SacriFire News

Hello, SacriFire community!

We’re happy to be back with a brand new installment of our devlog!

First of all, thank you so much for your awesome reception of our previous posts, each of which has revealed some further info about the world of our game! Today, we would like to go even deeper, and share some further details about SacriFire’s story and themes.

And don’t worry, our devlog is spoiler-free — so without further ado, let’s dive right in!

[h3]💎 GODS AND DEMONS[/h3]



The story we want to tell in SacriFire has a lot of background to it — background relating to the long and colorful history of the city of Antioch (you can read more about the city itself here). This is why we say that the events presented in our game are not the beginning, but rather the culmination, of a centuries-long struggle between good and evil (or to be precise, the struggle between the god Sheol and the demon lord Amaymon).

The Church of Sheol ensures that life in Antioch is peaceful, with law and order as fundamental values. Unfortunately, the city will soon face another outbreak of the plague heresy, which brings with it a confrontation with various unsavory demons.
[hr][/hr]

[h3]💎 HERETICS WITHIN[/h3]



What exactly is Heresy? It’s difficult to be sure. Some call Heresy a plague, others think of it as a form of demonic possession. What’s certain is that Heresy is a serious threat that has loomed over Antioch for centuries. The danger is ever-present; sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle, but unchanging in the threat it poses to the god Sheol.

The group known as heretics — and their motivations and methods — will become more familiar to you as you play the game. For now, suffice to know that these mysterious rebels are sworn to destroy Sheol, and are willing to go to any lengths to make this plan a reality. In the upcoming demo, you will see the heretics take the first — but not the last — step towards that end.

The terrifying thing about the heretics is how easily they blend in with the rest of the population of Antioch. They may look like normal citizens by day, but at night they don their masks and robes and go out to put their plans in motion. Each heretic has their own demonic power, beyond their heightened strength and speed, so that even one poses a significant threat.

Heretics also have unique weapons. During battles with demons, you will notice some dangerous-looking red sparks of light taking over the location — heresy not only corrupts the soul but also the world around you…
[hr][/hr]

[h3]💎 CRISIS OF FAITH[/h3]



As gods and demons clash once more, the battle begins to impact on the life of Ezekiel Ridan, the main character of SacriFire. As a soldier of the Church of Sheol, Eze is naturally involved in the events of its war, and soon is confronted with his real test: the two immortal beings who both attempt to claim his soul.

Together with a companion, such as best friend Zephaniah Milto or fellow bishop-recruit Ava Valeri, Ezekiel will travel to the spirit world Erebus (and a number of other mysterious locations), in order to fulfill his duty as bishop of the Church of Sheol.
[hr][/hr]

[h3]💎 BRINGING SACRIFIRE’S CHARACTERS TO LIFE[/h3]



The inhabitants of the world of SacriFire are carefully crafted, each with their own personality, back story, and motivations. The characters evolve as the story progresses (none more so than Ezekiel himself), and these changes will be reflected in their dialogue and actions.

Of course, telling compelling stories and creating believable characters goes beyond words — there’s also the question of how those words are delivered. We’ve paid a lot of attention to this aspect, and all the characters in the main storyline of SacriFire will be voiced thanks to the incredibly talented team from Sound Cadence Studios!

Let’s not forget music. As you may already know, the soundtrack of the game has been composed by the legendary Motoi Sakuraba (scores for Dark Souls, Tales series and more) and G4F Records. We’re hoping to create a true JRPG vibe! You can listen to the first publicly-released track, called “Awakening”, which is already available on Spotify and which recently surpassed 100k streams!

Aside from the sound, we can’t neglect the visual aspect. Individual portraits, each with multiple expressions, will help bring the characters of SacriFire to life.
[hr][/hr]

[h3]💎 SEE YOU AROUND![/h3]



Time to wrap up today’s devlog, as we don’t want to reveal too much about the main storyline of SacriFire. We cannot wait for you to dive into the story of Ezekiel and his companions, and we’re looking forward to seeing your reactions to the mysteries of demons lurking in the shadows of Antioch.

See you in the next devlog!

[h3]💎 Check out our previous devlogs:[/h3]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1661330/announcements/detail/3694694342039814328?snr=2_9_100000_
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1661330/view/3660916075957024359
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1661330/announcements/detail/3660912271266395188

[h3]Join our Discord server![/h3]

[h3]Connect with us on other channels[/h3] Follow us on Twitter Check our TikTok

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1661330/SacriFire/

Hey SacriFire community!

