Publisher Assemble Entertainment and developer Grimbart Tales have announced a new game called ITORAH, an action-adventure game inspired by platformer games from the Nintendo Gameboy Era. For the uninitiated, Assemble Entertainment is the publisher of games such as Leisure Suit: Larry and Endzone: A World Apart. On the other hand, Grimbart Tales is a new indie developer, with Itorah as its debut title.
In ITORAH, players control the titular character as she traverses the vast world of Nahucan, which is under threat by a mysterious plague. Itorah appears to be the last human left in Nahucan, and players will see her battle deadly foes across different biomes to stop the plague and save her homeland. In a press release by ITORAH's developers, it was revealed that apart from its platformer gameplay, players will meet a lovable cast of characters while exploring a colorful fantasy land.
ITORAH's announcement trailer shows how the game features the best elements of modern platformer games, with its gorgeous setting, challenging combat, and a fast-paced action-adventure experience. The game's story will revolve around the mystery of whether Itorah is truly the last surviving human in Nahucan. Players will travel alongside Itorah as she braves her way through a wide variety of areas that will include lush forests, ancient temples, and more.
Assemble Entertainment's CEO Stefan Marcinek revealed how ITORAH took inspiration from classic 8- and 16-bit platformer games and combined them with modern gameplay mechanics, a hand-crafted setting, and a "heartwarming story" filled with unique and interesting characters. While specific details on these other characters are still under a cloud of mystery, Assemble revealed that Itorah will travel alongside her "loud-mouthed weapon," who will serve as her guide on the quest to unravel the mystery of her survival and save Nahucan from demise.
Based on the announcement trailer alone, it is apparent that ITORAH has all the features of modern platfomer games and is similar in terms of gameplay to titles such as Dead Cells and Hollow Knight. However, what sets ITORAH apart from other platfomer games is its Mesoamerican inspiration. Players will be able to explore a vast world that is inspired by South and Central American landscapes. In addition, each is carefully handpainted by the developers to achieve a personalized yet visually appealing aesthetic. While it is yet to be seen how every element of ITORAH will come together, it is worth knowing that the game won 3rd place in the Indie Awards category at Devcom 2020.
ITORAH is currently in development and is scheduled to launch later this year for the PC.