Save Game Sunday Kickday: Radix
One of my favorite gaming genres is the classic NES era platformer. Many of my fondest gaming memories were formed in those colorful, pixelated worlds with the strangely floating ledges. But as fun as those games were, their often strictly linear nature makes them a bit of a hard sell these days. Radix, our Save Game Kickday pick for this week, aims to change that. Read on to learn all about it.
In many ways, Radix is a classic example of a retro platforming game. Every component is there: the colorful, pixelated graphics, the charming midi-esque soundtrack, the floating ledges that laugh in the face of gravity. On the surface, Radix would be right at home on a DOS computer, or an NES, except for a few key differences. Unlike most classic platforming games, Radix unfolds in a decidedly nonlinear fashion. The game is an open world, and you are free to choose to explore the game’s five unique zones in any order you wish. Want to get the ice zone out of the way first? Go ahead, no warp whistle required! The game will also feature a level editor, enabling you to create your own environments to explore.
Another way in which Radix differs from the classic 2D platforming norm is that there is no combat in the game. The focus of Radix is entirely on exploration and puzzle solving, with no creepy crawlies to get in the way. There are five main powers to unlock in Radix: swing, hover, invincibility, climb and dash. You can choose to start with any ability, and unlock the rest in any order you desire. Each one will help you better explore the world of Radix in different ways, and aid you in your quest to unlock its secrets. Radix promises a much more thoughtful, story driven experience than most classic platformers offered. The goal of Radix is to constantly challenge the player’s abilities, while also presenting them with a story that makes them think. So you can probably assume that Radix won’t be featuring any princesses in castles.
Radix is being developed by NewFort Studios, a four person team made up of Lead Designer and Project Manager James Castle, Creative Director Aaron Fingar, Lead Artist Brett Morris, and Programmer and Composer Steven Sucy. They are currently running a Kickstarter campaign to get Radix completed, in between their busy lives as full time students. Check out their video below to learn more.
As with most Kickstarter campaigns, Radix offers a number of funding tiers to choose from. All tiers are cumulative, meaning you get the rewards in your chosen tier, plus the rewards in all the lower tiers.
- $5 – Get a copy of the finished game.
- $15 – Get the level editor so you can create custom content and levels.
- $25 – Your name and a personalized thank you will appear in the credits.
- $35 – Get a digital copy of Radix’s soundtrack (with piano sheet music).
- $50 – Get a custom Radix T-Shirt (includes shipping).
- $100 – Have a Skype session with the entire NewFort Team. Your name will also be mentioned in-game in one of the lore books.
- $150 – Get a signed poster or piece of art of your choosing.
- $200 – Get a playable character based off your likeness.
- $500 – Get a signed, hand-written physical copy of Radix’s lore book.
Currently, NewFort Studios has raised $1960 of their $8000 fundraising goal. With 15 days to go, you’ve got plenty of time to check out their Kickstarter or Facebook page to learn more about the game and the people behind it. There’s even a demo of the game available, and it plays right in your web browser. No sketchy downloads necessary! So if you’re looking for a platformer with a classic feel, but with an open world and thought provoking story, why not make this Sunday a Kickday, and get onboard with Radix?