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ITORAH Devlog #2 - The Inhabitants of Nahucan

As promised in our first Devlog, our boss, Grimbart, has a lot more to tell!
This time, he will give you insights into the many and colorful inhabitants of Nahucan.

Therefore, grab a cup of coffee, or tea, lean back in your chair, or couch, and enjoy the many things, Grimbart will tell and show you:





[h2]Chimali[/h2]


When approaching the central forest of Nahucan, one may spot a few small huts and little campfires betwixt the trees. Once the colossal log walls are within sight, you know you've reached Chimali - one of the few bastions of sentient Nahu in this wilderness. Lead by chieftain Yuma, the villagers settled down here to pursue a more civilized life.



[h2]Ahui and Yuma[/h2]


Two scholarly siblings with vastly different outlooks on life. While Yumas pursuit of knowledge turned him into a wise and responsible leader to his people, the more solitary Ahui prefers archeology and explosives instead. Naturally this causes much bickering about the problems Chimali has to face, as Ahui made it a habit to disappear and sift through some ancient ruins in search for solutions. Despite this they still care about each other and simply disagree on how to tackle big issues.
Ahuis endeavors provided her with plenty of cryptic clues about the elusive humanity, but her research begins to run dry until she unexpectedly meets her first actual specimen.



[h2]Craftsmen of Chimali[/h2]


Chimali attracts all sorts of curious people, among them a strange robed figure called Cipactli the Merchant. He provides esoteric services like fortune telling to the villagers, but some rumors say he also dabbles in magic involving Echoes; the physical embodiment of memories every living creature posesses. This may come in handy for Itorah, who seems to have a unique relationship with these crystals and draws her regenerative powers from them.

Nana and Tata are an inseperable pair who are well-versed in the art of feathersmithing, a magic that imbues the fashionable feathers many people wear on their head with blessings of good health and stamina. Fortunately Itorah wears some feathers of her own and may quickly become the favorite customer of this lovely lady and her blunt friend.
According to hearsay this duo used to work at a mysterious forge within a volcano, until the safety regulations motivated them to resettle in Chimali.

Over the course of the game these individuals will provide Upgrades to Itorahs Health, Stamina and Healing Powers in exchange for Echo Shards and specific ingredients found in the world.



[h2]Villagers of Chimali[/h2]


The rest of Chimalis villagers go about their daily lives; be it agriculture, foraging or guard duty. Not everyone can help Itorah out, but some of them may still provide directions or other bits of information.
Many of the character vocalizations have been provided by the developers themselves. Our lead programmer in particular may have awakened a slumbering talent when he recorded Cipactlis pleasant laughter!

[h2]...and there's more.[/h2]


Chimali is not the only speck of civilization in Nahucan. There are other, more reclusive groups who rarely see visitors. As such, their hospitality should be called into question when Itorah stumbles into one of these territories...





[h2]You have missed Devlog #1 and wondering, who this Grimbart or Itorah is?[/h2]
No worries, nothing easier than that:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1132910/announcements/detail/3087782926776071030

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1132910/ITORAH/

Itorah - Releasetermin und frisches Gameplay zum Metroidvania-Abenteuer



Erwache in Nahucan, einer fantastischen Welt voller maskierter Kreaturen. Die Menschheit ist verschollen und Itorah scheint die letzte ihrer Art zu sein.

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Mesoamerican-Inspired Platformer ITORAH Gets Release Date and New Trailer

Securing the fate of the world is a heavy burden to bear.
Today, together with developer Grimbart Tales, we are thrilled to announce a March 21, 2022, Steam launch date for ITORAH, our extraordinary 2.5D Mesoamerican-influenced side-scrolling platformer coming to Steam and GOG.

Embark on an unforgettable journey with the titular ITORAH through the exotic and mysterious world of Nahucan, meeting strange, masked beings and discovering the secrets behind a terrible plague that has befallen the land and its inhabitants.
Complimenting the release date news, the developers have also unveiled a brand-new gameplay trailer, showcasing the various bosses and enemies to be found (and slain!) in this charming hand-painted Metroidvania-esque adventure.

ITORAH showcases a visually stunning art style and breathtaking environments, complimented by carefully crafted depictions of verdant forests, rocky cliffs, and ancient temples.
Despite its deceptively breathtaking visuals, the story is a tragic, bittersweet saga of sacrifice and loss. Together with her smart-mouthed sentient weapon, an axe named Koda, ITORAH will journey through the cursed land while unraveling its mysteries, told through enchanting gameplay and meticulously illustrated cutscenes.

[h3]Watch the new gameplay trailer for ITORAH here:[/h3]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h3]Features of ITORAH: [/h3]
  • Hand-Crafted Quality: Explore a beautifully realized world inspired by South and Central American landscapes, each lovingly hand-painted by the development team to breathe life into the world of Nahucan
  • Good ol’ Fashioned Platforming: When she isn’t hacking and slashing her way across the landscape, Itorah will need to keep her jumping and dodging skills as sharp as her axe as she conquers progressively more difficult puzzles and platforming challenges
  • Who’s the Boss: With axe in hand, battle and subdue Nahucan's voracious fauna through exciting and challenging boss fights
  • Make Friends Along the Way: As the old saying goes, the “real treasure is the friends we make along the way.” Meet a variety of odd, quirky characters who may or may not help Itorah on her quest.
  • Captivating Sound Design: ITORAH’s lovingly crafted, dynamic soundtrack invites players to lose themselves in the beauty of Nahucan.