We’re happy to share that we’re at PAX West 2023 in Seattle! Drop by our booth 3011 in the Seattle Convention Center between September 1-4!

In addition, you will be able to play the demo of SacriFire on our gaming station and chat about the game with Adam, Art Director from the Pixelated Milk develompent team!

You can find us here:



[h3]Join our Discord server![/h3]

[h3]Connect with us on other channels[/h3] Follow us on Twitter Check our TikTok

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1661330/SacriFire/

Hello community!

We’re coming back with a brand new SacriFire devlog! Our last entry, which you can check here, covered the lore of Antioch, the main city and primary location in the game. Today we are traveling to the spirit world of Erebus…

Are you ready to learn more about its secrets?

[h3]💎 ABOUT EREBUS[/h3]



Erebus provides a stark contrast to the ‘real’ world of Antioch, in terms of the environment you will explore as well as gameplay encounters. After teleporting from Antioch’s urban areas to Erebus’ beautiful hub, you can’t help being struck by the idyllic atmosphere of nature.

You will hear the calm murmur of nearby waterfalls, the chatter of people in the gardens, and see “angels”, mysterious creatures, floating above the ground.

As a spirit world, Erebus is populated by spirits of the dead (as well as spirits of the living, coming here for a visit from Antioch). Besides exploring more dangerous parts of Erebus, which only the bravest individuals - such as bishops - can do, a lot of people spend time around the beautiful golden tree, Dendreon.


[h3]💎 PRAYER WHEELS[/h3]



You may wonder, how can people of Antioch travel between worlds? The answer is... Prayer Wheels.

These special devices are another example of technology developed in the subterranean city. Erebus Wheels are just one of several varieties.

In the process known as “prayer,” citizens enter Prayer Wheels and teleport themselves to idyllic paradise. In Antioch itself, wheels can be found in chapels, as you can see in the clip above, as well as in some private residences.


[h3]💎 THE TREE OF ECHOES[/h3]



The first thing that immediately draws your attention when arriving in Erebus is Dendreon — the huge golden tree in the center of its gorgeous landscape.

The story of Dendreon starts with Sheol, the deity worshiped in Antioch, and it is connected with the origins of Erebus itself. The creation of Erebus began with a single seed which over time grew into the beautiful Dendreon.

The Tree of Echoes is another name for this wonder of nature, which has a very special purpose in the life of Antiochians. Through Dendreon, people can communicate with your friends via “echoes” — saved messages which can be stored upon the branches of the tree.


[h3]💎 SECRETS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD[/h3]



You can stop for a moment and chill out near the Dendreon, to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and ambient tracks composed for this location. All in all, this is just the “waiting room” before entering the parts of Erebus full of real adventures.

As SacriFire mixes 2D and 3D gameplay perspectives, this is also a feature in discovering various parts of Erebus. Many parts of the location will give you some classic “platformer-like” sections where you can reach higher or lower levels with the proper timing of your jumping, search in the darkest corners for some treasures, backtrack to collect some useful items, or clear the area from demons.

In addition to this, we want to surprise you with some new ways to explore Erebus. Sometimes it may be a secret passage behind the waterfall that lets you see a completely new part of the location, or the so-called “Erebus locks” - environmental puzzles involving maneuvering both in 2D and 3D. Solving Erebus locks will let you progress through dungeons back in Antioch.

From time to time, you will also meet NPC’s in Erebus, who can give you information about the areas you’re in.


[h3]💎 DEMONS[/h3]



Views and atmosphere in Erebus can be stunning, but this world also has a darker side. As we’ve mentioned in our previous devlog related to Antioch, there is a group of so-called “heretics” whose goal is to destroy the Sheol. Their activity also influences what happens in Erebus.

The outbreak of heresy is one of the important events within the story in our game, and one of its results is that Erebus is attacked by demons. Traveling through many forest areas, caves, or dungeons, you will very often encounter strange blood-red creatures taking many different forms.

As a bishop of the Church of Sheol, your task will be to eliminate them, whether through tactical battles involving our dynamic turn-based combat system, or with skills such as DIVOS blast (a powerful spell that can destroy the enemy with a single attack, and stop the encounter without entering combat mode.

And of course, you can count on some boss fights as well!

[h3]💎 TILL NEXT TIME[/h3]

We do hope that our short trip to Erebus has been enlightening for you, and we cannot wait to give you the opportunity of experiencing these adventures yourself! It is also worth mentioning that there are even more locations outside of Antioch which you will be able to visit, but we will save some info about them for later. ;)

See you in the next devlog!

