Orphic Ascent

Take control of Orpheus on his quest to escape the Greek Underworld, dashing and dodging your way through Tartarus, battling the fiends of Asphodel, and finally reaching Elysium (WIP).

Controls

Gameboy	Keyboard	Controller
A	Space	Right Button
B	Shift	Bottom Button
Start	Escape	Start
Select	Shift	Select
Up	W / Up Arrow	D-Pad Up
Down	S / Down Arrow	D-Pad Down
Left	A / Left Arrow	D-Pad Left
Right	D / Right Arrow	D-Pad Right

Gameplay

Orphic Ascent is a vertical platformer where the player must reach the top of each level, progressing from level to level in one of three worlds, each collectively making up the Greek Underworld. 

• Levels are divided by checkpoints represented as Temples.
• Levels can be navigated by a mixture of careful jumping and calculated arched dashes.
• Walking enemies (Skeletons and Lost Souls) must be avoided entirely.
• Flying enemies (Spirits) can be defeated by dashing into them. On occasion these enemies may drop a coin.
• Coins may be offered inside each temple in exchange for a boon, a powerful bonus that lasts until the next checkpoint:
  • Boon of Apollo: Extra Jump Height
  • Boon of Artemis: Can survive 1 hit against enemies.
  • Boon of Hermes: Can jump infinitely by repeatedly hitting A.
  • Boon of Icarus: Can dash infinitely by repeatedly hitting B in a direction.
• Should the player die, they will respawn inside the nearest temple, safe from enemies.

About

Orphic Ascent is Gameboy-inspired platformer created for GB Jam 12 in 2024. It is our collective first ever attempt at making a game, or entering a game jam. So with that in mind we are pleased to bring you Orphic Ascent, and hope you have fun escaping the Underworld!

As of the initial release, due to the GB Jam 12 deadline, the game is currently unfinished. There are likely to be bugs we may have missed, and there are some features which we simply did not have the time to add. However we hope that you see past this essential first draft, and get an idea of our complete vision for the game which one day may still be realised.

Credits

Mekbots - Programming and Art

papaya_warrior - Programming and Art

Airesa/Kermit - Sound and Level Design