Landing on Kickstarter on July 10, developer Mongoose Rodeo introduced Crowsworn: a stylish, hand-drawn Metroidvania heavily influenced by Hollow Knight. Less than three hours after the crowdfunding campaign launched, it had smashed its initial goal of $100,000, and in the days since, it's managed to run through a further two stretch goals.
At the time of writing, Crowsworn's raised a whopping $234,000, meaning the game will get a new boss rush mode and hardcore difficulty thanks to its stretch goal incentives. It's easy to see why the action platformer has generated such a significant audience in just a few days, with Mongoose Rodeo's early footage revealing a striking Metroidvania loaded with gothic characters, fast-paced combat, and atmospheric environments.
According to the Kickstarter's description, Crowsworn is inspired heavily by Hollow Knight, Bloodborne, and Devil May Cry and has a projected release window of 2023, which Mongoose Rodeo admits is generous. The game will come to PC and eventually Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, although Mongoose Rodeo doesn't clarify which, stating "[as] we’re between console generations, we can’t yet confirm the final list of platforms or guarantee it will release on all platforms simultaneously."
The game's trailers paint an experience that shares Hollow Knight's extensive world design, quick combat, and ability-based platforming, as a character in a plague doctor's mask and long cloak navigates the bleak world of Fearanndal. Along the way, they're shown fighting various bosses and enemies with a giant scythe and two handguns, as well as using various traversal techniques to navigate areas, including one that sees them transform into purple smoke and move between hanging lanterns.
In terms of story, Mongoose Rodeo reveals that the game begins with the nameless protagonist awakening in an unmarked grave. Having no memory or knowledge of the world around them, they have to navigate Fearanndal in an effort to recover the hero's memories and learn more about Crownsworn's oppressive setting. It seems the game's approach to storytelling will be similar to Hollow Knight's lore-heavy narrative, offering a mysterious world filled with secrets to uncover.
Players can earn various rewards for backing the production of Crownsworn, including digital and physical copies of the game, a digital artbook, access to beta builds, a physical art book, a plush toy, a T-shirt, and even the ability to help design a main boss alongside the game's developers. Those wanting to back the game will have to donate before the end of its campaign on August 9. In other Kickstarter news, several interesting projects have been funded on the site recently, including a Witcher 3 board game and an Xbox Series S screen peripheral known as "xScreen."
Crowsworn's Kickstarter campaign concludes on August 9.
Source: Kickstarter