[h3]Recent impressions for ITORAH have been overwhelmingly positive:[/h3]
“ITORAH Looks to Be One of the Most Breathtaking 2D Games to Come Out This Year” — IGN

“Nintendo Game Boy-Inspired ITORAH Is A Hand-Painted Beauty” — Screen Rant

“It's apparent that ITORAH has all the features of modern platformer games and is similar in terms of gameplay to titles such as Dead Cells and Hollow Knight. What sets ITORAH apart from other platformer games is its Mesoamerican inspiration.” — Game Rant


[h3]Learn more of the fascinating world of Nahucan in the first Developer’s blog on Steam:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1132910/announcements/detail/3087782926776071030



ITORAH launches on Windows PC via Steam and GOG on March 21, 2022.
Keeping with Assemble’s charitable endeavors, there will also be a "Save the World"-edition available.
This special edition contains the official ITORAH soundtrack and artbook, with 10% of the proceeds donated by Assemble to Survival International, a charity supporting indigenous people worldwide.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1132910/ITORAH/

ITORAH Devlog #1 - An introduction to Grimbart Tales and ITORAH!

To start this off: That's right, our boss is a badger.
Not just any badger.
Grimbart.
An old wise vagabond, who's been through a lot. His journeys have provided him with plenty of stories to tell. To share these stories he came up with Grimbart Tales; to give life to his ramblings in videogame form.







ITORAH is a 2.5D action platformer with streamlined metroidvania elements. Inspired by many classics from our own childhood, we aim to create a game that may become the cherished memory of somebody else, someday.
The narrative of ITORAH is largely conveyed through its characters and environmental observations, so the following Devlog will focus on introducing our protagonists and world to you!



[h3]Who is ITORAH?[/h3]


Who is she indeed?
With a stoic expression and not much love for words, one would assume ITORAH likes to keep her secrets, but this couldn't be further from the truth:
She has no idea what is going on herself, having just awoken on a strange altar in the middle of nowhere - in a world bereft of other humans.
With no memories of her own, ITORAH sets out to explore the surrounding forest and meets a bunch of colorful beings. These newfound adversaries and friendships ultimately define her role in the fate of this new, unknown land as she chases the memories of her past.

[h3]Where are we?[/h3]


A kind soul who smells of gunpowder welcomes ITORAH to Nahucan, a mysterious world that emerged after the apparent downfall of humanity. It is a lush, verdant land, best described as multiple biomes mashed together in a cacophony of creation and destruction where the primal rules of nature reign supreme.
Nahucan's flora, rocks and ruins hide many secrets of the past, but the daily fight for survival seldom grants opportunities to uncover them. Rumors of an ominous plague also make the rounds and complicate explorations further.
The denizens of this place are called the Nahu; masked beings that come in all shapes and sizes.


[h3]Aracan and Koda[/h3]


Nahu also display varying degrees of civility, so ITORAH's first encounter with other living creatures results in quite the predicament. She finds herself captured and locked away in Aracan, a mountain cave inhabited by monstrous spiders.
Fortunately for ITORAH the other captive who keeps her company happens to be a talking axe named Koda. He seems a bit disoriented himself, but ITORAH's athletic abilities and Koda's natural predisposition to... well... cut things help facilitate their escape.
With both of them being amnesiacs, they immediately form a kinship and stick together to take on this great unknown world. Nothing can go wrong when you're with Koda, the self-proclaimed greatest warrior of Nahucan.



[h3]Rumors of a dark threat[/h3]


A drop of deep purple ooze, besmirching a tree; a scout mentioning the unusual behavior of animals. Little reports in the back of the mind of every civilized Nahu, as of late.
A remnant encroaches on Nahucan, and soon everyone shall partake in the hunt for tranquility.


[h3]Passing over to the developers[/h3]
Unfortunately, the old badger has no clue about game development, so he left the task of developing this interactive tale to his team. As specialists in the field, they will ensure that his fables are perceived in the manner he intends them to be. While they do all the work, he comfortably leans back, smokes his pipe and buries his snout in old, dusty books of eld.



Itorah - Entwickler stellen Metroidvania-Abenteuer im Gameplay-Video vor



Assemble Entertainment und das deutsche Entwicklerstudio Grimbart Tales aus Kaiserslautern haben dieser Tage im Rahmen des MIX Next Showcase ein neues Gameplay-Video zu Itorah gezeigt, das ihr anbei bestaunen könnt. Darin stellt Creative Director und Lead Artist Artur Bäcker die lebendige Welt in ITORAH vor und "erzählt [...]

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