ESPER//EXILE
Z: Primary Fire, X: Reflect bullets (hold)
There is an "extra lives" option in the pause menu!
/// What future do you believe in? ///
ESPER//EXILE is a full-length vertical scrolling shmup for the Pico-8 fantasy console inspired by my love for Solar Striker and ESP Ra.De!
It features:
- 5 stages with unique art and bosses!
- a sincere story about a hunted psychic who has abandoned the earth!
- a HEAT system where your shots power up the more you graze by enemy bullets!
Purchasing the game gets you the game's binaries to run them locally on your machine, and is primarily a way to show your support for me! The full game is playable in the browser.
You can also support me on Patreon!
Enjoy! 💖👽
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $1.99 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Comments
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Still working my way through a clear, but this is really cool! Your influences are super recognizable in a nice way (the Solar Striker-ness of it all makes me very happy :3). I like how the stages set you up (and, in a way, require you) to really learn/use the heat and reflect mechanics. Two relatively small twists to a familiar shmup setup with more depth than one might assume.
I haven't made it past stage 3 yet, but I've gotten farther with each attempt. Latest attempt had me die just before the stage 3 boss (that final stretch is scary!!!). My strategy so far has been to chase the 1up as efficiently as possible at every opportunity, even if it means making some encounters last a bit longer. Can't always stick to it when things get dense, but it's nice going into stage 3 with 2 lives in the bank. Now if only I could stop taking a death on stage 2...
I'm still figuring out the reflect mechanic. Most of the time I use it, I either miss and get punished with heat drain, and/or I get a face full of bullets as soon as it releases. I think I'm subconsciously moving up while I charge the reflect, which may be putting me in a bad position. I suspect there are some subtleties to how the mechanic works that I should figure out though... hmmm...
Lovely work, friend! Looking forward to working through the rest of this! Great job with the music btw!!!