[h3]📜 Check out our previous devlogs:[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1661330/view/3660916075957024359
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1661330/announcements/detail/3660912271266395188

[h3]Join our Discord server![/h3]

[h3]Connect with us on other channels[/h3] Follow us on Twitter Check our TikTok

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1661330/SacriFire/

[h4]Hello, SacriFire community![/h4]

As promised in our first post, we’re back with some brand-new info about the game.

You might already know that SacriFire will let you visit multiple worlds. First and foremost amongst these is Antioch, the game’s primary location and main city, and that’s where we’d like to take you in today’s devlog. We’ll be revealing a bit of the area’s historical background, and there’ll even be a couple of teases regarding what you can expect there while playing SacriFire.

Let’s take a look, then, at the wonders that lie beneath the surface…


[h3]💎 ANTIOCH[/h3]



To discover Antioch, we need to go underground. The entire city is built upon the peaks of enormous stalagmites in a gigantic subterranean cave. As you might expect, the location has a drastic impact on the appearance of life in the city - flora is such as one would expect to grow in caves, and animal life (creatures known as “Sorrow-beasts") is mostly reptilian.

You may wonder how the question of light is handled in an underground city. Antioch’s answer is the Hellgate - an enormous portal that allows light to shine upon the city from the hell above.



[h3]💎 DISTRICTS[/h3]



You’ll be able to visit four of Antioch’s nineteen districts during the story presented in SacriFire - Ivanstone, Spire, Tundale, and Opus Peaks.

Each district of Antioch is unique, distinguished by its own laws, social structure, and customs. In terms of visual style, you will find a mix of fantasy and science-fiction elements visible in technology, architecture, and decorations of each part of the city. The cherry on the top is that these elements directly correspond to the city’s history and lore.



[h3]💎 LIFE IN THE CITY[/h3]



Most people living in Antioch are content - poverty and crime in the city are low. People work, and spend their free time in the crowded marketplace (trading with “lux”, the currency of Antioch), going fishing in nearby rivers, taking care of their chores, praying at nearby chapels and visiting the spirit world of Erebus.

While wandering through the city streets you can hear the citizens chattering about everyday matters, revealing snippits of interesting facts about politics, history, and everyday life in Antioch. As the story of SacriFire progresses, NPCs will also refer to the important events, so you will be able to get a new perspective on the adventures that you are participating in.

The streets of Antioch are also a place where you can get a glimpse of the sci-fi side of SacriFire and observe some mysterious creatures known as servers.

Let’s not forget about the rich variety of fantastic creatures living in Antioch, such as furry “feglings” (lizardcats), pterodactyl-like “flugels”, “moligs” (which look like a mix of a dog and a frog), and more!



[h3]💎 LAW AND ORDER[/h3]



It’s impossible to talk about Antioch without talking about the Church of Sheol, the centre of law and order in the city. While everyday criminal matters such as theft and smuggling are dealt with by city guards, the Church upholds the three divine laws: Doubt Not Thy God, Harm Not Thy Servant, Kill Not Thy Fellow Man.

The Church is helped in this task by advanced technology, such as the DIVOS (weapon-shifting technology) that you will be able to use in the game and prayer wheels (which let citizens travel to spirit worlds such as Erebus).

One of the biggest conflicts that the Church is involved in is related to heretics - mysterious rebels who are sworn to destroy the god Sheol. While heretics are considered to be a myth by many citizens, the fact is that Antioch is caught up in a centuries-long war between them and the Church.

To protect the city from heretics (as well as the sorrow-beasts), the Church of Sheol developed an elite unit of soldiers called bishops. The bishops’ home is Sanctuary (they alone are permitted to enter), where they study and receive training in the use of DIVOS weapons. And, of course, where they occasionally relax.

One such bishop is Ezekiel Ridan, protagonist of SacriFire.


[h3]💎 ACTIVITIES[/h3]



As in any good RPG, we want you to enjoy your time in Antioch, so there’ll be plenty of fun activities to take part in beyond the main story missions and side quests.

You’ll be able to talk to the citizens you meet on the streets of various districts and learn some interesting bits of info about the world. Many of them will be happy to play Molig Mania, our main mini-game. You can collect “molig cards”, each representing various types of creatures with different stats, which will clash on a round board during your duels.

Merchants and shops are also available for you to visit and restock your items for use in combat or crafting. For lovers of cuddly creatures, we also have an opportunity to collect special animals which will let you unlock some cool stuff.



