Ebenezer and the Invisible World publisher / developer Play on Worlds has announced Maui the Shapeshifter, a new Polynesian-themed metroidvania game.
Maui the Shapeshifter is in development for Windows PC (via Steam), though a release date wasn’t confirmed.
“After spending so much time in the chilly realm of Ebenezer and the Invisible World, we wanted to create a colorful experience in a different environment while staying true to our love for Metroidvanias,” said Carlos Martin, Founder of Play on Worlds. “With Maui the Shapeshifter, we hope Metroidvania fans will follow us onto the island and take on a whole new adventure.”
Here’s a rundown on the game, plus its reveal trailer:
Master Maui’s legendary shapeshifting powers to save the wildlife of a Polynesian island from the corrupt force of Cemyk, a nefarious creature from another world. Transform into majestic animals with the help of spirit Aumakua and wield Maui’s magic fish hook while exploring a naturally enchanted island brimming with secrets, challenges, and obstacles.
Shapeshift into a Hoary Bat to reach new heights, slide down hills while blocking dangerous projectiles as a Green Sea Turtle, or glide across great distances as a Kamehameha Butterfly. Creatively channel the power of incredible animals to drive out the mutated wildlife introduced to the island by Cemyk.
Unleash Maui’s iconic hook to manipulate the environment, solve puzzles, and create new paths across the island. Upgrade the fish hook to enhance strength, range, and other stats. Scour land and ocean to discover new and rare equipable powers through a robust slot system.
Traverse a sprawling Metroidvania map with rich and diverse biomes, including jungles, volcanoes, mountains, beaches, and even the legendary Menehune village. Go beyond the natural realm, where a hidden spiritual world awaits. Interact with NPCs across the island–some eager to help, others…not so much. Explore and uncover the secrets of the awe-inspiring island paradise all rendered in breathtaking hand-drawn art teeming with vibrant hues.
Features:
- Explore a Metroidvania-style Open World: Get lost in an 2D open world set in a beautiful island that includes tropical forests, waterfalls, caves, volcanoes, and even spiritual realms.
- Large and Detailed Map: Discover a large map full of secrets, challenges, and platforms, to unlock new areas, as well as new powers and abilities.
- Animal Transformations: Transform into fun and exciting animals each with unique abilities, including a Green Sea Turtle, Happy Face Spider, and Kamehameha Butterfly, among others. Unlock new areas by using your new animal powers!
- Solve Environmental Puzzles: Use Maui’s powerful fishhook to move earth and land to access new areas. Solve puzzles and new areas in creative ways.
- Customizable Slot System: Customize your gameplay with a deep Slot System that offers a variety of abilities and performance upgrades. The slot system allows players to customize their experience to focus on abilities they enjoy the most.
- Hand Paint Art Style: Maui the Shapeshifter continues Play on World’s commitment to 2D hand painted art. The environments, characters, animations, have been hand-drawn and hand-painted with careful attention to detail to create an immersive and beautiful world.
