Let’s face it. You don’t have to look or search very far around here at Retro Game Network, and not know that we have a thing for modern day homebrew titles for nearly every console. We love to report on them and try them out, for it is these great new games that help keep the retro video game consoles from our youth alive! It’s not too often that we are given a heads up on a Kickstarter project before it even starts, but that is exactly what we are bringing to you all this morning. A brand new project in the form of a new original action/RPG title called “Elysian Shadows” is in the works for a variety of systems and consoles, and the creators of the game need your support to bring it to the masses!

“Elysian Shadows” takes place in a world caught in constant conflict between magic and technology. The gift of magic is bestowed upon loyal followers of The Creator, while the nonreligious sects of society are forced to rely upon technological advances in their daily lives. Upon uncovering a mysterious artifact deep within one of the ancient ruins scattered throughout the land, Julien and friends find themselves thrust into the middle of this mounting conflict, and they must now solve the mystery of the ancient civilizations to prevent the destruction of their own.

The game plays host to a variety of different characters, each with their own unique personality and play style. Early on, we wanted the storyline of Elysian Shadows to focus around strong character development and interaction. We have put considerable effort into scripting believable and engaging character dialog and using it as a compelling storytelling mechanic… Even common NPCs have scripted roles to play in the world of Elysian Shadows, and their behaviors change based on the time of day or other gameplay events.

The world of Elysian Shadows is a diverse, multilayered landscape consisting of villages, towns, cities, and a variety of different ruins and subdungeons. Connecting the various ruins to the societies of Elysian Shadows are many overworld maps the player must explore. They are generally beautiful, lush, and feature a variety of different forests, deserts, mountains, tundra, beaches, swamps, and islands. The ruins tend to exhibit a darker, moodier, and more foreboding atmosphere, playing host to ancient, long-forgotten technology and a multitude of dangerous creatures guarding their secrets.

Elysian Shadows’ combat was to create a battle engine with the speed and fluidity of an action game fused with the depth and strategy of a more traditional RPG. Our physics and particle engines lay the foundation for intense, action-oriented combat with impressive spell effects and environmental interaction, while detailed character customization, talent and ability trees, alchemy, and even a class system add another level of depth and strategy to enemy encounters.

Its audio engine will boast full 3D positional sound for both music and sound effects, and also dynamically transitions between tracks for a very immersive experience where sound and music change based on your actions and surroundings. The soundtrack combines vintage electronic music hardware with modern synthesizer software to create a hybrid experience that meshes music making methods of the future with familiar SNES and Genesis era sounds, resulting in a sonic experience that is bounded only by imagination.

While the game is certainly very much Dreamcast heavy and happy to be along for the ride, it should be noted that the game is also scheduled to be available on other platforms as well. In addition to the Dreamcast, versions of the game are also being planned for Windows and Linux compatible PCs, the Apple Macintosh, as well as the OUYA home console.

The Kickstarter is scheduled to being accepting donations on August 1st. Currently however, despite all of the information and details that we were able to share, we have no information on what the fundraiser goal is, nor do we know any information about when the game would be made available. We also do not know anything at all about possible stretch goals or rewards.

Source: Official Elysian Shadows Website via Dreamcast Talk