[h3]💎 SEE YOU INSIDE EREBUS![/h3]



We do hope that you enjoyed this introduction to the lore of Antioch. Of course, we have plenty more to cover, and the city we described today is one of many locations that you will visit in SacriFire. There’s a lot more to come, but we don’t want to spoil the surprise too much!

In our next dev log we’ll jump into the prayer wheels and travel to the idyllic world of Erebus.

Till next time!

[h3]📜 Check out our previous devlogs:[/h3]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1661330/announcements/detail/3660912271266395188

[h3]Join our Discord server![/h3]

[h3]Connect with us on other channels[/h3] Follow us on Twitter Check our TikTok

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1661330/SacriFire/

Hello SacriFire community!

Bless the Divine Mother as plenty of good news is coming from the lands of Antioch and Erebus! We are thrilled with the support that SacriFire was receiving since the first announcement and excited about what is yet to come!



Our game is growing day by day and now we would like to bring you more good stuff to prepare you for this sci-fi fantasy journey. Last month we kicked off our marketing campaign for the game with the new trailer on Guerrilla Collective showcase and it is only the beginning!

In the upcoming months we would like to introduce you to the main themes of SacriFire as well as numerous elements related to its lore, gameplay systems, and the development process. We want to elaborate more on each topic and reveal some interesting bits here and there.

No worries, we won’t spoil too much for you! Our goal is to briefly tease some cool stuff that you can expect in our JRPG-inspired adventure!

Today we would like to present you a list of topics that will be covered in the upcoming months with a series of devlogs.


[h3]TWO WORLDS TO EXPLORE[/h3]



Story of SacriFire gives you a chance to visit two main realms - Antioch and Erebus. The first is a city built on stalagmites full of crowded streets and breathtaking subterranean vistas. The second is an idyllic spirit world with mysteries and dangerous encounters hidden below its beautiful surface.

Both worlds have rich lore backgrounds, unique locations to visit, quests to embark on, puzzles to solve, dungeons to explore and enemies to defeat. Each of these elements combines both fantasy and science fiction when it comes to the overall presentation.


[h3]STORY AND CHARACTERS[/h3]



Respecting standard RPG tropes is crucial for us when it comes to the presentation of story of SacriFire. At the same time we would like to subvert some of them to present you an exciting story full of twists and moral complexity.

Would you like to learn more about the main themes explored in the story or lovable characters that you will meet during your journey? Just stay tuned for our future devlogs!


[h3]OUR TWIST TO JRPG COMBAT [/h3]



JRPG fans live and breathe various turn-based combat variations when at the same time the enthusiasts of action would like to have more dynamic encounters in this type of games. Why not have both?

In SacriFire we are giving a spin to a classic turn-based system by adding action-oriented mechanics. You can still plan your moves according to turns in battle but at the same time you have an option to move around the area, dodge and more!


[h3]BISHOP’S ARSENAL[/h3]



Weapon arsenal in SacriFire is very specific as it is related to the story background of Ezekiel, the main protagonist. As a Bishop, the elite warrior of Church of Sheol, he possesses Divos gauntlet - a unique tool transforming into many different weapon variants such as sword, hammer, spear and more!

Can you use it separately according to preference? Yes! Can you chain multiple variants into powerful combos? Absolutely! We cannot wait to show you more!


[h3]BELIEFS AND MYTHS[/h3]



A deep lore of SacriFire is waiting to be discovered as the game combines fantasy themes with numerous science fiction tropes. In between, we have holistic elements related to the religion of Antioch.

All of this together makes the atmosphere of SacriFire one of kind both in story and in the world around you!


[h3]DEMONS AND FANTASTIC CREATURES[/h3]



The main task of Bishops is to protect Antioch from demons.

During your adventures you will encounter many types of fearsome monsters and bosses with all sorts of unique abilities and weaknesses requiring being flexible with your combat style.

Also cannot wait for you to meet many fantastic creatures, especially LIZARDCATS!


[h3]VISUALS AND SOUNDTRACK[/h3]



We love pixel art style as it brings a nostalgic feeling to our game but we also want to give it a modern twist with 3D models and many cool visual effects.

On top of that our game will feature fully voiced characters and the music of legendary Motoi Sakuraba. Do you remember the tunes from the first or second installment of Dark Souls? That’s the guy!

[h3]AND MORE![/h3]

[h3]Join our Discord server![/h3]

[h3]Connect with us on other channels[/h3] Follow us on Twitter Check our TikTok

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1661330/SacriFire/