Isabella

[Macatlas 2]

 

Vote for Isabella on Square Enix Collective!

 

 

Isabella is a Western steampunk JRPG. At Hall of Nerd, we've endeavored to create a cast of memorable characters, a rich and deep world, and as many awesome features as we could shake a stick at. We've got crafting, fully animated combat, piles of awesome items, fully voiced cutscenes, tons of original music and sounds, heaps of side quests, an optional mini-game that persists throughout the game, a meticulously-planned world where your decisions really do have impact, not to mention the grand adventure at the center of it all. And that's just the beginning … in fact, I think we're gonna need a bigger stick.

 

 

In the year 1837, the world of Terrae is being subjected to a perpetual battle between two warring nations: Insavance and Dryadalis. Dryadalis, the island of the Dryads, has technology that is far more advanced than that of Insavance. This leaves Insavance, the home of the common human, with little to no protection against its rival nation. To make matters worse, Skypirates have been causing political unrest in Insavance, and some believe they intend to start a Civil War. This sets the backdrop for our story, which begins in a small village in southern Insavance...

 

Hal Kirkland is a 43-year-old retired mercenary who spends his days drinking and gambling in the cozy town of Salvum near Insavance's southern border. One day, while Hal is drinking at his favorite haunt, he is approached by one of his old mercenary partners, Walter Conroy, who offers Hal a high-paying contract. Hal hastily explains his retirement. However, Walter insists that Hal will want to take the job. "Hal, a girl's life's in danger," says Walter as Hal is preparing to leave to smoke a cigar. "It's President Vitam's daughter."

 

Hal returns to Walter and sighs. "Tell me about the girl."

 

 

 

Hal Kirkland - Retired Mercenary

Hal is an ex-mercenary who's a little rough around the edges. He spent most of his youth gambling, drinking, smoking, and involving himself in questionable mercenary work. Now that he's retired … well, nothing much has changed, except he doesn't do the mercenary thing anymore. He's no stranger to love and loss – a fact that shows in his piercing, scrutinizing gaze. Hal's face bears few wrinkles, but those he has stand out – the years of wear and tear are obvious, and his unshaven jaw serves as a testament to his tendency to turn that intense gaze inward, and find himself wanting.

 

"What the hell is so interesting about those books? I know what you're thinking and no, I'm not paying for a library card so you can sit at the inn and read all day."

Isabella Vitam - Damsel in Distress

Isabella's spunky, happy-go-lucky attitude serves as suitable cover for her immense fear of what lies ahead. Her baby-blue eyes are always filled with wonder as she explores the world around her. Isabella's smile can melt the heart of any man; her elegant face houses shapely, highly expressive features. Though she makes a naïve impression, she possesses wisdom beyond her years – proving equal measures useful and irritating to those around her.

 

"Just two books? Please? We're days away from Relicum. What else am I supposed to do while you're keeping me awake with your incessant snoring?"

Walter Conroy - Government Agent

Walter completed his first mercenary contract when he was just a teenager, earning over 300c for taking down one of the most dangerous outlaws in the territory. He quickly rose to prominence as the highest-paid mercenary in Insavance; his unorthodox methods and skilled marksmanship made him a force to be reckoned with. Following a botched mission that resulted in several innocent casualties and the loss of his left eye, Walter abandoned freelancing and sought employment with the Modus Government.

 

"B'fore I lost my good eye, I could shoot the sh** off a horse's arse at 300 yards. Now, I can hardly button my own damn pants."




 

Leona Lanigan - Skypirate Engineer

After completing the highest level of education at the Relicum School of Engineering, Leona took up with the Skypirates, who allow her to freely experiment and invent new gadgets. Her engineering talent is unparalleled; even with the most complicated machines, she can repair broken components and install new upgrades in a matter of minutes. Leona dedicates most of her time to learning about the Spelldrinks and their potential.

 

"Why didn'ya tell me the engine was rattling!? You've got a Spokehain Buffrod that's slippin' and jabbin' the hell out of your Camrus Compressor! The engine coulda' blown at any second!"




 

Scarlet - The Red Sniper

Enigmatic, cool-headed, and a hellishly good shot, Scarlet is the deadliest sniper in Insavance, if not the entire world. Despite her morbid line of work, she maintains an optimistic, upbeat outlook on life, and enjoys helping those she deems innocent. When she isn't out killing people, it's not uncommon to find her telling jokes to a drunk crowd at the local bar. But a word of advice: if you like your innards where they are, don't get on her bad side.

