ArtFormer: Ancient Stories
Release date: Sep 29, 2021
Developers: Frix, Adam Hrubý, Buffa Software
Publishers: Frix, Adam Hrubý, Buffa Software
Genres: Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG
Categories: Single-player, Steam Achievements, Full controller support, Family Sharing
Supported languages: English, German, Czech

ArtFormer is a story-driven cinematic platformer with RPG elements. This Indie game project consists of four challenging story chapters each with a unique hero, different gameplay, and original art style based on existing fragments of human history: Cave paintings, Egyptian papyrus, Greek pottery, and Roman mosaic. The characters and stories seen through the eyes of ancient artists from different times will come to life before your eyes. Each chapter brings new gameplay mechanics! This isn't just a humble tribute to the cinematic platformers (Prince of Persia, Another World, Oddworld, Flashback...), but a proud continuation of their gaming legacies. Exciting four-chapter main story campaign, based on human history Fight enemies, and hunt wild animals with spears, swords, axes, and bows More than 100 Quests, 800 lines of dialogue with NPCs, personal journal system Sneak, explore, and survive different perilous environments Many classic RPG elements in Greek and Roman chapters Various mind-bending puzzles and original mini games Possibility to play with one hand (keyboard) Four chapters of ArtFormer, sorted by artstyle, each with a unique hero and storyline: In the first chapter, you play as a young boy, soon being to be initiated into manhood. Help your people, learn how to fight, travel through the caves, face many dangers, and fulfill your destiny. Became the leader of your tribe! Inspiration comes from the prehistoric cave paintings in Africa, Australia and Europe ast Tassili, Altamira, and others around the world. The story of the second chapter is about the Pharaoh's journey to the underworld. Help Pharaoh Ramesses II cross the treacherous river Nile. Get his mummy to the tomb and his soul to the underworld. Inspiration came from papyrus paintings, tomb fresco paintings, funeral equipment and artefacts, as well as the statues in Egypt to reproduce the atmosphere and myth of Egyptian life after death. The story of the third chapter depicts the legendary king Odysseus, his role in the Trojan War and his journey to the island of Ithaca. Fight to escape from the burning city of Troy, and travel across theAegean Sea. Face many mythological creatures, and find your way back home. Inspiration came from the almost 3,000 year old Greek pottery paintings across the styles of Minoan Crete, Athens, Sparta and others. In the fourth chapter, we follow the story of a gladiator during the ancient Roman republic. Find the way to the fighter's school, train, choose a combat style and buy different equipment. Fight for glory in the arena, make bitter foes and loyal friends. Be always on the alert, danger is lurking everywhere! Inspiration came from the 2,000 year old Roman mosaics, found in Italy at Rome, Pompeii, Sicily, and many others. The idea behind this chapter is from the ruthless gladiator games. We want to show the contrast between them and the high aesthetic level of Roman culture. We support people with disabilities, and we want to give them an equal amount of fun. ArtFormer's game-controls are specially designed and adapted to enable gamers with reduced mobility or other impairment to one upper limb. This means that the game can be controlled with just one hand. However, you cannot expect a 'standard' control setup, but a slightly different control scheme than that used by other similar games. Please bear that in mind while playing.

Press reviews: “ArtFormer is a fascinating platformer that pays homage to the history of art.” Eurogamer “It is a nice Prince of Persia-inspired project with a large number of historical art elements. For you who are an artist!” Gamespark “Essential 2D platformer with a wide variety of graphics possibilities without necessarily seeking to flirt with 3D, such as Apotheon. Goes further in the use of classical arts.” Indiemag