC.

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