 

"I can't shoot him in the head. It'll explode and get blood all over his friend. Wouldn't that be horrifying? I'll just shoot him in the foot so he falls off of the airship. Simple, and clean!"

 

Isabella uses a unique combat system centered around 'Spelldrinks.' Each playable character can imbibe a Spelldrink and gain the powers of said Spelldrink, allowing them to cast fireballs, use healing spells, summon debilitating tornadoes, etc. When a character consumes a different Spelldrink, they gain a new spell, but forget the old one. Each Spelldrink also grants the characters different stats; if a character is nearing death, have him drink a Rockwall so his defense is increased. The player can swap out characters' active Spelldrinks on the fly, effectively changing your characters' strengths and abilities at the press of a button.

 

 

Isabella features a turn-based sideview combat system. I intend to fully animate the sprites for combat, allowing a more realistic and fluid presentation.

 

A sneak peak at a couple of the foes you will face:

The Vacant

A few months after someone dies with a spelldrink still in their system, their bodies come back, reanimated by the wild magic seeping into their dead flesh. This, combined with the proclivity of spelldrinks, means the popularity of cremation is at an all-time high in Insavance!

Voidcats

The war left scars on Insavance in many ways. The Dryads' magic twisted many of the native fauna, changing them in strange, mysterious - and dangerous - ways. Voidcats - once simple panthers - are filled with a meld of magics, allowing them to blind their foes, call forth dark magic, and even shift between worlds...

Skypirates

When the Modus Government introduced spelldrinks to Insavance, it revolutionized society. Not everyone sees this as a blessing; the Skypirates believe President Vitam is using the spelldrinks to poison Insavance's citizens and make them complacent. They seek to overthrow the Modus Government, and ensure future generations are free of President Vitam's alleged tyranny. Led by the charismatic Solomon Clark, the Skypirates are brutal and efficient, taking any measure they deem necessary to attain their goals.

 

 

You will be able to make decisions that drastically affect the world of Insavance. Towns, NPCs, and even main characters will respond to your choices. There are no right or wrong decisions, and each option will always have consequences, so choose your path carefully!

 

 

Right now, we're working on the opening cutscene which will double as a Video Advertisement when completed. The game will feature several other narrated cutscenes, as well.
 

 

Hal returns to his mercenary roots by creating a Mercenary's Guild in the largest city in Insavance. You'll have complete control over the contracts and employees; with the necessary materials, you can even build additions to the Guild Headquarters, unlocking new NPCs and features along the way.

 

 

What would a Western tale be without games like blackjack and Liar's Dice? Relax after a hard day of rescuing damsels in distress, play some cards, roll the dice!

 

 

Of course, there's a main quest. But in Isabella, everywhere you go, you'll find side-quests galore – each featuring multiple endings, determined by your actions and choices. Through these quests, you shape the world around you.

 

 

 

Our crafting system allows you to create unique weapons, items, and even Spelldrinks. Have you found some bits and pieces you can use to upgrade your boring old revolver into a gleaming steampunkified weapon of pure awesome? Go for it!  -> 

 

Additionally, there's a rare metal called Skysteel you can use to upgrade your weapons. Skysteel is rare and prized for its unique ability to absorb magical energy, where all other metals repel it. Upgrade your weapon with Skysteel, and add in a Thunderbolt spelldrink to get something like this:  -> 

 

 

Media

Combat Demonstration Video:

 

Isabella HD Wallpaper:

 

Screenshots 

 

 

 

Additional Information

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'Isabella' is a story-driven RPG that is set for a commercial release in 2016.
Isabella has an array of completely unique, visually stunning characters, courtesy of Hollow's initial vision and skills.
Other credits go to:

Mack/LooseLeaf for the sprites in the screenshot.
Ashikai, the character artist.

(more to come)

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Thank you for taking the time to read about this project. More information will be provided as the project progresses through the various stages of development. Did this project pique your interest? By all means, give us your feedback, and stay tuned!

-all characters, story elements, names, and artwork are intellectual property of Hall of Nerd.

Hall of Nerd Team
Macatlas - Chieftain of Things and Stuff
Dirge - Grand Overlord of the Pixel Realm
SaintInix

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