Orca Studio announced that a free playable demo of Bolt of Whalington is releasing on Steam on November 5. This exploration-first Metroidvania sees a Siamese cat and his trusty mech explore Whalington.
The upcoming demo features four areas which are the Sardine, Kitchen, Cabins, and Residence. While the Kitchen is fully playable, only portions of the three other areas are accessible. The main story of the demo takes about 60 to 90 minutes to complete. However, this can be extended to about 150 minutes for those who take the time to explore. The studio shared in a statement that the map layout and story progression of the full version may be different from the demo.
As part of this announcement, the studio also released a new video teaser which can be viewed here.
Rewrite the Rules
In Bolt of Whalington, the mysterious Rule Terminal allows players to rewrite the rules of the world. For example, if they can't squeeze through a narrow passage then they can turn into a mouse and slip through the gap. Then if they find themselves stuck behind a solid wall then maybe having a bottle of soap might just be what they need to get through. When it comes to Whalington, the strangest ideas often open up new places to explore.
Play by its Own Rules
Each area of Whalington plays by its own rules. One region for instance has anti-gravity turning walls into walkable paths and as a result, opens up new ways to move and dodge danger. Meanwhile, another region has Schrödinger's platforms appear and disappear depending on light. There may even be a region where what seems to be an ordinary toilet can turn out to be a perfectly reasonable way to travel.
Learning the rules of each area though is merely the start. Players can switch between Bolt's feline agility and his mech's power to unlock new abilities and even return to familiar locations to discover hidden routes that were previously out of reach. In addition to exploration, players can challenge bosses to experience new surprises. They'll need to learn their attack patterns, master new weapons and combat abilities, and find the right moment to strike.
Remember that as Bolt grows stronger, places already explored can reveal something new.
Wishlist Bolt of Whalington on Steam now.
