Press release:
16 NOV 2020.
The indie games developer Amicable Animal and video games publisher Armor Games Studios are today very delighted and happy to announce that their Synthwave rhythm-puzzle game “SOLAS 128” is coming to PC (via Steam) and the Nintendo Switch in 2021.
To celebrate, a brand-new trailer has been released, spotlighting some of the game’s arcane retrofuturist puzzles.
Previously planned for PC via Steam, Armor and Amicable Animal have confirmed today that Switch players will also have the opportunity to be transported inside SOLAS 128’s ancient malfunctioning machinery, when the game launches in the first quarter of next year.
Half clockwork mechanism, half Hackers-esque mainframe, the inscrutable pulsing apparatus at the heart of SOLAS 128 will require careful repair, with players solving interlocking puzzle screens to the beat of the game’s one-of-a-kind synthwave soundtrack.
With over 150 puzzle screens to solve, SOLAS 128 promises to offer a challenging experience which is suitable for all players, thanks to an optional integrated hint system which guides players without spoiling solutions.
Designed with accessibility in mind right from the offset, SOLAS 128’s glyphs each have a unique shape and profile, and there are customisable contrast settings for the colorblind or vision-impaired.
Tom Methven, the solo developer behind Amicable Animal said, “Bringing SOLAS 128 to Switch is an absolute dream come true, and I’m delighted that more people will get the chance to experience this neon-soaked world I’m so proud of, either at home or on the go.”
SOLAS 128 will be available on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam in Q1 2020.
About SOLAS 128
At its heart, SOLAS 128 is a beam deflection game. Rotate and reposition mirrors to connect light sources and unlock adjacent puzzles. Every pulse is moving to the beat at all times, and each puzzle is connected to the next. Explore this strange interconnected space, learn its rules, and discover the surprises that dwell within.
Rather than ordinary light beams, however, these pulses can and will collide with each other. Create new colours, deflect them in new directions, and pay attention to their timing to unlock the path to new puzzles.
Along the way you’ll encounter a wide array of components which interact in unique and surprising ways. You might even discover you can pass pulses and components between puzzles.
Prisms, glitches, new types of mirrors, and more lurk in the depths. For example, the filters which remove colours from pulses that pass over them.
To match the otherworldly, retro, neon aesthetic, SOLAS 128 is scored with a one of a kind synthwave soundtrack to which the entire game is synchronized.
Features:
Over 150 interlocking puzzle screens
Designed from the ground up to be colourblind-friendly
A seamless world to navigate – changes in one room will affect those that follow
An original synth/chillwave soundtrack
Hidden areas to discover, and secrets to decypher
No text or dialogue: the visuals and music speak for themselves
An optional integrated hint system for players seeking a nudge in the right direction.
About Armor Games Studios
From its roots as a popular portal for online gaming, Armor Games Studios is a publisher that aims to work directly with and help foster talented indie developers to create unique and engaging games of all types for all platforms. For more information, visit www.armorgamesstudios.com, and follow the company on Twitter @ArmorGameStudio.
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Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround
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Tags: Amicable Animal, Armor Games Studios, Indie games, PC games, Puzzle games, Rhythm games, SOLAS 128